Latest news with #Fasching
Miami Herald
26-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Hoka, Ugg maker raises red flag on disturbing customer behavior
I own not one, but two pairs of Ugg slippers - and before you judge me, hear me out. One pair is strictly for indoor lounging, aka my "indoor Uggs." They're soft, they're cozy, and they've seen some things. The other? Those are my "outdoor Uggs" (yes, it's a thing), reserved for dog walks, Trader Joe's runs, and looking half-put-together before 9 a.m. (or anytime really). If you're like me, you get it. Uggs have become more than just boots - they're a lifestyle staple, a comfort essential. And for fans of the brand, investing in multiple pairs doesn't feel ridiculous. It feels necessary. So when a company like Deckers (parent of both Ugg and Hoka) raises alarms about how customers are behaving, it Related: Nike, rivals sound alarm on looming threat Ugg and Hoka shoppers are loyal, intentional, even cult-like. These are brands people go out of their way to buy. But lately, something's felt off. Deckers, best known for comfy Ugg boots and sleek Hoka sneakers, made headlines with some less-than-cozy news: customers are starting to change how they shop. For a brand that's thrived on loyalty and momentum, that's not the vibe. What really grabbed my attention? Deckers (DECK) didn't just hint at a blip. It called out a real shift in consumer behavior. And that's where things start to get interesting. CFO Steve Fasching didn't mince words during the earnings call. While revenue came in strong and the company expanded its buyback plan, Fasching flagged a clear challenge. Deckers expects to feel some strain from raising prices amid an already cautious consumer landscape. He described this as potential "demand erosion" that could weigh on performance in the months ahead. He also acknowledged that while Deckers is evaluating price hikes and working with factory partners to share costs, it will still have to absorb a chunk of the $150 million tariff hit expected in FY26. Related: Nike delivers bad news for customers That pressure, paired with slower-than-hoped growth in HOKA's direct-to-consumer sales, created the cautious tone that spooked investors. Still, the team remains upbeat about the long term. CEO Stefano Caroti reminded listeners that HOKA's brand awareness in the U.S. had jumped to 50%, a 25% leap from last year. International growth continues to outpace domestic sales. "I personally never felt stronger about the power of this brand," he said. It was a message of confidence, but one clearly tempered by current headwinds. If a brand as beloved as Ugg - or as buzzy as Hoka - is starting to feel the pinch, that doesn't bode well for the rest of retail. Deckers' warning adds to a growing chorus of companies sounding the alarm on shifting consumer habits. After years of pandemic-fueled spending on comfort and performance gear, shoppers are pulling back, and even the strongest brands are starting to feel it. What makes HOKA's situation unique is how strategic its wholesale push has been. The brand is betting big on getting into more stores and letting consumers physically try on updated styles in-store before committing. According to Fasching, the new designs are strong performers, but the shift toward trying them in-store first is putting short-term pressure on digital sales. This dynamic isn't a death knell, but it is a signal. Deckers is still viewed as a premium brand leader with a strong balance sheet. However, the idea that even its most reliable shoppers might pause on purchases is making the rest of the industry pause, too. Meanwhile, Deckers' stock has since been tracking for its biggest weekly decline in months. Whether this is a speed bump or a turning point depends on whether consumers start clicking "buy" keep hesitating. One thing's clear: if even the indoor-and-outdoor-Uggs crowd is tapping the brakes, every retailer should be paying close attention. Related: Popular sneaker company raising prices The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
Police on alert as terrorists call for attacks also during Carnival
Islamists have used social networks to call for attacks, including during the Cologne carnival, Martin Lotz, head of the Cologne police's carnival operations, told dpa. He said that these kinds of statement also aimed at unsettling the population and that the police's operational concept will be adapted again as the region prepares for days of festivities. An Islamic State website shows a poster with four targets, two of which are in Cologne, one in Nuremberg and one in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam. "We have no knowledge of any specific attack plans or any specific threat. This does not change our previous plans," said a spokeswoman for the Nuremberg police. Security sources said the calls for violence were known and taken seriously, but that there was no change in the current assessment of the threat level, which was already considered to be high. "We will once again sensitize the emergency services on the basis of the post and keep them informed," Lotz said, adding that the police were prepared for such developments given the tense security situation. Cologne police said last week they were preparing for carnival with a strict security plan following the Munich attack and other acts of violence in Germany. They were referring to a deadly car-ramming attack in Munich earlier this month. Carnival, or Karneval, also known as Fasching or Fastnacht, is an important part of German culture, particularly in southern Germany and the western Rhineland region. Traditional strongholds of carnival culture include Cologne and Dusseldorf, where revellers gather for a raucous days-long party ahead of Ash Wednesday and the start of the Christian season of Lent. Cologne police plan to deploy around 1,500 more officers than usual over the carnival period. The festivities begin on Thursday.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
James Edward Payne Chief Warrant Officer (CWO2) James Edward
