SHENZHEN, Guangdong, China, June 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- On May 25, 2008, the largest UK sports goods listed company, Sports Direct, launched two popular brands, Dunlop, the hundred-year brand, and Lonsdale in China for the first time in the "ITAT Sports World" of three ITAT Membership Super Clubs in Shenzhen. Chairman Au Tung Kwok and other senior management of ITAT Group attended the opening ceremony.
(Photo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/200806271103.JPG )
(Photo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/200806271104.JPG )
According to ITAT Group, following the opening of the first three "ITAT Sports Worlds" within the ITAT Membership Super Clubs located in Buji, Meilin, and Longgang of Shenzhen, there are now a total of about 110 ITAT Stores in over 60 cities in China operating "ITAT Sports World" adopting the same ITAT membership sales model up to mid June this year.
Sports Direct is the biggest sports goods retailer with more than 400 stores in operation. President Michael Ashley is the owner of Newcastle United football team in the UK Football Premier League. Founded in 1960, Lonsdale has become the leader in sports fashion with many loyal supporters including the World Boxing Champions Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, the famous UK rock band the Beatles and many other famous film stars in Asia. Dunlop was founded in 1888 and excels at designing sports products by applying advanced technology to help sport stars achieve their best performance and reach their maximum limit. Dunlop is recognized by the world as a symbol of modernity, popularity and advancement. Dunlop rackets are chosen by many famous tennis players including John McEnroe, Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova. Nowadays, Dunlop has a complete range of products including sports shoes, sports wear, bags, travel products, as well as sunglasses, table tennis items, swimwear, bicycle and fitness supplies, et al.
Sports Direct is confident in the extensive retail network and wide membership development base of ITAT. The launch of Lonsdale and Dunlop will provide goods from the two international brands with superb value to the members of ITAT (average price of product is about RMB100). ITAT appreciates the great quality and history of the brands of Sports Direct, as well as the leading position in the market. The cooperation fully demonstrates ITAT’s service idea of "Supporting People, Rewarding Members".
As reported, the cooperation between ITAT Group and Sports Direct is only the first step in the ITAT international brands development. In the second half of 2008, there will be more international famous brands coming to the China market. In this regard, ITAT Group has established an international brand development center charged by the Group’s COO, Mr. Patrick Laurence Cotter, for discussions with various famous brands of the World. International brands are expected to enter the ITAT retail network on a large scale in the near future.
In the meantime, popular US and European brands like MUDD, XOXO, XE-XXEZZ, and other reputable brands owned by Tack Fat Group, a listed Hong Kong company (0928.HK), have also stepped into the ITAT Membership Super Clubs in a store in store format thus providing more selections to our members.
About ITAT Group:
ITAT Group is the owner and operator of the largest network of multi-brand apparel retail chain stores in China in terms of retailing space. Invested by China United Group Overseas Investment Limited, Morgan Stanley, Blue Ridge China, Citadel Investment Group, Merrill Lynch, ITAT Group has operated retail chains through ITAT International Brand Membership Stores, ITAT Membership Super Clubs and Fashion ITAT.
Running on an advanced membership system, ITAT targets the general public by offering extra large one-stop shopping clubs, recreational membership areas, creative furnishings, inclusive products and friendly service as expressions of ITAT’s model of mutual growth based on partnership.
ITAT has experienced great breakthroughs in its strong retail networks. By the end of 31 May 2008, it had established 650 Membership Stores, 130 Super Clubs and 8 Fashion ITAT throughout 31 provincial administrative regions in China, extending a total retailing area which is more than 1.60 million square meters.
Directed by strategic foresight and business acumen, ITAT integrates clothing manufacturers and real estate resources in mainland China to shape the alliance and interest group formed by clothing manufacturers, ITAT Group and real estate owners. This innovative model allows the clothing manufacturers to move their production to the sales outlets, and in doing so, drastically cut down the cost of intermediaries. This model of mutual growth based on partnership was the primary concept introduced by ITAT in the interest of its customers.
Through its innovative, rapid growing and flexible business model, ITAT is on its way to achieving major market penetration.
For more information, please contact:
Editorial Department
Tel: +86-0755-8828-4288
Email: samyau@itat.com.hk, maggiepoon@itatclub.com
Web: http://www.itatclub.com.cn/en/
