U.S. Polo Assn. pushes forward with rapid international growth

By

Robin Driver

Published
Oct 25, 2018

The United Polo Association’s official licensing arm USPA Global Licensing (USPAGL) announced on Wednesday that the U.S. Polo Assn. brand has now opened a total of 1,050 monobrand retail stores around the world, surpassing a major milestone as it continues with its aggressive global expansion.
 

The $1.6-billion brand, which is now represented in 166 countries, reports that by the end of this year, it will have launched around 100 stores in 2018 alone, including recent openings in Boston’s Faneuil Hall, Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates, Tocuman International Airport in Panama City, China’s Xianyang Kaihuang Plaza and Bangalore, India.
 
In the coming years, U.S. Polo Assn. is aiming to expand its retail network to cover more than 1,300 stores around the globe, focusing on key growth regions such as India, China, Turkey, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

“While many brands have been closing stores, or even going out of business, U.S. Polo Assn. has been on an aggressive expansion effort as we believe the greatest consumer experience still lies within the retail store environment," said USPAGL President and CEO J. Michael Prince. "We are also proud of our international expansion efforts and our global momentum as 2018 is going to be a record financial year.”
 
USPGAL also pointed out that 90% of U.S. Polo Assn.’s retail locations are currently in-line doors, with only 10% operating in outlet locations, a significantly lower percentage of outlets than other multi-billion-dollar brands.
 
In 2019, the brand will launch a new “high energy” retail concept in a number of international locations. The concept, which aims to bring together fashion and sport, and improve customer experience through technology and social engagement, takes its lead from the U.S. Polo Assn. store in Times Square, New York, considered to be the brand’s most high-profile location.
 
U.S. Polo Assn. reported double-digit growth in 2018.