Today’s sports fans are seeking so much more than watching a game. They want a full sensory experience that immerses them in the energy of the event, and reflect the passion they have for their team.
In light of this trend, Sportiqe partnered with the Phoenix Suns and FANATICS to re-imagine the retail shopping experience in the Suns Team Shop at Footprint Center, their home court. The Suns are one of the most popular sports teams in the country, with a feverishly loyal fanbase, and we aimed to set a new industry standard for a memorable retail experience that was befitting of this legendary franchise.
In tandem with the Suns leadership, we launched this “Retail Re-imagination” with these goals:
- Maximize square footage (measured by revenue)
- Present the latest and greatest Phoenix Suns-branded products from Sportiqe
- Elevate our brand as a premier NBA partner
- Help the Suns sell more merchandise that inspires fan pride
To begin with, we strived to take full advantage of the space. As a free-standing island in the center of the floorplan, the space is visible from multiple entrances, as well as by passers-by on the sidewalk through the window. Our Sportiqe-branded "Shop-in-Shop" would be one of the first impressions fans would see as they entered on game day – and it had to convey the promise of an elevated presence befitting of the premium product. We used mirrored and backlit signage and additional accents to distinguish the space as a one-of-a-kind shopping experience catering specifically to the Suns fans.
Once the space was completed, our fan-favorite apparel stood front and center, ready to be seen and experienced in a way that matched the quality and craftsmanship that goes into every Sportiqe hoodie, tee, hat, sweatshirt, or jacket.
The result? The Team Store game day per caps tripled and overall sales increased by 5X over the previous 18 months after the Shop-in-Shop launched.
“Thanks in part to a trusted and collaborative relationship with Sportiqe, the Phoenix Suns set a new franchise standard for retail marketing and merchandise sales. Sportiqe has embraced our elevated expectations for diversity of offerings, on-trend silhouettes, and truly collaborating on design to be on-brand,” said Dean Stoyer, the Phoenix Suns Chief Marketing & Communications Officer who worked closely with Sportiqe on the project.
The Phoenix Suns success story is one example of Sportiqe’s Signage & Display program, which exists to maximize the investment of any organization selling Sportiqe Apparel at bricks-and-mortar retail locations. The Sportiqe team is able to create customized experiences that elevate the shopping experience and cater directly to the needs of everyone who walks through the door. In fact, partners who have leveraged our Signage & Display program have seen double-digit sales increases of Sportiqe products within the first year.
Interested in learning more about selling Sportiqe apparel in your retail location or if a partnership is right for you? We’d love to chat.
