Canadian retailer continues to invest and expand in western market
Canada’s most prestigious, lifestyle and "fash-letics" sporting goods retailer, Sporting Life, is set to open the doors at its newest location at Market Mall on Thursday, October 5, 2017.
The Market Mall location will be 40,000 square feet and will feature an impressive mix of high end quality fashion brands – both casual and sport - as well as an extensive line up of equipment in ski and snowboard gear, tennis, and active living products.
In an era of countless brick and mortar stores falling on hard times, the Sporting Life ‘experience’ is a unique exception. The success can be attributed to many factors including each store’s unique design and aesthetic, a thoughtfully curated product mix, great staff with an emphasis on exceptional customer service and investment in each community – including the popular Sporting Life 10k Run in support of children’s cancer related charities.
"Alberta was a no-brainer for us. With the lifestyle being so perfect for our product mix, we never had any doubt that Calgary was the right city to launch our expansion in Western Canada," said Sporting Life co-founder David Russell. "Even though these leases were signed in a downturn and during one of the most challenging times the province has faced, we had the instinct that people would like our brand, our service and our ethics. We are delighted with the sales to date. I think it is fair to say that we had lower expectations given the economy but also we felt we had to earn our way into the Alberta/Calgary market and we wanted to do it carefully and respectfully."
The newest store will bring an additional 130 jobs to Calgary. When paired with the Southcentre Mall location opened last October, Sporting Life will employ 240 Calgarians with the hope of leading to long-term careers for many. Sporting Life is well-known for its knowledgeable long-term employees, many of which have been with the company since the beginning years-in the 1980’s.
"We have been delighted with the quality of staff that we have found in the city. Outdoor enthusiasts, fashion enthusiasts, happy retail staff. It has been a very positive experience," continued Russell.
Market Mall’s family-oriented atmosphere will also lend itself well to Sporting Life’s keen effort to make sport fun and importantly - accessible for families. Features like the Junior Half Back program allow parents to purchase a new bike or skis, let their child enjoy it for one year, then return it and get an in-store credit for half the purchase price for the next year. This ensures their children are always properly fitted for safety and performance.
The newest rewards program – Lifeline – will also be launching just prior to the Market Mall store opening to offer families even more value for their hard-earned shopping dollars. Sporting Life will continue to grow in Western Canada. The team is actively looking for a location in Edmonton as well as opportunities in Vancouver. For more information about Sporting Life, please visit www.sportinglife.ca.
