After Amazon’s layoffs, Puma joins the list—cutting 900 jobs worldwide amid falling sales and tough market conditions. Here’s what’s going on.
- 🏃♂️ When “Just Do It” Meets “You’re Laid Off”
- 📉 What Exactly Happened at Puma?
- 🧠 The Logic Behind the Layoffs
- 💬 Amazon Also Joins the “Layoff League”
- 💼 The Bigger Trend: The Layoff Loop
- 🐾 Puma’s Plan for a Comeback
- 📊 Puma vs Amazon: Two Different Games, One Common Goal
- ⚙️ The Human Angle: When Corporate Fitness Hurts People
- 💭 The Bigger Picture: AI Is the New HR
- 🗓️ What’s Next for Puma?
- ❓ Featured FAQs
- ⚡ The Punchy Summary
🏃♂️ When “Just Do It” Meets “You’re Laid Off”
First, it was Amazon showing employees the “cart” exit.
Now, Puma seems to have laced up for its own corporate marathon—except this one’s called “Run for Cost-Cutting.”
The sportswear giant announced that it will lay off around 900 employees globally by 2026, roughly 13% of its workforce.
And before you ask—yes, this comes right after Amazon’s own layoffs in India.
It’s like 2025 is slowly turning into the “Season 3” of Corporate Layoffs: The Global Edition.
Even Reuters, which covered the story in detail, confirms that Puma’s restructuring plan is real and expanding fast (source: Reuters).
📉 What Exactly Happened at Puma?
German sportswear brand Puma, known for its cat logo and tagline “Forever Faster,” might need to update that to “Forever Leaner.”
Here’s the deal:
Puma has been struggling with declining global sales for several quarters.
In the latest financial report, it showed a 10.4% drop in sales, bringing total quarterly revenue to 1.96 billion euros ($2.29 billion)—a hair below what analysts expected.
To counter this, the company plans to cut 900 more jobs globally by end-2026, on top of 500 jobs already axed earlier this year as part of a cost-cutting program launched in March 2025.
So, in short:
👉 Puma’s been trimming costs like a fitness influencer trims carbs.
👉 New CEO Arthur Hoeld is trying to sprint ahead with a “restructure and refocus” plan.
🧠 The Logic Behind the Layoffs
Let’s be fair—these aren’t random cuts.
Puma’s new leadership wants to turn the company around by streamlining operations, reducing costs, and aligning its resources with current demand (which has slowed down globally).
Three main reasons are being cited:
- Declining Demand: Post-pandemic spending patterns have shifted. Consumers are tightening their belts (literally and financially).
- US Tariffs & Economic Pressure: Trade tensions and import costs have impacted sportswear companies significantly.
- Global Restructuring: The brand is reorganizing its teams and product strategy to focus on profitability over expansion.
In CEO Arthur Hoeld’s corporate translation:
We are focusing on long-term growth by optimizing global structures.
In plain English:
We’re cutting jobs to save money and survive 2026.
💬 Amazon Also Joins the “Layoff League”
If it makes Puma feel any better—it’s not alone.
Amazon also made headlines this week after reports from The Economic Times revealed plans to lay off 800–1,000 employees in India.
The layoffs affect finance, HR, and tech departments, as part of a broader global restructuring.
CEO Andy Jassy has been tightening Amazon’s belt too, focusing on AI automation and cost efficiency to future-proof the company.
This marks Amazon’s second major layoff wave in two years.
So yes, the global corporate treadmill seems to be running at full speed—just without the people.
💼 The Bigger Trend: The Layoff Loop
There’s a pattern here, and it’s worth decoding.
In 2023–25, we saw waves of layoffs across tech, retail, and manufacturing.
Now, sportswear—long considered resilient—is catching up.
What’s driving it?
- AI Integration: Companies like Amazon and even Nike are using automation to reduce manual roles.
- Consumer Slowdown: Global inflation has made people think twice before buying new sneakers.
