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Tag: Football

  • Nike Unleashes Football Universe in Hong Kong Stores to Ignite World Cup Fever

    Nike Unleashes Football Universe in Hong Kong Stores to Ignite World Cup Fever

    Nike recently kicked off a football-centric retail initiative as a part of their worldwide ‘Rip the Script’ campaign in Hong Kong, transforming selected stores into immersive environments. This move, unveiled under the banner ‘Nike Football Universe’, aligns with the sportswear titan’s launch of the 2026 National Team Kit collection in anticipation of the upcoming Fifa World Cup.

    Selected stores have taken on a new look, complete with campaign-centric visual merchandising, football-themed exhibits, and interactive elements showcasing the 2026 National Team Kit Collection and the Mercurial football boot line. The campaign roll-out also included guest appearances by local footballers Yapp Hung Fai, Yu Jesse Joy Yin, and Lau Ka Kiu. As an added feature of this campaign activation, Nike’s Fa Yuen Street store is inviting fans to a Football Photo Booth experience until July 22.

    Expanding Personalisation Services

    In addition to the immersive store experiences, the retail giant is broadening the reach of its Jersey By You and Nike By You services across participating stores. This allows customers who purchase selected national team jerseys the option to personalise them with player names and numbers. Meanwhile, the Nike By You service presents shoppers with football-inspired graphics and patches for tailored apparel and footwear.

    This movement in Hong Kong is part of Nike’s larger strategy to stir up enthusiasm around football before the 2026 World Cup. The company aims to use these retail experiences to showcase their new product ranges and deepen customer engagement.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the idea behind Nike’s ‘Rip the Script’ campaign?
    The campaign is designed to build excitement around football ahead of the 2026 World Cup, using immersive retail experiences to highlight new product lines and enhance customer engagement.

    What unique features are offered in the newly transformed stores?
    The stores now feature campaign-themed visual merchandising, football-centric displays, and interactive elements. Customers can also personalise selected national team jerseys and enjoy football-inspired graphics and patches for tailored apparel and footwear.

    How is Nike involving local footballers in the campaign?
    Local footballers Yapp Hung Fai, Yu Jesse Joy Yin, and Lau Ka Kiu have made guest appearances as part of the campaign roll-out, contributing to the immersive football environment.

  • Nike Kicks Off Football Universe in Hong Kong: Unveiling the 2026 World Cup Kit Collection and More

    Nike Kicks Off Football Universe in Hong Kong: Unveiling the 2026 World Cup Kit Collection and More

    Nike has initiated a football-centric retail strategy throughout Hong Kong, as a segment of its worldwide ‘Rip the Script’ campaign, by transforming select stores into immersive environments.

    This effort, known as the ‘Nike Football Universe’, aligns with the unveiling of the athletic apparel behemoth’s 2026 National Team Kit collection, in anticipation of the upcoming Fifa World Cup. Selected stores have been given a complete overhaul, with campaign-specific visual marketing, football-themed displays, and interactive elements that put the spotlight on the 2026 National Team Kit Collection and the Mercurial football boot line.

    The strategy’s implementation also includes visits from local football stars Yapp Hung Fai, Yu Jesse Joy Yin, and Lau Ka Kiu. Integrated into the campaign’s activities, Nike’s Fa Yuen Street store extends a Football Photo Booth experience until July 22.

    Moreover, Nike is broadening the availability of its Jersey By You and Nike By You services throughout participating outlets. Customers who purchase selected national team jerseys have the option to personalize them with player names and numbers. Simultaneously, Nike By You provides football-inspired graphics and patches for bespoke apparel and footwear.

    This Hong Kong campaign is a fragment of Nike’s larger drive to fuel enthusiasm about football leading up to the 2026 World Cup. It uses retail experiences as a platform to debut new product lines and escalate customer involvement.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the aim of the ‘Nike Football Universe’ in Hong Kong?
    The initiative is part of Nike’s global ‘Rip the Script’ campaign, aimed at increasing anticipation and excitement for football and the 2026 Fifa World Cup, by transforming select stores into immersive football-themed spaces.

    How is Nike personalizing the retail experience for customers?
    Nike is expanding its Jersey By You and Nike By You services to more locations. This allows customers to personalize selected national team jerseys with player names and numbers. Customers can also add football-inspired graphics and patches to customize their apparel and footwear.

    Why are local football stars visiting Nike stores?
    Local football stars Yapp Hung Fai, Yu Jesse Joy Yin, and Lau Ka Kiu are visiting select Nike stores as part of the campaign. Their appearances are designed to engage customers and create a more immersive and personal retail experience.

