The Running Industry Association (RIA) has rebranded its annual member event, formerly known as Runchella, as The RIA Summit. The 2024 RIA Summit will take place in St. Louis, MO, from April 29 to May 2 at the Union Station Hotel. The venue will accommodate peer-sharing sessions, enhanced scheduling flexibility, one-on-one brand conversations, and a track to support newer stores, the trade group said. The RIA Summit will bring together 200-plus specialty run retailers from across the country to connect with top brands in the channel, business partners, and each other. Brand attendees are invitation-only and will include footwear, apparel, and accessories brands, along with emerging brands that are new, or new to the channel, as well as point of sale, ecommerce, and digital marketing providers. More registration and programming details will be released in the coming weeks.

ACI International, the Los Angeles licensor of 10 footwear brands including LA Gear, Fabletics, and High Sierra, has struck a strategic licensing agreement with Perry Ellis Intl. to produce and market Original Penguin footwear for men and boys in the U.S. and Canada. The first collection, with expected distribution in department stores, leading footwear chains, sporting goods stores, and key e-commerce platforms, will debut for the Fall 2024 season.

Authentic Brands Group recently forged a new long-term agreement with its strategic partner, Liberated Brands, to become the sole retail and e-commerce operator for the Quiksilver, Billabong, RVCA, Roxy, Honolua, and Boardriders brand in the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, the Costa Mesa, CA company, which is already the global master licensee for the Volcom and Spyder brands, will become the licensed partner and wholesale distributor for Billabong, RVCA and Honolua adult sportswear, activewear, swim, outerwear, headwear and base layer products in the U.S. and Canada.

Oboz Footwear has named Powers Pedersen Sales Group and High Plains Outdoor Group as its sales representatives for the Great Lakes and South Central territories, respectively, joining Vision Merchandising to complete Oboz representation in the central third of the country. Each group will be presenting the Oboz Fall 24 collection at their respective regional shows this fall as well as at the Grassroots Connect show next month.