adidas vs New Balance

2026 Digiday Awards Winners Announced

The 2026 Digiday Awards winners showcase a marketing landscape where cultural relevance and measurable business impact intersect. Notable winners include Adidas and Gamefam for Best Partnership, with a Roblox activation generating 51 million visits and 468 million brand interactions; Poppi for Most Innovative Brand, turning a viral idea into a real product; and Walmart Connect for Best Use of Retail Media, driving nearly 40% growth in GMV. The awards highlight trends like immersive digital experiences, creator marketing, and retail media convergence. Other winners include Klaviyo as Most Innovative Technology Platform and Swivel for Best Use of Agentic AI, signaling the rise of autonomous advertising.

• Adidas and Gamefam won Best Partnership for a Roblox activation that generated 51 million visits and 468 million brand interactions in four weeks.
• Poppi won Most Innovative Brand after a viral social media post led to a limited-edition product and expanded retail distribution.
• Walmart Connect won Best Use of Retail Media for its 'Backyard Escapes' campaign with Vizio, contributing to nearly 40% year-over-year growth in GMV.

Adidas Q3 Record Profit, Raises Guidance

Adidas reported record Q3 2026 results, with preliminary revenue of €7.3 billion ($8.1 billion), up 9% year-over-year, and record operating profit of €1 billion, a 37% increase, boosted by approximately €200 million in US tariff refunds. The company raised its full-year operating profit guidance to €2.5 billion and plans to invest an additional €100 million in Q4 for strategic initiatives. CEO Bjørn Gulden highlighted strong growth in soccer, running, and training, while lifestyle footwear faced challenges. Gross margins improved to 54.3% due to tariff refunds and full-price sales. In contrast, Nike's revenue declined 4% to $11.2 billion, underscoring Adidas's market share gains. Analysts noted 11 consecutive quarters of high single-digit or double-digit growth. Final Q3 results are due October 29, 2026.

• Adidas Q3 2026 revenue rose 9% to €7.3 billion ($8.1 billion), with record operating profit of €1 billion, a 37% increase.
• The company received approximately €200 million in US tariff refunds, contributing to margin improvements.
• Full-year operating profit guidance was raised to €2.5 billion.

Agentic Commerce Boosts BFCM Performance for Brands

Swap, an agentic commerce provider, highlights how AI-powered storefronts can optimize e-commerce performance during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The article details the partnership with fashion brand Willy Chavarria for a 2026 World Cup collection, which generated over 1,000 orders in six days with a 3% conversion rate and a $249 average order value. Swap reports that agentic storefronts achieve 2x higher conversion, 3x time on site, and 20% fewer returns. The piece also emphasizes the importance of post-purchase strategies, such as returns management and exchange programs, to retain revenue. Swap's Checkout+ program shows 60% opt-in rates and a 35% year-over-year increase in retained revenue for brands using its returns infrastructure.

• Swap's agentic storefront achieved 2x higher conversion rates, 3x time on site, and 20% fewer returns compared to traditional e-commerce journeys.
• Willy Chavarria's 2026 World Cup collection launch with Adidas generated over 1,000 orders in six days with a 3% conversion rate and $249 average order value.
• 58% of virtual try-on sessions end in add-to-cart and 20% convert to purchase across Swap's agentic storefronts.

NEW BALANCE FOUNDATION AND BEYOND SPORT ANNOUNCE HOOPS 4 HOPE, SENTINEL OCEAN ALLIANCE AND TRAINING4CHANGES AS GRANT RECIPIENTS OF FUTURES IN MOTION SOUTH AFRICA

New Balance Foundation and Beyond Sport announce grant recipients for Futures in Motion South Africa, including Hoops 4 Hope, Sentinel Ocean Alliance, and Training4Changes.

New Balance Officially Unveils the Brands Plans to Celebrate the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon

New Balance has announced its plans to celebrate the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, as detailed in a new press release on their newsroom.

New Balance Launches the Made in USA 990v7

New Balance has launched the Made in USA 990v7, a new product release announced on 22 Oct 2026.