  • Liverpool FC Expands Global Footprint With 20th Standalone Store In Hong Kong

    Liverpool FC Expands Global Footprint With 20th Standalone Store In Hong Kong

    Liverpool Football Club (LFC) recently inaugurated its inaugural standalone store in Hong Kong, marking a significant milestone as its 20th globally. This move is strategically aligned with the five-year extension of the club’s collaboration with All Star Partner, an established sports and e-commerce retailer with a focus on worldwide sports brand merchandizing and licensing.

    Promoting Football Culture in Hong Kong

    The newly launched store, strategically situated in the Kai Tak Sports Park, caters to the club’s burgeoning fan base in the region. It is a one-stop-shop for all official Liverpool FC merchandise, offering a wide spectrum of club-branded attire, exclusive collections, and up-to-the-minute product releases.

    Luo Bin, CEO of All Star Partner, shared his confidence in the standalone store’s ability to not only fulfill the demand for official merchandise from Hong Kong and regional fans but also establish a dedicated space for fan interaction. This will enable fans to fully engage in the distinctive football culture of Liverpool FC.

    On the same note, Lee Dwerryhouse, Senior VP of Merchandising at LFC, reaffirmed that Asia continues to be the club’s strategic priority. This emphasizes the region’s pivotal role in the club’s international retail and fan engagement approach.

    The Growing Presence of LFC in Asia

    The Hong Kong store marks the ninth standalone LFC store in Asia. Besides these standalone outlets, the club also operates over 100 stores within larger establishments, pop-up locations, and an extensive network of e-commerce platforms specifically designed for Asian markets.

    Questions & Answers

    What does the opening of the new standalone store in Hong Kong signify for Liverpool FC?
    The opening of the standalone store in Hong Kong marks Liverpool FC’s 20th such outlet worldwide, highlighting the club’s ongoing expansion and commitment to engaging with its overseas fanbase.

    What is the purpose of the new standalone store in Hong Kong?
    The new store primarily targets Liverpool FC’s growing fanbase in the region by providing a wide range of official merchandise. It also aims to create an exclusive space for fans to interact and immerse themselves in the club’s unique football culture.

    What is the extent of Liverpool FC’s retail presence in Asia?
    With the new addition in Hong Kong, Liverpool FC now operates nine standalone stores in Asia. Additionally, the club runs over 100 stores within larger establishments, pop-up stores, and a robust network of e-commerce platforms across Asian markets.

  • Liverpool FC seals retail partnership in Indonesia

    Liverpool FC seals retail partnership in Indonesia

    Liverpool FC has signed a new retail agreement in Indonesia to strengthen its presence in Asia. The English Premier League team will collaborate with PT Kanmo Weston Retailindo, a joint venture between its Singapore retail partner Weston Corporation and the Indonesian retail company Kanmo Group.

    The deal includes distribution rights for online shopping of LFC’s official items and the first brick-and-mortar LFC store at Pondok Indah Mall, due to open in Jakarta this summer.

    “This latest partnership in Asia adds to our ambitious plans to grow our international presence in key markets. We’re really excited to open our first standalone store very soon,” said Mike Cox, senior VP of merchandising at Liverpool FC.

    The launch also offers the new 2024-25 Nike home kit and items created specifically for the Indonesian market.

    Last month, Liverpool FC also signed its first retail partnership in South Korea with brand and creative design studio Over the Pitch.

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  • FJ Benjamin to manage Cole Haan in Singapore, Malaysia

    FJ Benjamin to manage Cole Haan in Singapore, Malaysia

    Singapore-listed fashion retail group FJ Benjamin has added American footwear label Cole Haan to its portfolio, starting retailing and distributing the brand in Singapore and Malaysia from next month.

    Under the partnership, FJ Benjamin will roll out a series of Cole Haan brick-and-mortar stores in the second half of the year and a local e-commerce site for the brand. The move follows FJ Benjamin’s acquisition of luxury skincare brand MZ Skin’s rights in three Southeast Asia markets announced last week.

    “As an established manager of global fashion brands, FJ Benjamin is confident that we can deliver what the Cole Haan brand stands for and take it to the next level of growth in these two markets,” said Nash Benjamin, group CEO of FJ Benjamin.

    Cole Haan will join FJ Benjamin’s portfolio of more than 20 brands including Guess, Marc Jacobs, Superdry and Rebecca Minkoff. The Singapore retailer currently operates 158 stores.

