Adidas is bracing for a $1.3 billion loss in revenue and $535 million drop in profit in 2023 if efforts to sell off its inventory of Yeezy-branded sneakers fail.
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, was once synonymous with Adidas. Now the German sneaker giant is dealing with the fallout of ending its partnership with the rapper and fashion designer last year after he made a series of anti-semitic remarks.
The biggest question facing the company is whether it can repurpose its Yeezy products or if it will be forced to write them off, putting a massive dent in revenue and profits. Regardless of the outcome, Adidas is expecting a challenging year ahead.
“The numbers speak for themselves. We are currently not performing the way we should”, said CEO Bjørn Gulden in a news release. “2023 will be a year of transition to set the base to again be a growing and profitable company."
He added that the company will focus on creating "brand heat" and improving its "product engine." "We need to put the pieces back together again, but I am convinced that over time we will make Adidas shine again. But we need some time," he said.
Shares were down around 9 percent in pre-trading on Friday after the announcement.
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A Michigan judge is putting sponges in the hands of shoplifters and ordering them to wash cars in a Walmart parking lot when spring weather arrives. Genesee County Judge Jeffrey Clothier hopes the unusual form of community service discourages people from stealing from Walmart. The judge also wants to reward shoppers with free car washes. Clothier says he began ordering “Walmart wash” sentences this week for shoplifting at the store in Grand Blanc Township. He believes 75 to 100 people eventually will be ordered to wash cars this spring. Clothier says he will be washing cars alongside them when the time comes.
The State Department had been in talks with Elon Musk’s Tesla company to buy armored electric vehicles, but the plans have been put on hold by the Trump administration after reports emerged about a potential $400 million purchase. A State Department spokesperson said the electric car company owned by Musk was the only one that expressed interest back in May 2024. The deal with Tesla was only in its planning phases but it was forecast to be the largest contract of the year. It shows how some of his wealth has come and was still expected to come from taxpayers.