Feb. 8—James Edward Payne Chief Warrant Officer (CWO2) James Edward Payne, United States Army (Ret.), passed peacefully at home on Wednesday, January 29, at the age of 93. Born on January 26, 1932, in Springboro, Pennsylvania, Jim was raised on a small family farm along with his six siblings. He joined the Army at his first opportunity and was sent to Fort Knox Kentucky for basic training. Upon completion of advanced training as an automotive maintenance technician, he was assigned to the 18th Infantry Battalion in Lenggries and Aschaffenburg Germany. He then returned stateside to join the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley Kansas. His next set of orders brought him to the 8th Infantry Division at Fort Carson Colorado. He next returned to Germany and to the 8th Infantry Division at Goeppingen and Bad Kreuznach, Germany. At the conclusion of his second tour in Germany, he was reassigned to Garrison Company Sandia Army Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In the ensuing years that followed, Jim served in South Korea with the 1st Calvary, in Germany with the 1st of the 79th, at Fort Benning Georgia with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade, and in Vietnam with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade, 2nd Battalion 18th Infantry Division and as Special Advisor in the Mekong Delta. In total, Jim's military career spanned more than two decades during which he earned the respect and admiration of his peers and superiors alike. His military awards include three Bronze Stars for meritorious service in a combat zone, as well as three Army Commendation medals and numerous individual, unit and campaign ribbons. Following his retirement from the Army in 1971, he and his wife Johanna made their home in Albuquerque, where they became founding members of the Edelweiss am Rio Grande German American Club. Through their involvement, they sought to preserve and share authentic German culture, cuisine, music, and dance with their adopted community. Jim served multiple terms on the club's governing board and contributed to numerous special committees. He and Johanna were also honored as Prince and Princess during the club's annual Fasching celebration, a cherished tradition akin to Mardi Gras. Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Johanna Payne. He is survived by his three daughters, Patricia Payne, Cindy (Payne) Fallin and her husband Jim Fallin, and Sandra Payne and her husband Randy Jordan. He is also survived by his sister, Darlene (Payne) Parks, the sole remaining sibling of six, one brother and five sisters. Jim's legacy of service, strength, and kindness will be forever remembered by those whose lives he touched. His unwavering dedication to family, community, and country leaves an enduring impact that will not be forgotten. A celebration of Jim's and Johanna's lives is being planned for early February at Daniels Funeral Home in Albuquerque New Mexico. Details can be found at A burial ceremony with full military honors will take place at the National Cemetery Santa Fe New Mexico in March of 2025.
New European
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New European
The Leipzig sausage-fest
What is it about Germans and sausage? They like nothing better than grilling bangers on a barbecue and drinking beer. It has to be Bratwurst of course – those are the plump pork-and-beef sausages from Thuringia. Add a bread roll, a dollop of potato salad and industrial quantities of mild yellow mustard (which must be from Bautzen). And that's it. Usually it's the men who light the charcoal and turn the sausages on the grill, with the tongs in one hand and a bottle of beer in the other. The women are in the kitchen, peeling potatoes. And usually it's a warm summer evening on the allotment ( Kleingarten ) or in the backyard ( Hinterhof ). It's quintessentially German, in the same way that cricket teas and village fetes are so very English. So the recent city centre grillfest in Leipzig's market square was an extraordinary, baffling event. Why would hundreds of people choose to spend eight hours outdoors on their feet in freezing fog, grilling against the clock? The clue is in the costumes. There are grill teams dressed up as kings, vikings, witches, fairies, bees, butterflies, American NFL footballers. even giant prawns. This is because many of the team members also belong to Carnival (Karneval) clubs. Karneval is known as Fasching here in formerly atheist-communist eastern Germany. It's celebrated on Shrove Monday, two days before Ash Wednesday. But Fasching has little to do with religion. It's a great big street party with processions of floats, costumed dancers and musicians. So the winter grilling contest is a sort of prequel to Fasching . It brings the teams together after the Christmas and New Year holidays, raises funds, and everyone loves it. They cram into the Grill Your Own Sausage enclosure, knocking back bottled beer from the festival sponsor, Ur-Krostitzer brewery. Some daredevils try their skills on the beer rodeo – a bouncy castle for grown-ups with a giant inflatable beer bottle in the middle. The player straddles the bottle. The operator presses the button. And immediately the bouncy bottle bucks and twists like a bronco, throwing the player on to the inflatable bed. For most, once is enough. There's another giant inflatable beer bottle and this one has a name – Uri. He waddles on to the stage to present each winning team with merch advertising the brewery, from bathrobes to baseball caps. To win a prize, a finished grilled sausage must pass four vigorous tests. How does it look? Is it cooked through, but not burned? How does it feel in the mouth? And how does it taste? To make it a fair contest, there is a standard-issue sausage for all grill-teams, supplied by the co-sponsor, Wolf. And they each get a standard-issue small portable barbecue and cooking utensils. What's more important, in these days of 'Veganuary', it's not all sausage. The tournament now allows teams to bring their own ingredients and concoct a 'non-sausage alternative grilled item'. The winners in this category were a team of witches. They scored top points with their grillable pie containing a mix of gorgonzola cheese, roasted walnuts and a drizzle of honey. A runner-up dished out grilled pineapple with lime and chilli. Less exotic was the musical accompaniment – an Elvis impersonator and a young woman belting out Helene Fischer songs. But the crowds loved them, deftly holding on to their beer bottles as they danced and sang along. For 15 years the annual winter grilling festival has followed this formula. But then Germans appreciate predictability. One of their favourite films for New Year's Eve is the English cult classic Dinner for One , with its immortal catchphrase, often quoted whenever a group of Germans are planning an annual event… 'The same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?' asks the butler. 'Of course, James,' replies Miss Sophie, 'The same procedure as every year.' Jane Whyatt is a journalist, newsreader and independent TV producer