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  • Waze brings the college football experience to drivers on Android and iOS devices

    Waze brings the college football experience to drivers on Android and iOS devices

    Waze has been putting out a lot of new themes for its users all over the world, but the new experience released this week is aimed at US users only. Thanks to a partnership with Goodyear, Waze is bringing its users the College Football experience beyond the stadium to the roads.

    Although it will only be available for a limited time, Waze announced that its users will be able to download it starting this week and through January 31, 2022, so plenty of time to do that. If you’re living in the United States, you can now select the Goodyear Blimp icon to guide you to your destination.

    Additionally, drivers can receive navigation instruction from famous college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit as the voice for their trips on Waze. Furthermore, all 129 D1 college football stadiums will be marked on the Waze map to make it easier for fans to travel to their favorite stadium.

    On a side note, Goodyear will be hosting sweepstakes now through November 13. Fans who submit their predictions on the teams who will make it to the championships will have a chance to win tickets to the 2021 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and the 2022 CFP National Championship.

  • Ministry wants betting to be allowed on more global football events

    Ministry wants betting to be allowed on more global football events

    The Ministry of Finance wants more global football tournaments added to the list of those on which people can bet.

    The list comprises 27 events, including 15 leagues in Europe, Asia, North America and South America and 12 tournaments held every two or four years.

    Gamblers will be allowed to bet on matches Vietnam play, including in the World Cup, AFC U-23 Championship, Olympics, Asian Cup, and U-20 World Cup.

    The minimum and maximum bets on football matches, horse races and dog races will remain unchanged from 2017 at VND10,000 ($0.44) and VND1 million.

    A 2017 government decree allows Vietnamese to bet on all football tournaments run by FIFA.

    But gambling remains illegal in Vietnam. There are a handful of licensed casinos, but only holders of foreign passports are allowed to gamble there.

    Vietnamese are known for their love of gambling. It is estimated they spend at least $800 million a year betting overseas, mainly in Macau, Singapore and Hong Kong.

    Illegal betting and gambling are rife within the country too. Da Nang City police last year arrested a man running an online football gambling ring with stakes of nearly $1 million.

  • 3 footballers of Asian descent ahead of the game in the English Premier League

    3 footballers of Asian descent ahead of the game in the English Premier League

    The English Premier League is regarded as the pinnacle of football around the world in terms of the quality of football played but more so, because of the die-hard support from fans across the world. The Premier League is watched in all parts of the world from the most developed nations all the way to the poorest countries. Footballers from a very young age sacrifice everything in the hopes of one day being scouted by one of the major clubs so that they can play in this prestigious league with the best the world has to offer.

    Football is a popular sport in Asia, although the opportunities presented in playing abroad in the English Premier League provides far more opportunity for players of Asian descent. As a result of this, many of Asia’s top footballers are imported to the UK to show their skills in this top league. Over the years, we have seen some shining stars of Asian descent such as Park-ji Sung of Manchester United who, under the lead of Sir Alex Ferguson, was a key figure in the side that lifted multiple trophies. Where premier league betting odds are concerned, you would have been very well off placing bets in favour of Manchester United during his tenure.

    Let’s look at at 3 of the best footballers of Asian descent taking the English Premier League by storm today!

    Son Heung-min

    After having his start in the German Bundesliga, Son Heung-min eventually found his way to London to have his go at the English Premier League. The Korean joined Tottenham Hotspur and soon became a critical player on the team. The 27-year-old has already won 3 AFC International Footballer award in the past five years and has been responsible for seventy-five goals in the previous 4 seasons at the club. His best performance was in the 2018-19 season where he played a decisive role in bringing the English club all the way to the UEFA Champions League final. The outspoken player has recently had some words with super coach Jose Mourinho, which shows just how much influence the player has in the squad.

    Ki Sung-yueng

    Another player to come out of Korea is Ki Sung-yueng, who has had a long road playing at 3 different English clubs and making over 200 game appearances.  The midfielder has played at Swansea City, Newcastle United and Sunderland. His notable achievements are winning the League cup in the 2012-13 season and winning the Swansea player of the season in 2014. The 31-year-old has also made more game appearances than any other player of Korean descent, which is super impressive by any standard.

    Yoshinori Muto

    The Japanese are celebrated for their meticulous and unrelenting pursuit of perfection in whatever they do. This same attention to detail can be seen in the very talented Yoshinori Muto who has made serious waves in the English Premier League. Now playing for Newcastle United, the 27-year-old joined the side in 2018 has impressed ever since. Although there are talks of transferring him soon, we are sure that this player has only just scratched the surface of his potential in the English Premier League.

