Converse Prepares Layoffs February 2026: What Staff Should Know

This guide explains what the Converse layoffs in February 2026 mean for employees and how to respond in the first 30 days.

What's Happening

Converse CEO Aaron Cain told staff to work from home the week of February 9 ahead of planned layoffs and team restructuring.

Sales fell 30% last quarter to approximately $300 million—the lowest in 15 years. Several senior executives are leaving. No specific headcount announced, but Cain warned of "saying goodbye to friends and teammates."

Converse is also facing intense competition from fast‑growing sneaker brands like On, Hoka and Adidas, which have been gaining market share while Converse sales declined.

This follows Nike's broader workforce reductions, including 775 distribution center roles and roughly 2% of global staff in 2024.

What Employees Should Do Now

1. Clarify your severance package

• Get severance terms in writing
• Understand health insurance continuation (COBRA)
• Ask about outplacement support
• Note final pay date and accrued vacation payout

2. Update your resume immediately

• Quantify your Converse achievements (revenue impact, project outcomes, team size)
• Highlight brand management, retail operations, or product development experience
• Show cross-functional work and stakeholder management
• Use action verbs: launched, optimized, drove, delivered

3. Activate your network

• Contact former colleagues at Nike, Adidas, Puma, Under Armour, VF Corp
• Reach out to retail, e-commerce, and consumer goods contacts
• Join footwear and apparel industry groups on LinkedIn
• Tell people you're looking—most roles come through referrals

4. Target similar employers Converse skills transfer well to:

• Sportswear brands (Adidas, Puma, Under Armour, New Balance)
• Fashion and lifestyle brands (Levi's, VF Corporation, PVH Corp)
• Athletic retailers (Foot Locker, JD Sports, Dick's Sporting Goods)
• E-commerce and DTC brands
• Brand management agencies

5. Consider legal advice if needed

• Potential age discrimination concerns (typically 40+)
• Other protected characteristics under employment law
• Severance terms and negotiation options
• Review of employment contracts or termination agreements”

Job Search Resources

• LinkedIn – Set profile to "Open to Work" (visible to recruiters only)
• Indeed, Glassdoor – Job alerts for "brand manager," "product marketing," "retail operations"
• Yotru – Build ATS-optimized resume highlighting transferable skills

Key Insight

Converse layoffs are part of Nike's broader restructuring as the parent company addresses declining sales and market share losses. Employees should prepare now—retail and sportswear hiring cycles favor candidates who act immediately.

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