Sports Mall outlets get B1bn facelift
The Mall Group is allocating 1 billion baht during 2019-21 to makeover its Sports Mall stores across the country.
Wipa Umphuj, group general manager for specialty retail development at the Mall Group, said the facelift aims to create a fresh, modern one-stop sporting goods destination for customers of all ages.
Of the total budget, 150 million baht has already been spent to renovate the Sports Mall flagship in Paragon Department Store. The relaunch was yesterday.
The remaining 850 million baht will be used to renovate 10 other Sports Mall branches in Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima province during 2020-21.
The Paragon branch spans 5,000 square metres, offering sporting brands from around the world. In addition to store design, the company changed its logo to convey a unique, modern lifestyle.
Some 30% of products, including shoes, clothes, accessories, camping gear and fitness equipment from leading brands, are exclusive items at Sports Mall’s Paragon outlet.
With the new store concept, the company expects Sports Mall sales at Paragon to grow by 50% to 1 billion baht next year.
“As a retailer in today’s global world, we must provide enhanced and positive experiences for our customers by presenting new innovation and experiences,” said Sunthorn Sureeluangkhajohn, general manager of merchandising at Sports Mall.
After the makeovers, the company plans to open stand-alone Sports Malls outside complexes to expand the business in a sustainable manner, Mr Sunthorn said.
Sports Mall will be the third specialty business unit under The Mall to open shops outside its complexes, similar to Power Mall and Gourmet Market, which adopted the scheme two years ago to boost and diversify the group’s sales.
Mr Sunthorn said Sports Mall has recorded the highest growth in the group among business units.
Thailand’s sporting goods retail channel was estimated to be worth 30 billion baht last year. Demand has grown at double-digit rates for the past five years.
“Regardless of whether the economy is in a good or bad condition, the sporting goods industry still continues to grow,” Mr Sunthorn said. “The sports business never dies, because of the popularity of health-conscious lifestyles.”
Under the business plan, sales at Sports Mall this year are expected to grow by 7% from 3.7 billion baht last year, he said.