Nike to Launch its First Women’s Only Stores

In a move to advance what Nike considers one of its biggest global growth opportunities, Nike announced today (June 6, 2001) plans to launch Nike women's stores in key markets in the Los Angeles area. Nike retail plans to open mall-based, women-focused stores called 'NIKEgoddess' beginning in the fall of 2001. The 'NIKEgoddess' stores will be designed as an interactive experience where female consumers provide feedback on the style, design, performance and comfort of Nike product.

The insights from the women's stores will benefit all retailers that sell Nike products, as consumer feedback will ultimately be used to develop products that meet high expectations and active lifestyles of today's women.

''NIKEgoddess' will take that relationship a step further, allowing us to make the retail experience more meaningful with a concentrated consumer input and feedback loop. The decision to launch the two stores in the Los Angeles-area market was based on extensive research on demographics and Nike's market penetration.

The first store, which will encompass prime retail space, will open in Fashion Island in Newport Beach. The second store will have 6,000 square feet in the Grove at Farmer's Market in Los Angeles and will open in March of 2002.

Stephanie Oakes is a fitness correspondent for Discovery Health Channel, a contributing editor for USA Weekend Magazine and the LA Times, and appears on NBC's 'Today in New York'. She can be reached at soakes@beststuff.com.