Under Armour will open its first full-priced retail store at Westfield Annapolis Mall this fall. The company disclosed this month it would be opening a full-price concept store but didn't disclose the location.
The new, 4,500-square-foot store, slated to open Nov. 1, will sell the full range of Under Armour products, including cleats. Company executives said the store will be as much of a marketing tool as a sales vehicle.
“Walking into an Under Armour store will be like walking into an Under Armour commercial.” Kevin Plank, Under Armour's CEO and president, said in an interview with the Baltimore Sun.
“It's meant to be a gathering place. If you're an athlete you want to see the latest and greatest of Under Armour. There are no limits for having our very best product in one location.”
The company chose Annapolis for its first retail store because it is close to home and because there are not many competitors selling its products in the area. The mall is also undergoing a major expansion and renovation.
Under Armour said that they don't expect company stores to take sales away from its main retailers, but the two will complement each other. Under Armour told the Baltimore Sun plans other stores in areas where its products are not widely available at retail. It hasn't decided yet how many more stores it will open, said Plank.
