UAE retailer and well-being company GMG is opening the first Sun & Sand Sports store in Singapore to expand the presence of its flagship sports retailer in Southeast Asia.
The company plans to open 11 in this region, focusing on Singapore and Malaysia in the next 36 months.
Deputy chairman and CEO of GMG, Mohammad A. Baker, said: “Over the years, Asia has become the world’s consumption growth engine.
“At GMG, we saw an opportunity to leverage our retail expertise from the moment we entered the SEA market. Through brands such as Sun & Sand Sports, we have constantly challenged ourselves to look at innovative ways to bring added value and best-in-class shopping experiences to our customers. The brand’s resounding success in the Middle East has been inspiring, and we are thrilled to extend the SSS experience to Asian customers now.”
The move takes advantage of Southeast Asia burgeoning retail segment which is sustained by a young tech-savvy population, and increasing purchasing power.
Statista projects that the sports and outdoor segment is projected to reach $38.75 billion this year.
President of sports at GMG, Carl Masterman, said: “We take pride in our position as a UAE-born global success story.
“This triumph is built upon setting new benchmarks for customer experience. In Singapore, we have done it again with the city’s most modern and interactive retail concept, establishing a new standard for sports retail.”
Established in 1979 in Dubai, Sun & Sand Sports sells sports, fitness and lifestyle brands.
GMG aims to launch 100 stores by 2025 in Southeast Asia and has already established its Asian headquarters in Malaysia to oversee operations in the region.
As of today, the company operates 31 stores across Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia since entering the region in 2020.
On December 2020, GMG acquired RSH, one of Southeast Asia’s largest multi-brand sports retailers, to affirm its presence in key international markets.
