The brand, which is sold in more than 100 concessions in the UK, is initially looking at sites for five standalone stores to be run with a partner. Once these are established, it plans to build its UK store portfolio further.
At the moment, it only has one UK standalone site at Grasmere, Cumbria, which it has operated since 2005. It is run through retail partner Stewart R Cunningham, a privately owned chain based in the Lake District.
Future Jack Wolfskin stores will be larger than the present boutique-style format; it intends to open shops of at least 1,075 sq ft (100 sq m).
Jack Wolfskin UK head Andrew Nicolson would not comment on the brand’s goals beyond its five-store plan. However, he emphasised that the brand will continue to maintain its existing relationship supplying multi-brand
stores and will consider future store expansion opportunities “as other partnership opportunities
come along”.
He added: “The success of the store concept and retailer partnership is a model which is open to other potential retail partnerships,” said Nicholson.
Jack Wolfskin has a strong international presence in 22 countries worldwide and operates standalone stores in 10 of those. The brand’s total store portfolio is about 250 worldwide. Most of its stores are in Europe, with 165 of these in Germany. It also has a presence in China, Japan and Chile.
The retailer’s product is sold in a variety of UK outdoor specialist retailers where it either trades through shop-in-shop formats or as part of multi-brand stocks.
Jack Wolfskin’s closest competitors, North Face and Berghaus, are also preparing to up their standalone store numbers.
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