Swedish sporting activities brand launches in Bangkok

Locates first flagship retailer in Thai money

Swedish sportswear brand name Craft has entered the Thai sector and opened its initial flagship retail store in Bangkok.

Kwanpong Chuenrudeemol, managing director of Playground 360 Co, an importer and retailer of athletics and way of living goods in Thailand, reported Craft Sportswear Thailand Co was not too long ago founded with registered capital of 72 million baht, to become the authorised distributor of Craft in Thailand. The agency gained a 10-year deal to current market Craft right here.

The flagship retailer spans 152 sq. metres on the first ground of Siam Discovery mall, and opened on April 16.

The Nordic-type store offers a total range of merchandise for running, trail, hybrid, training and cycling. This is unique from other Craft income locations, which are generally dedicated to only 1 sort of product or service.

Charges for operating footwear range from 5,000-9,990 baht.

According to Mr Kwanpong, Craft was established in 1977 and is at present readily available in above 60 international locations, including 10 Asian international locations this sort of as China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, and Malaysia.

“We have picked out Thailand as the world’s initial state to open up our flagship retail outlet mainly because Thailand is a subtle market and a lot of people today participate in sporting activities activities,” explained David Thomson, main govt of Aspire Brands, which owns the ideal to distribute Craft merchandise in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. 

Craft expanded the business to Asia a couple of several years in the past. In Thailand, Craft has currently designed its mark by marketing some jogging shoe designs through the SuperSports and Rev Runnr retail chains for a 12 months.

Mr Kwanpong reported the sector for sportswear and managing sneakers in Thailand is appealing, with substantial home for growth many thanks to a large number of runners in comparison to many other nations in Southeast Asia.

“Managing has become even additional popular than in advance of Covid-19 as the selection of runners increases each and every working day when the ordinary age drops. These aspects lead to Thailand’s most significant operating marketplace in Asean,” he explained, introducing that many sports makes, including Craft, see this option and want to encourage runners in Thailand to access the top rated and turn into their have heroes whilst expanding up with the manufacturer.

Moreover, Thailand has nationwide sports activities that are easily obtainable to every person, these kinds of as boxing, sepak takraw, football, and specially functioning, he explained.

The firm is set to shell out all around 120 million baht about a few yrs to increase brand awareness through advertising and marketing things to do on the web and onsite.

Apart from the flagship retail store, Craft products are also available at sporting goods retail chains, bike speciality shops, and by on the net purchasing channels. The Thai sporting goods market is approximated at 90 billion baht in 2023, with a expansion charge of 5% from a calendar year just before. Of the complete, 15.7 billion baht is for sneakers and athletic footwear, although the remaining 67 billion arrives from other products these as leather shoes.

Craft expects its revenue to get to 200 million baht this year and is aiming for a 30% enhance in 2024 and 2025.