Hi-Tec is boasting that European sales of its athletic footwear...

Hi-Tec is boasting that European sales of its athletic footwear climbed by 63 percent and outdoor footwear by 48 percent for the first quarter of 2010. It had a 35 percent increase in business with Stag buying group members compared with the same period in 2009. Company officials declined to provide further details. Charles Willis is the group’s new creative director for the outdoor segment. Willis used to serve as Merrell’s vice president and creative director. In the meantime, Hy Rosario, so far Hi-Tec’s global outdoor category director, is about to leave the company to seek new opportunities.