Canadian business remains key
contributor as brand advances towards long term
growth goal
TORONTO, June 21,
2022 /CNW/ - Athleta, part of San Francisco-based Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS)
announced it will add five new Canadian stores in 2022 with today's
opening of Mapleview Centre in Burlington, Ontario at 10:00 a.m. EST.
The new 4,260-square-foot performance-lifestyle store is
Athleta's third company-operated Canadian location. Last year,
Athleta expanded into Canada with
the launch of e-commerce in August, followed by the opening of its
first company-operated stores outside of the U.S. in September at
Park Royal Shopping Centre in West
Vancouver, and in November at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in
Toronto.
This fall, Athleta will open four additional stores at;
- Chinook Centre, Calgary
- Sherway Gardens, Etobicoke
- West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton
- 1035 Robson Street, Vancouver
Founded in 1998, Athleta is a purpose-driven brand with a
powerful mission to empower women and girls to realize their
limitless potential. Athleta stores highlight the brand's
versatile, on-trend performance lifestyle products for women and
girls. The stores feature inclusive sizing in more than 200
styles ranging from XXS-2X, in-store styling appointments, free
alterations, and wellness-focused community events.
"Since our launch last year, Canadian customers have quickly
gravitated toward our offerings. We have highly
differentiated performance lifestyle product unlike anything else
in this market. As a certified B. Corporation, we are filling a
need in the market for a sustainable, purpose-driven brand, and we
can see how that connects back to our Canadian customer's focus on
health, wellness and active living," comments Jenelle Sheridan, VP and GM Athleta Canada.
"Athleta's Canadian business is a key contributor to long term
growth, and we believe our store fleet growth strategy will get us
there as we see Canadians return to in-store shopping."
Athleta's Canadian entry has made a strong first impression with
consumers. In Q1 of 2022, the brand's new customer
acquisition goal exceeded expectations by over 40% as brand
awareness continued to rise with a combination of new product
offerings, localized marketing and events with the launch of
Alicia Keys and Simone Biles collections, and partnership with
the Toronto Six Women's professional hockey team. The Canadian
market remains a priority for strategic growth of Athleta and Gap
Inc. portfolio of purpose-led brands.
Designed for women, by women, the brand was built on the premise
that what unites active women and girls is stronger than any
obstacles in their way, and sport and fitness create confidence,
courage and powerful bonds.
In 2016, Athleta Girl was launched along with the brands
community-driven Power of She campaign. The brand's mission
comes to life through inclusive and sustainable product design,
connecting with customers through unique experiences in stores,
online and within local store
communities. Athleta believes in using business as a
force for good and became a certified B Corp in 2018. The
brand has joined over 230 certified B Corp businesses
operating in Canada. Today,
70% of Athleta products are made with at least 30% more sustainable
materials like recycled polyester, recycled nylon, organic cotton,
Tencel or Fair Trade.
About Athleta:
A certified B Corporation, Athleta is a performance lifestyle
brand with a mission of empowering a community of active women and
girls. Athleta's versatile premium performance lifestyle apparel is
designed by women for women with inclusivity at its core. Founded
in 1998, Athleta integrates performance and technical features
across its collection to support women across their entire
lifestyle – from yoga and training to travel and sleep. In 2016,
the company launched Athleta Girl mirroring its signature
performance in styles for the next generation. Based in
San Francisco, CA and a Gap Inc.
brand (NYSE: GPS), Athleta apparel is available at its over 230
company-operated stores across the United
States and Canada, through
its catalog, and at Athleta.com.
SOURCE Athleta