Retail insights from the sporting goods industry
All about e-commerce, in-store, and multichannel in the sports business
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News briefsFanatics and Sunderland announce long-term partnership
Fanatics and Sunderland Association Football Club (SAFC) have agreed to a new long-term partnership that will see the global merchandise firm become Sunderland’s new retail partner until 2034. Fanatics will become the exclusive operator for the club’s online and stadium store. This will include “significant investment” in a new store ...
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ArticleA new era in Google search
Google is introducing a new form of search result called Search Generative Experience (SGE). It might change e-commerce.
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News briefsJD Sports implements forensic tagging sprays to combat shoplifting surge
British sportswear giant JD Sports is stepping up its security game in response to a surge in shoplifting incidents. Teaming up with forensic security firm SelectaDNA, the retailer is set to deploy tagging sprays across its stores as a proactive measure. These sprays work by leaving behind a unique synthetic ...
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News briefsLiverpool FC scores retail partnership in South Korea with Over the Pitch
Liverpool FC (LFC) has scored big in South Korea with its latest retail partnership with Over the Pitch, a soccer brand and design studio. This collaboration marks Liverpool’s first foray into the South Korean market. The initial phase of the partnership will see the introduction of two dedicated retail ...
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News briefsSkechers expands Belgian footprint with new store in Brussels
Brussels welcomes Skechers to its Rue Neuve shopping district with the unveiling of a spacious 490-square-meter store. The store offers a showcase of Skechers’ range of footwear, apparel and accessories, featuring a striking vaulted entrance and a captivating mural paying homage to the brand’s roots in Southern California’s Manhattan Beach. ...
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News briefsFrench sneaker brand Veja makes London debut with eco-friendly store concept
French sustainable sneaker brand Veja has inaugurated its first store in London’s bustling Seven Dials district. Nestled at 45 Monmouth Street, bridging the gap between Covent Garden and Soho, the 140-square-meter boutique showcases the brand’s footwear collection, complemented by an onsite cobbler station for sneaker and shoe repairs and cleaning ...
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ArticleFoot Locker unveils new store concept at Willowbrook Mall
Foot Locker has introduced a new retail concept at its Willowbrook Mall location in Wayne, N.J., aiming to redefine the sneaker shopping experience. According to a statement, the new store format, designed to integrate customer insights and elevate service standards, “marks a significant step forward for the global footwear retailer”. ...
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News briefsDecathlon expands BuyBack scheme in UK
Decathlon has broadened its BuyBack program to encompass all sports equipment in the UK, following the success of its initial launch focusing on unwanted bicycles. The initiative now covers fitness equipment, racket sports gear, camping essentials, and water sports items like kayaks and paddleboards. Customers can participate by completing a ...
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ArticleXXL reports stronger gross margin, lower sales in Q1
XXL ASA, which reiterated its objective to deliver 500-750 million Norwegian kroner (€43.9-65.8m) in Ebitda improvement over the next 12 to 15 months, delivered stronger gross margins but lower sales in Q1. It was the ninth consecutive quarter with negative growth for the Norwegian group that faced a difficult year-over-year ...
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ArticleSprandi poised for comeback in Russia
Sprandi, a once iconic brand in the Russian market, can reportedly resume sales in the country after almost two decades of absence. At the end of 2023, a local wholesale supplier, A Sport, obtained several certificates of conformity from a Russian technical regulator, allowing it to sell sporting shoes under ...
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ArticleRussia’s Sportmaster posts a 2023 revenue hike
Russian sporting goods behemoth Sportmaster solidified its position as the country’s largest fashion retailer in 2023, thanks to a 14 percent hike in revenue to 160 billion rubles last year. Sportmaster generated nearly 70 percent more revenue than Kari and twice as much as Gloria Jeans; the companies ranked second ...
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ArticleDecathlon closes one more store in Sweden, only has one left
Decathlon revealed plans to shut down three of its stores in Sweden, citing challenges amid the global economic climate. The closures will affect Decathlon Kungens Kurva, Decathlon Barkarby and Decathlon Uppsala, impacting a total of 72 employees. Explaining the decision, a Decathlon spokesperson stated: “The Swedish market is specific and ...
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News briefsTarget jumps on the pickleball trend
Source: Prince Prince for Target US retail giant Target has announced a limited-time pickleball collection in collaboration with tennis and lifestyle brand Prince. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) 2023 Topline Participation Report, pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the US, and now ...
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News briefsDecathlon UK partners with media agency Fifty
Decathlon UK has announced Fifty as its new media agency. The new agreement will see the sporting goods retailer and manufacturer leverage Fifty’s artificial intelligence (AI)-powered audience insights technology for its media planning. Fifty will develop and execute Decathlon UK’s integrated media strategy across all media and channels. Fifty optimizes ...
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News briefsNBA opens expanded retail space in London
The National Basketball Association’s (NBA) has opened an official merchandise flagship store at 267-269 Oxford Street in London, close to Oxford Circus. The site had been occupied by JD Sports until 2015, and then by American candy shops. The new 830-sqm NBA location replaces the previous, smaller NBA flagship ...
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News briefsJD Sports Fashion opens flagship store on Paris’s Champs-Élysées
JD Sports Fashion debuts its global flagship store on Paris’s famed 118 Avenue des Champs-Élysées. The store boasts cutting-edge digital technology and will offer “immersive experiences for shoppers”. Featuring top brands like Nike, Adidas, and New Balance, the store promises the latest in sports fashion. To mark the occasion, JD ...
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News briefsAmazon invests €700m in AI-powered tech and robotics across Europe
Amazon is using its Innovation Lab in Vercelli, northern Italy, to develop and test new technologies aimed at enhancing support for employees and customer satisfaction. Established in 2017, this lab is home to a team of scientists and engineers from all over the world, serving as the hub for the ...
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News briefsXXL appoints former H&M executive Dawid Gosciniak as COO
Norwegian retailer XXL is bolstering its team by appointing Dawid Gosciniak to a newly created role as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for all of XXL’s markets. Gosciniak will work on enhancing the chain’s omnichannel approach, refining the store concept, optimizing the customer journey, and ensuring the highest possible efficiency ...
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News briefsTFG introduces JD Sports to South African market
South Africa is set to welcome the arrival of British sportswear giant JD Sports, courtesy of The Foschini Group (TFG), through an exclusive franchise agreement. TFG’s CEO Anthony Thunström highlighted the move as an expansion of their sports portfolio, leveraging their existing brands like Sportscene, Totalsports, and Sneaker Factory. Thunström ...
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News briefsSpanish e-commerce up in first nine months of 2023
Online sales in Spain for the first nine months of 2023 rose by 25.1 percent year-on-year, from €2.654 to €3.320 billion, according to Palco23, which cites the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC). The sports sector accounted for €1.792 billion, or 54 percent, of the nine-month total for 2023 ...
