Decathlon opens first Melbourne store, in Knoxfield
Global discount sporting retailer Decathlon has opened its first Melbourne store at the Home Consortium complex at 1464 Ferntree Gully Road, Knoxfield, about 27 kilometres east of the CBD.
The opening comes a year after Decathlon established its first Australian store, in Tempe, New South Wales.
Described as “the Ikea of sporting goods” the retailer stocks products related to more than 70 recreational activities.
Headquartered in France, where it was established in 1976, Decathlon plans to trade from five Victorian sites by 2020.
Late last week Decathlon opened a 3800 square metre outlet within another Home Consortium redevelopment in Box Hill South, about 14 kilometres east of the Melbourne CBD.
“Decathlon is the world’s biggest sporting good retailer, with more than 1400 stores in more than 40 countries,” Colliers International leasing manager Daniel Noonan, who negotiated the Box Hill South lease, said.
“Decathlon focuses on quality at competitive prices, aiming to make sport accessible to as many people as possible. Products are reviewed online by customers and their star ratings displayed alongside the item in-store”.
Oliver Robinet, Decathlon Australia chief executive officer added “we are extremely pleased to be expanding our presence across Australia. Building on the success of our website and our first store in Tempe, Sydney, we want to maintain the momentum by opening further stores across Australia”.
“The people of Australia have embraced our brand and we are excited by this”
Several other international and interstate brands have opened, or are planning to open Melbourne outlets soon.
Yesterday, we reported East Perth-based high-end furniture retailer James Said has leased the historic Armadale Picture Theatre, a building until recently occupied by failed auction house, Mossgreen.
Last week we reported that New Zealand retailer Stoke Fireplace Studio leased a showroom in Fairfield, in Melbourne’s north-east, as it prepares to enter the Australian market.
Australia’s first Tiffany pop-up store opened within Melbourne’s Emporium complex last month, as we reported, here.