    Conclusion

    When it comes to players of Asian descent, the Koreans have definitely made the biggest impact over the years. With other nations from the East starting to catch up to the West in terms of their football at grassroots level, we are sure that we will see even more Asian players making an impact in the near future!

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  • Football club PSG opens retail store in South Korea

    Football club PSG opens retail store in South Korea

    Football club PSG has become the first European side to open a retail outlet in Seoul, South Korea’s capital city.

    The new store – which is described as a pop-up but looks rather long-term to us – was organized with local football magazine Over the Pitch. It will sell a range of branded goods, including food-and-beverage items, sports products, and entertainment, with a number of exclusive items available only at Seoul.

    “Seoul has long been a key target city for Paris Saint-Germain, a core pillar of our international strategy, and so we are thrilled today to step up our commitment to the market and become the first European club to launch an official store in Korea, with this innovative retail concept,” said the club’s head of diversification and merchandising Fabien Allegre.

    “Seoul and Paris go hand in hand as two iconic cities, and we enjoyed our successful collaboration with Over the Pitch during our previous PSG tour in Miami.”

    The venue, which opened last week, includes the licensed store, a themed cafe, and a display of the team’s football jerseys.

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  • Liverpool FC opens E-commerce platform in Japan

    Liverpool FC opens E-commerce platform in Japan

    Liverpool FC has partnered with soccer shop Kamo to launch its first online store in Japan.

    The Liverpool FC online store offers a wide range of replica kits and the brand’s authentic merchandise, apparel and fashion accessories, including the exclusive Hello Kitty x LFC Collection.

    “As a key player in the football and sports-retail industry, we know this store has been a long time coming for Liverpool FC fans here,” said Ken Kamo, president of Kamo.

    “We’re looking forward to working together to bring supporters here closer to the club they love.”

    Launched in 1968 as a small football shop, Kamo operates 23 brick-and-mortar stores and an e-commerce site, offering a selection of sport brands including Puma, New Balance and Adidas.

    Senior VP at Liverpool Football Club Mike Cox, said: “I’ve been able to see first-hand how passionate our fanbase is here and as one of the world’s premier shopping destinations, it’s an exciting opportunity for the club to connect with supporters in the region.”

  • Liverpool FC opens store next month in Singapore

    Liverpool FC opens store next month in Singapore

    The first Liverpool FC Singapore store will open its doors next month, the football team’s second shop in Southeast Asia after Bangkok.

    Singapore’s Reds fans can find their favourite merchandise such as football jerseys at the new store, located at Bugis Junction shopping centre.

    Earlier this month, the store has announced via Instagram that it is looking forward to the opening of the Liverpool FC’s first official store in the city.

    “Bugis Junction is the 10th LFC Official Club Shop after Anfield, Williamson Square, Chester, Liverpool One, Birkenhead, Dublin, Belfast, Abu Dhabi and Bangkok,” wrote a Zulkiflee Marzuki on Facebook.

    Another store in Kuala Lumpur ceased trading in March 2019.

    The store’s exact opening has yet to be disclosed.

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  • Shopee signs Cristiano Ronaldo

    Shopee signs Cristiano Ronaldo

    Southeast Asian/Taiwanese e-commerce platform Shopee has appointed global football icon Cristiano Ronaldo as its newest brand ambassador.

    Ronaldo will work with Shopee on a wide range of initiatives to engage and inspire customers in the region, starting with Shopee’s annual shopping event, 9.9 Super Shopping Day.

    “Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest athletes of our time,” said Shopee CEO Chris Feng. “He is an inspiration to many, and his dedication to football matches the deep commitment we have towards our users. Together with Cristiano Ronaldo, we look forward to creating a lasting positive impact on our region.”

    “I am proud to be Shopee’s brand ambassador as we share the same ambition to be the best in our fields,” said Ronaldo. “I am always improving my game for my fans and my team, just as Shopee innovates to benefit their users in this region. I am excited by this partnership, and I look forward to creating more special moments for my fans together with Shopee.”

    Cristiano Ronaldo stars in Shopee’s newest 9.9 TVC, which will air in all seven Shopee markets in the region.

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  • Wolverhampton Wolves to open Shanghai Football Store

    Wolverhampton Wolves to open Shanghai Football Store

    English Premier League football team Wolverhampton Wanderers is opening a retail store in Shanghai.

    The July 15 opening, timed to coincide with the Premier League Asia Trophy in which the club is participating, will see the Wolves Megastore become one of the first anchor tenants of the Bund Financial Centre Mall. The location is situated on the Shanghai Bund near the headquarters of the club’s Chinese owner Fosun.

