Li-Ning will open its for first Canadian stand-alone retail stores in Ottawa's RA Centre, a not-for-profit organization, and in Burlington, near Toronto, for its extensive collection of racquet-sports equipment, shoes and apparel. Before this retail expansion, Li-Ning's products were available only online and through a carefully selected network of specialty dealers throughout the country. LN Distribution of Burlington has been the brand's official Canadian and U.S. distributor for the past eight years. According to Len Carter, president of LN Distribution, Li-Ning conducts 30 percent of its current Canadian business in Ottawa and the greater Toronto area. The company expects Canada to be a strong market, as about 50 percent of the country's global immigration since the turn of the millennium has come from Asia. Most of these new Canadians are originally from China, where Li-Ning is the official brand of many Olympic teams and athletes, making it not only a household name but also one of the leading sports brands in Asia. In Canada, the company is already the official badminton equipment sponsor of the Canadian College Athletics Association (CCAA) as well as other provincial and college associations. Len Carter said that he expects every major Canadian city to have Li-Ning stores soon and that a national corporate store and franchise offering is in the works.

Topics