Nike flagship retailer opens in Ikeja Metropolis Mall with nice fanfare | The Guardian Nigeria Information

With Nike now at ICM, Nigerians can store genuine merchandise in a bodily retailer.

Nike’s flagship retailer, the primary of its sort in West Africa, has opened at Ikeja Metropolis Mall, Lagos. The official launch occasion held on Thursday, August twenty fifth 2022, proper within the retailer itself, the place Indrek Heinmets, Nike Model Director for Hudson Holdings Restricted, highlighted the joy of seeing the Model lastly come to life in Nigeria.

“The sensation of being right here on the opening of this NIKE retailer is completely nice, it’s implausible, even overwhelming,” he mentioned. “It’s been an extended journey for us. Now we have been planning for a few years for Nike’s flagship retailer in Lagos. The pandemic didn’t assist with world provide points and different native challenges. So now seeing this retailer lastly come alive, is gorgeous. I wish to say a large thumbs as much as the native staff for his or her exhausting work and sleepless nights to make this occur.”

The NIKE flagship retailer in Ikeja Metropolis Mall has been made doable by Hudson Model Growth Nigeria [HBDN], a subsidiary of Hudson Holdings Group, a number one retail and distribution Group representing a number of sports activities and style manufacturers. Hudson Group is the official distributor for NIKE merchandise in over 30 international locations in Africa.

Giuseppe Crispino, NIKE Advertising and marketing Communications Supervisor at Hudson mentioned on the launch: “the profitable partnership of Nike and Nigeria goes again in time. In 2018, the world cup jersey designed for Nigeria which was results of a collaboration with the native Nigerian federation was probably the most sought-after soccer jerseys. A number of present and previous athletes and ambassadors of Nike come from Nigeria. We now have a house the place we are able to welcome our clients and meet them in particular person. I believe the actual work begins now, it isn’t a handover, however a kickoff for the issues we are able to do for purchasers now that we’re right here.”

Hudson, along with Nike, has a partnership programme in help of The Asisat Oshoala Basis and in accordance with Heinmets, that’s solely one of many some ways Hudson is exploring to make a mark in the marketplace and the Nigerian society typically.

“We need to know what issues to Nigerians, what issues for the native buyer and the way we are able to get higher engaged and related. NIKE is a world model, and our job at Hudson is to see how we are able to ship that in an area method,” he enthused.

“From that perspective, we’re trying ahead to working immediately with sports activities golf equipment, athletes, influencers, occasion managers in addition to advertising and marketing businesses to develop native property for nearer collaboration with the native communities,” Heinmets added.

Chris Muscat, CEO of Hudson Holdings Group remarked “Very proud to have lastly opened our first NIKE retailer in Lagos, and such an amazing trying retailer, representing the most recent NIKE Street to Rise Idea. This marks our retail entry into Nigeria, our first step in bringing one of the best of sports activities and life-style merchandise and types to the Nigerian client, a client who’s all the time on the forefront of style and sports activities. We’re trying ahead with optimism to our future in Nigeria. I wish to conclude by saying a large thanks to the model and native groups for the exhausting work they put in to open this retailer.” 

Company current on the launch embrace Gbemisola Adudu, Vice President of NBA Africa and Nation supervisor, NBA Nigeria; Paul Onwuanibe, CEO, of Landmark Africa and John Onyeoguzoro, CEO, SMARTMARK Ltd, amongst a number of influencers and different media personalities.