    “We see China as a key market for us, both in terms of fan acquisition and also developing the commercial aspirations of the club,” said Wolves MD Laurie Dalrymple, “and timing the store opening for when the first team and staff are in Shanghai was a natural fit.”

    The store will stock Wolves-inspired fashion lines unique to the Chinese market along with replica products.

    A series of Wolves pop-up stores will also be opening in Nanjing, Hangzhou and Chengdu.

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  • Bern’s Intersport partners with Suning in China

    Bern’s Intersport partners with Suning in China

    Bern retailer network Intersport has entered into a franchise agreement with major Chinese omnichannel retailer Suning.

    The move gives Intersport a more significant presence in the huge Chinese sports market both in the offline and online arenas. It enables Suning to launch Intersport stores in specified provinces and municipalities in China, distributing Intersport products within the territory.

    “Intersport’s global expansion is progressing,” said Intersport International CEO Steve Evers. “We are proud to announce our partnership with Suning, the leading Chinese retailer, to boost our sports retailing business in this rapidly growing market. This alliance of two strong partners with complementary businesses and competencies will form the basis for long-term success in the Chinese sports retail market.”

    “Football, fitness, and a penchant for a healthy lifestyle are increasingly popular in China,” said Suning VP Gary Gong. “For this reason, Suning took the strategic decision to extend its retail business into the sports equipment market.”

    Suning has 12,871 stores in more than 600 cities in China. Its e-commerce platform claims more than 407 million registered users.

  • Economic Boost Paying Dividends for J-League and Japanese Soccer

    Economic Boost Paying Dividends for J-League and Japanese Soccer

    Enjoying something of a revival in recent years, Japanese soccer and the J-League once again appear to be the leading light in Asia. However, it’s not only in Asia where the competition is hitting the headlines, with high-profile signings at Vissel Kobe capturing the imagination of soccer fans in Europe and beyond over the last year.

    Since being taken over by e-commerce giant Rakuten in 2014, Japanese side Vissel Kobe has commenced a campaign of star-studded international signings. First to arrive was German star Lukas Podolski, who currently captains the side. Rakuten’s sponsorship deal with Spanish giants, FC Barcelona, has also helped the club sign two more previous World Cup winners. Andres Iniesta arrived last season and David Villa joined for the start of the 2019 campaign, accompanied by former Spain Under-21 international, Sergi Samper.

    Having such star players in their team often makes Vissel Kobe amongst the most popular sides to back in the J-League betting at William Hill, although much improvement in performances and consistency will be needed if they’re going push for silverware this season. Despite the high-profile signings, the team disappointingly finished the 2018 campaign in tenth position; closer on points to the relegation zone than those who finished in the top three and qualified for continental competitions.

    Vissel Kobe haven’t finished higher than 7th in the J-League since the Rakuten takeover, a position achieved in 2016. However, rather than being regarded as a failure of their own, it is perhaps a reflection of the growing competitive strength of the J-League as a whole, given the success other teams have achieved during the same period. It’s also no coincidence that such success has come since the competition itself received a crucial financial boost in 2016.

    During the summer of 2016 the J-League sold domestic online broadcasting rights to UK-based media company, Perform Group, in a deal estimated to be worth $2 billion according to the Asian Times, for a package set to last for ten years. Such an important economic investment in the J-League has inevitably filtered amongst the clubs, with all of them likewise making investments of their own, improving the quality of their playing rosters and club infrastructures.

    Of notable importance since that deal was struck, the competitive profile of the J-League and demand for increased coverage to international audiences, have both raised significantly. Having previously fallen behind leagues in South Korea, China, the Middle East and Australia, both economically and competitively, Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds won the 2017 AFC Champions League. Last season in 2018, Kashima Antlers achieved the same feat.

    Renewed success on the pitch, combined with the arrival of high-profile soccer stars from around the world, has genuinely revitalized the J-League on and off the pitch. Significantly, and having been on the decline previously, fans are once again packing stadiums. Attendances have continued to rise over the last couple of years, which is also proving to be a boon for club merchandising efforts and local businesses alike.

    Now that Japanese soccer appears to be firmly back on the map once again, further growth and further investment is expected as star-named players increasingly opt to play in the J-League, as opposed to the MLS in the United States, the Australian A-League, or the Chinese Super League. There’s still some catching up to do in terms of the financial wealth of the Chinese game, although the improved strength and attractiveness the Japanese competition now seems to boast once again, is undoubtedly proving itself to be hugely appealing.

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