All Roads in Retail Lead Here: 10 international brands with U.S. expansion plans

Across the globe, American consumers have long been known for their spending power.  And increasingly, foreign retailers want to get in on the action.

The number of international retailers looking to expand in the U.S. is growing at a fast pace. Some, such as Primark and Uniqlo, have been here for a few years, while others are new on the scene (at least with regard to a brick-and-mortar footprint).

Here’s a look at 10 imports.

1/Etam: The century-old French lingerie retailer recently made its U.S. store debut at Simon’s Dadeland Mall in Miami.  The storied — and affordable — brand has more than 850 global stores.  It now has its eyes set on U.S. expansion, with plans open two more U.S. locations by yearend.

2/Intimissimi: With superstar Jennifer Lopez as its global ambassador, the reasonably priced Italian lingerie and loungewear brand has ambitious expansion plans for the U.S., one of its biggest untapped markets. The company expects to open 27 stores this year, followed by another 30 locations in 2024.

3/Mango: The Spanish fast-fashion brand, which has about 10 U.S. stores, is on a mission to open 40 stores here by the end of 2024, after which it will reveal the second phase of its U.S. expansion.

While most of its expansion has been in the Northeast, the company plans to further expand into the Southern U.S., including Texas.

4/On: The fast-growing Swiss running and performance apparel brand recently opened its fourth U.S. store, in Brooklyn, N.Y.  The outpost spans 3,625 sq. ft. across two floors, with the second level dedicated to community experiences. 

The new location underscores On’s investment in the U.S. amid strong (including wholesale) growth. The company plans to open stores in Miami; Chicago;Austin, Texas; and Portland, Ore.

5/Primark: The value-priced family fashions and home goods retailer, a subsidiary of Associated British Foods, is entering new markets as part of its accelerated U.S. expansion. With 22 U.S. stores up and running, Primark is looking to reach 60 U.S. locations by 2026.

6/Pop Mart: With nearly 400 stores and 2,000 “Robo Shops” (vending machines) around the world, Chinese collectible toy brand Pop Mart opened its first permanent U.S. store, at American Dream, in East Rutherford, N.J.  

 Pop Mart specializes in creating “designer” toys in collaboration with international designers and entertainment powerhouses such as Disney and Universal Studios. The retailer is best known for  its “blind box” offering, an assortment of items in a sealed box that cannot be opened until the box is purchased.   

7/Princess Polly:  With its affordable offerings, the online Australian fashion brand is a Gen Z fave, particularly in the U.S. where sales make up the majority of its revenue. Polly’s first-ever store, at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles, is sleek and stylish — and packed with the brand’s constantly changing assortment of on-trend styles.

8/Uniqlo: With some 50 U.S. locations, the Japanese retailer hopes to grow that number by a reported 20 to 30 stores a year.

9/Zara: The fashion brand, part of Spanish apparel giant Inditex, is focused on expanding its U.S. fleet. From 2023 to 2025, Zara will open or renovate at least 30 stores in key U.S. cities.

10/Printemps: In its first U.S. outing, the 150-year-old French department store retailer will open a 54,365-sq.-ft. store in New York City, in a landmark building in Manhattan’s financial district. The two-level space is expected to open in spring 2024.