CHICAGO – NikeTown Chicago (NTC) launched a remodeling project this week that will introduce the store’s dedicated environment for active women when it relaunches in November. The third floor of the new store will be dedicated to Nike footwear, apparel, accessories and equipment for women, and will serve as the testing ground for NikeTown renovations around the world. With its prominent location on Chicago’s ‘Magnificent Mile,’ NTC promises to be an essential and exciting part of local women’s shopping habits. The 68,000-square-foot store will remain open to serve customers throughout the renovation, and is scheduled to relaunch on Friday, November 17, 2000.
‘NikeTown stores are a direct line to our customers and perfect venues for consumer feedback,’ says Trip Randall, director of demand creation for Nike’s Retail division. ‘Nike has always had a strong emotional and product connection with active women, but through customer interactions at NikeTown, we recognized that our female consumer’s needs were changing. The third floor at NTC is just one example of a total brand effort involving consumer communication, product creation and dedicated retail presentation.’
JOY OF PLAY
NikeTown has a tradition of involving the community in each of its store openings, and the NTC relaunch is no different. NTC is offering Chicagoans a prominent spot in the new store and invites them to bring their photos, depicting everyday athletes in the act of ‘play,’ to be considered for a gigantic ‘Joy of Play’ collage. Twenty-five photos will be selected for the collage, which will be permanently housed in the store; winners will be invited to the ‘Joy of Play’ unveiling at the store’s grand re-opening on Friday, November 17. Entries must include the negative and a 25-word explanation and must be submitted by August 25 to NikeTown Chicago, Attn: Joy of Play, 669 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, 60611. For the return of photos and/or negatives, entries must be submitted with a SASE. Winners will be named on September 1.
NikeTown, with 13 stores in the United States and two in Europe, is the gathering place for sports enthusiasts. More than a store, it’s a veritable retail sports arena of Nike footwear, apparel, accessories and equipment, in a motivating retail environment that showcases the brand’s rich sports heritage. NT stores feature audio-video presentations, sports archival displays and athletically-inspired design elements that provide inspiration for the athlete in everybody, while serving as a central meeting place for grassroots sports and fitness activities.
Since opening in 1992, NikeTown Chicago has drawn more than one million customers each year and has established itself as a ‘must-shop’ experience for local consumers and visitors alike. For more information on NikeTown Chicago, please contact Mary Therese Kraft at 312.642.6363 or marytherese.kraft@nike.com.
Source: NIKE