Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield’s Post

Academy Sports Tweaks Formula for Entering New Markets Academy Sports + Outdoors has accelerated its store opening targets, but it is also adjusting its real estate strategy, including the geographic mix of new stores, the pace of openings, and initial sales targets. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/enQ9RAX8 David Naumann "Academy Sports realizes the importance of brand awareness in driving foot traffic and revenues. Focusing on multiple locations in markets is a smart strategy…" Neil Saunders "While the sports market is quite competitive, Academy Sports’ focus on smaller and medium markets is sensible. These are often underserved by sports stores and are not the domain of Dick’s (other than via online sales), so there is some market share up for grabs." Mark Ryski "The important thing to remember is that, opening stores is the easy part – getting the stores to deliver the outcomes required is a different matter. Even the very best store locations won’t be successful if the store team can’t execute effectively. "

"I appreciate Academy Sports’ cautious approach to opening new stores – slow, steady and deliberate," says Mark Ryski, Author, CEO & Founder of HeadCount Corporation. "Investing more time and effort upfront in site selection and store configuration should improve the probability of success of any new location. Furthermore, their strategy of clustering new store openings to create critical mass in a new market also makes good sense. I would advise Academy Sports’ leadership to analyze store traffic volume and conversion rate performance of their best performing stores and consider these characteristics as they build-out new stores. The important thing to remember is that, opening stores is the easy part – getting the stores to deliver the outcomes required is a different matter. Even the very best store locations won’t be successful if the store team can’t execute effectively."

"I appreciate Academy Sports’ cautious approach to opening new stores – slow, steady and deliberate," says Mark Ryski, Author, CEO & Founder of HeadCount Corporation. "Investing more time and effort upfront in site selection and store configuration should improve the probability of success of any new location. Furthermore, their strategy of clustering new store openings to create critical mass in a new market also makes good sense. I would advise Academy Sports’ leadership to analyze store traffic volume and conversion rate performance of their best performing stores and consider these characteristics as they build-out new stores. The important thing to remember is that, opening stores is the easy part – getting the stores to deliver the outcomes required is a different matter. Even the very best store locations won’t be successful if the store team can’t execute effectively." Check out more insights from one of the retail industry’s leading experts - https://buff.ly/3qRfPx2. More great comments on this topic by RetailWire's BrainTrust experts including: Neil Saunders, Ashish Chaturvedi, Brian Numainville, Lisa Goller, MBA, David Naumann, Robert Amster, and Mohammad Ahsen (Socially Ahsen).

JD Sports has just announced its acquisition of Hibbett Sports, subject to regulatory approval. With $4.1B in sales, JD Sports will more than double its retail locations in the US sports retail market. However, the company still has some catching up to do with Dick's Sporting Goods and Foot Locker. The $1.1B acquisition is a bold move, and JD has its work cut out for itself to improve product margins and achieve ROI. It will be interesting to watch how the company navigates product pricing moves and potential supply chain synergies gained. #JDSports #HibbettSports #SportsRetail #Acquisition #BusinessGrowth

JD Sports Fashion has made no secret of its ambition to win in the North American market and has, to-date, undertaken some impressive expansion activity. This includes the acquisitions of mall staples Finish Line and Shoe Palace, as well as via the expansion of its own JD Sports fascia. These initiatives have given the company a very firm toehold in the market. The addition of Hibbett to the JD family will provide a big boost to the US business and gives JD Sports a presence in a lot of markets where it is currently underrepresented. Although Hibbett has a very strong sneaker business, the acquisition will also allow JD to play to its strengths in the sports fashion and athletic wear arenas. While Hibbett has had nowhere near the growth of Dick’s, it has nevertheless been a solid performer over recent years and has carved out a clear point of difference in serving smaller and mid-sized towns — places where competition from other sporting retailers is relatively thin on the ground. With only around a quarter of stores within 10 miles of competitors, Hibbett is a destination for sporting goods in the markets it serves. Nevertheless, competition is heating up as more sales are made online and players like Academy Sports + Outdoors look to expand. In my view, this makes the timing of the acquisition by JD Sports favorable as the group will be able to use its superior buying power to drive up margins. Under JD Sports, there is also more likelihood of investment in Hibbett stores and the proposition. All in all, this gives Hibbett a more defensible future. While JD will immediately benefit from the bigger scale, it will have some work to do in integrating Hibbett if it is to get the full benefit from the acquisition. It will also have a balancing act in modernizing the operation while, at the same time, respecting Hibbett’s place in local communities. None of this represents a major challenge to Dick’s, which remains the preeminent retailer of sporting goods and has a much wider proposition that includes deep expertise in sports equipment. However, it does increase the competitive temperature in the sports and sneaker market. #retail #retailnews #sportinggoods #sports #mergers