- Cost Overheads: Brands are tightening their supply chains and reducing overheads.
- Leadership Shifts: New CEOs often come with the phrase “restructuring plan” hidden behind their smiles.
Even Puma’s rival Adidas had its share of setbacks post-Yeezy partnership fallout.
It’s like a relay race—each brand passing on the “cost-cutting baton” to the next.
🐾 Puma’s Plan for a Comeback
Despite the cuts, Puma isn’t running away.
The company expects to return to growth by 2027.
That’s not wishful thinking—Puma plans to reallocate resources toward core products, direct-to-consumer sales, and emerging markets like India, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
They’ve also been investing in digital experiences—because apparently, even shoes now need an app.
The restructuring also focuses on optimizing product portfolios, strengthening e-commerce channels, and using data analytics for smarter inventory management.
In other words, Puma wants to sprint smarter, not harder.
📊 Puma vs Amazon: Two Different Games, One Common Goal
| Company | Layoffs Announced | Reason | Future Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puma | 900 jobs by 2026 | Declining sales, high costs | Streamlined operations, emerging markets |
| Amazon | 800–1000 in India (2025) | AI-driven restructuring | Automation, efficiency, AI investment |
Both are reducing headcount, but while Puma’s crisis is revenue-related, Amazon’s is tech-transition-related.
In essence, Puma is saving money while Amazon is upgrading brains (machines).
⚙️ The Human Angle: When Corporate Fitness Hurts People
Behind every layoff statistic is a life disrupted.
Imagine working for years designing high-performance sports gear—only to be told, “We’re optimizing your position out of existence.”
The irony?
These are companies that sell motivation, but they’re leaving employees demotivated.
Employees are hoping for severance support, career transition programs, and redeployment opportunities—but as of now, no detailed plan has been shared.
💭 The Bigger Picture: AI Is the New HR
AI isn’t just transforming how companies operate—it’s transforming who they operate with.
From Amazon automating logistics to Puma exploring digital design tools, human efficiency is being replaced by algorithmic efficiency.
It’s faster, cheaper, and doesn’t need coffee breaks.
But here’s the punchline:
When everyone optimizes for efficiency, who’s left to buy the sneakers?
🗓️ What’s Next for Puma?
According to company insiders, the next two years are all about:
- Completing layoffs by end-2026
- Rebalancing manufacturing hubs
- Investing in digital-first marketing
- Preparing for a 2027 comeback
Puma expects margins to improve gradually once the restructuring is complete.
Its long-term vision is to emerge “leaner, faster, and stronger”—kind of like an athlete post-rehab.
“Puma’s trimming its team not for a sprint, but for a marathon of survival.”
❓ Featured FAQs
Q1. How many jobs is Puma cutting in 2025?
Puma announced layoffs of 900 jobs globally by the end of 2026, accounting for about 13% of its workforce.
Q2. Why is Puma laying off employees?
Due to declining sales (down 10.4%) and global cost pressures, Puma is restructuring to focus on long-term profitability.
Q3. When will Puma return to growth?
The company expects to recover and return to growth from 2027.
Q4. Is Amazon also laying off employees?
Yes, Amazon is reportedly laying off 800–1000 employees in India as part of global restructuring efforts.
Q5. Are Puma layoffs part of automation?
Not directly. While Amazon’s layoffs are AI-driven, Puma’s cuts are mainly cost-optimization and restructuring-related.
⚡ The Punchy Summary
Puma’s layoffs remind us that even sportswear giants can stumble in tough markets.
While Amazon is training its bots to work smarter, Puma’s trying to run lighter.
Both, however, are chasing the same goal—profits over people.
But as 2027 approaches, the real test will be whether these companies can bounce back without losing their human touch.
What’s your take on the Puma layoffs?
Do you think companies are overdoing “optimization,” or is this the new normal of global business?
Drop your thoughts below 💭, share this story with your corporate marathon runners, and stay tuned to Nokjhok.com — where business news comes with a smirk and a sip of sarcasm.
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