Nike steps up battle in women’s sportswear
5,000 stores to open pant studios, as competition with Lululemon heats up
Nike Inc. is increasing investments in yoga pants and sports bras as part of a quest to revive growth, intensifying its battle with Lululemon Athletica Inc. for women.
Nike will open pant studios in 5,000 stores on Nov. 1 to highlight new styles for workouts and leisure, the company said in supplemental documents to an investor presentation on Wednesday. A presence in thousands of stores would dwarf the footprint of Lululemon, which helped turn yoga and fitness gear into everyday attire. It has 421 locations, mostly in the U.S. and Canada.
Nike, the world’s largest sports brand, plans to spend more on product development for items like sports bras, infusing them with its latest features while also making them more stylish. The company is also revamping its sporty outfits to create head-to-toe looks — these will be unveiled early next year. The moves show Nike is sharpening and refining its strategy after competitors succeeded in recent years at nibbling away some market share.
“This US$7 billion business will continue to be fuelled by more women engaging in sport, wellness and activity,” Trevor Edwards, president of the Nike brand, said during the presentation. “Our growth in our women’s business is outpacing our men’s business, and it will continue to do so.”
Lululemon declined to comment on Nike’s moves. The maker of upscale sportswear has largely been able to maintain its revenue growth in recent years even as competition escalates.
This momentum will be tested going forward, and not just by Nike: Amazon.com Inc. is said to be starting an athletic apparel business that also sells items such as yoga pants. To cope with a more crowded field, Lululemon has also pushed into areas such as men’s clothing and outerwear.
Lululemon shares fell as much as 2.5 per cent after the report on Nike’s plans. The stock has fallen about 5.8 per cent this year.
Nike shares rose as much as 4.2 per cent to US$57.25. They have advanced more than 12 per cent in 2017.
Executing the plan for women’s workout gear will be key if Nike wants to reach its forecast for high-single-digit growth over the next five years. During the past two years, sales gains have averaged about six per cent and Nike shares have declined.