Marketing Matters The Trafford Centre is one of the most well known brands in the North West It attracts 30 million visitors annually. And here they are marketing to existing customers and potential customers that Lego, Lululemon and other well known brands are at the centre If MASSIVE BRANDS NEED to market their offering Then small businesses with no history, legacy, brand, footfall certainly need to. I often say to businesses "When a small business says they don't need to market themselves Remind yourself that virtually everyone in the world knows of Apple, Coca Cola, Pepsi, McDonalds, Starbucks, Subway et all & they still market their business You are never too big for marketing" #Marketing #Advertising #Sales

High-street chain JD Sports Fashion PLC (LSE:JD.) undershot its revenue target with 6% organic growth in the 22 weeks to 30 December 2023. In a trading update, the group conceded that milder weather and a softer peak trading session, reflecting “cautious consumer spending”, impacted the top line. Gross margins aligned with the prior year, but this also fell short of expectations. An “elevated level of promotional activity during the peak trading period” means JD Sports’ full-year margins will be slightly lower than anticipated, with full-year revenue growth expected to be around 8%. Profit before tax for the year ending 3 February 2024 will be between £915 million and £935 million, the group stated. More at #Proactive #ProactiveInvestors #JDSports #retail http://ow.ly/CJNB1057NAz

“It never stops in the JD world.” JD Sports Fashion group supply chain director, Justin Cox, speaking at Manhattan Associates’ #MAExchange event in Cannes just now. He’s not wrong. Although Cox didn’t address it in his presentation, the retailer’s shareholders have this week approved a proposal to buy out the minority shareholders in Iberian Sports Retail Group (ISRG) as JD strengthens its foothold in western Europe. The remaining 49.98% shares in ISRG are being bought for £432m in a deal funded by the group’s existing available cash resources. What Cox did talk about is that Manhattan was chosen as the warehouse management systems provider for JD’s recently opened Derby, UK distribution centre, and the supply chain software company will continue working with the retailer going forward. New DCs for JD to come in Australia and the Netherlands next. But I wonder how many more names will be added to the below graphic showing JD Sports brands in the next few years. A retailer which started in Bury continues to grow on a global scale. Quite a story. #retail #supplychain

Shares for Academy Sports + Outdoors dipped nearly 8 percent in Thursday morning trading after the company issued soft guidance for the year following a miss in net sales for fiscal 2023. For the full year, net sales at the Katy, Texas-based retailer fell 3.7 percent to $6.16 billion, down from $6.40 billion in 2022. Net income for fiscal 2023 was $519.2 million, down 17.3 percent from $628 million the year prior. In the fourth quarter, however, Academy made some gains with net sales in the period up 2.8 percent to $1.79 billion, up from $1.75 billion in Q4 2022. Net income in the quarter was $168.2 million, up 6.7 percent from $157.7 million the same time last year.

📉 JD Sports Alert: 20% Shares Plunge Sparks Market Analysis! 🚨 In a recent market twist, JD Sports, a key player in sportswear retail, faces a significant 20% shares drop post a stark profit warning. Join the conversation as we dissect the intricacies behind this development, exploring the challenges in the retail sector and its broader impact. 🔍 Insights Unveiled: JD Sports issues a profit warning, projecting a £125 million dip in profits due to unexpected challenges in the festive trading period. Discover the factors influencing this setback, from increased promotions and price discounts to shifting consumer spending patterns. Gain insights into how JD Sports compares with industry counterparts, shedding light on the complexities of the retail market. 📊 Market Dynamics Explored: Delve into the competitive landscape leading up to Christmas, dissecting the impact of heightened promotional activity and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis shaping consumer behavior. 💼 Strategic Responses and Future Perspectives: Understand how JD Sports is navigating these challenges, and explore CEO Regis Schultz's confidence in the company's strategic approach. What could these developments mean for the future of retail? 🛍️ Consumer Trends and Economic Influences: Examine how evolving consumer preferences, influenced by economic factors, are reshaping the retail landscape and impacting companies like JD Sports. 🌐 Join the Dialogue: Share your thoughts on JD Sports' shares plunge, the wider retail market challenges, and the resilience needed in today's economic climate. learn more https://lnkd.in/e6hYJXvD #JDSports #RetailIndustry #ProfitWarning #ConsumerSpending #MarketTrends #FinancialNews #CostOfLivingCrisis #FestiveTrading #UKRetail #SharesPlunge #EconomicAnalysis #InvestmentInsights #RetailChallenges #MarketWatch #LinkedInDiscussion #BusinessNews