22 Nov Nike opens women’s-only retail store
Nike opened a women’s-only retail store in Newport Beach, Calif., on Thursday, reflecting the latest effort among sportswear brands to cater to that market segment.
The store opening follows Nike’s introduction a month ago of its spring/summer 2015 women’s collection. The media event in New York City featured featured more than two dozen Nike-sponsored athletes.
That event also followed Under Armour’s launch of a major campaign this summer focusing on the women’s market. (A Portland consultant helped develop the Under Armour campaign.)
A store targeting a single market segment also meshes with a handful of segmented stores Columbia Sportswear has opened or plans to open.
The Nike Fashion Island that opened in Newport Beach s is a 6,000-plus square-foot store offering women’s running, training and sportswear styles as well as designer collaborations, the company said in a news release. The store also will offer events, clinics and yoga classes.
“We connect with and inspire millions of women all over the world every day through our Nike+ Training Club and Nike+ Running apps,” Amy Montagne, vice president and general manager of Nike Women says in the release. “Our women’s business has never been stronger and this new store is the ultimate expression of our commitment to women who run, train and live the look of sport and fitness throughout their day.”
A second Nike women’s-only store is scheduled to open Nov. 29 in Shanghai, China’s IAPM Mall. Both store openings are part of the brand’s larger retail strategy to serve women, the company said.
Nike officials have said the company expects its women’s footwear and apparel sales to grow 40 percent over the next two years, from $5 billion to $7 billion.
— Allan Brettman