With the presidential election and its mountain of ad buys now in the rearview mirror, major brands and retailers are gearing up for the narrow Thanksgiving to Christmas window with television, online spots, and other promotions.

The Group's total sales fell 5.8% for the two-month period that ended Oct. 24, with all brands declining in advance of the key Black Friday and Christmas retail trading periods.

The Chinese footwear manufacturer said revenues were down about 15% for the fiscal first half ended Sep. 30, which is expected to result in a net loss of between HK$12 and HK$15 million for the period.

The French mountaineering clothing, pack, and equipment brand appointed Remedy Sales Group as its sales agent for the Rockies and the Pacific Northwest, its first entry into the U.S. market.

The family-owned Swedish glove maker appointed James Hampton as president of Hestra North America, succeeding Dino Dardano, retiring after 20 years of running the brand here.

Handgun imports fell 35% in June to 219,060 units, according to ITC data compiled by the NSSF, including a 34% drop in pistol imports to 193,587 units, while revolver imports declined 39% to 25,471 units.