Under Armour opens another store as sporting activities increase post Covid-19

Sportswear retailer Under Armor has opened its 12th store in Johannesburg, announcing a safe rebound as post-COVID-19 sporting activity picks up again and people working from home need casual wear.

However, the group has faced some challenges in supply chain logistics as bottlenecks in the southern hemisphere bottlenecks hamper efficiency.

Managing director Darren Cooke said on Saturday the aim is to open five more stores over the next year as interest in the product lines increases.

“I think that overcoming the Covid-19 restrictions is promising for the sports industry as people want to return to health and fitness programs and also people who work from home dress more casually. We have for a company that has really picked up pace, it’s only been five years, the annual growth is fantastic and we want that growth to be well targeted,” said Cooke.

Apollo Brands, Under Armour’s official distributor at South Africa’s newest specialist concept store in Eastgate Shopping Centre, has 301m² of retail space and offers a total brand experience, with customer satisfaction and superior product assortment at the heart of its expert offering.

“The brand is currently enjoying excellent momentum and we look forward to being on this journey and connecting our brand with the South African consumer. We will continue to open consumer relevant store formats in the right locations while growing our distribution responsibly. At the same time, we are currently fully focused on improving the consumer experience in our stores, with a big focus on Visual Merchandising, Product,” said Cooke.

He said consumer-relevant distribution channels, strategic growth partners and e-commerce are the mainstay of the group’s focus, which aims to grow the brand to at least 17 stores by the end of 2023.

“Some of the biggest challenges now are related to imports and the supply chain, it’s a bit harder to keep up with Covid 189 demand. Shipping lines run mainly east-west, so shipping is bottlenecked Down south, getting our stuff on time is a challenge. That, as well as inflation in the cost of products and store fixtures. We don’t want to be an exclusive retailer, we want to help improve efficiency in the sports industry,” he said.

The Eastgate store is the group’s 5th store in Johannesburg and 12th nationwide.

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