Lids expands store footprint with its first stores in Europe

Lids is expanding internationally with the opening of its first standalone stores in Europe. 

The world’s largest retailer specializing in the sale of officially licensed and branded headwear has made its European debut with a store in London’s Seven Dials neighborhood. Three additional locations in the U.K. will open in December, including at 02 Peninsula Square in London, Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex, and Churchill Square Shopping Centre Russel Place in Brighton.

The U.K. stores will mimic Lids’ signature shopping experience and feature an extensive assortment of licensed and branded merchandise. The assortment will include major U.S. league team products from MLB, NFL, and NBA, among others, as well as items from brands such as adidas, New Era Cap, '47, Mitchell & Ness, Hurley, Oakley, Local Crowns and more.

Each store will also feature Lids' signature custom zones, which allows consumers the opportunity to custom embroider a hat or apparel piece of their choice in-store, including from the retailer's numerous options of player numbers and autographs.

“London is a natural fit for Lids,” said Britten Maughan, president of Lids. “The enthusiasm for both American sports and streetwear aligns with our on-field and fashion-focused hat and jersey assortment. We are excited to bring our brand and product to market.”

The London store openings are the first of many planned from Lids heading into 2022 as the retailer looks to double down on its global footprint.

"Expanding in the UK is our top priority at Lids," says Tom Ripley, chairman and CEO of Lids and partner/co-founder at Ames Watson, parent company to Lids. "Lids has become one of the strongest retailers in North America and we're thrilled to take this growth internationally as we look to open 100-plus standalone Lids stores in new markets. There has already been great success with the London NBA store operated by Lids since its grand opening earlier this year, and we are excited to introduce standalone Lids stores to an even larger audience of British customers."

Lids’ international growth plans follows the retailer's exponential growth into a billion-dollar business since being acquired by Ames Watson in 2019.

Lids operates nearly 2,000 stores throughout the U.S. and Canada, including through its ongoing partnerships with Macy's and Designer https://chainstoreage.com/lids-open-store-shops-dsw-shoe-company-stores Brands (DSW). Lids also operates the newly opened National Hockey League (NHL) flagship store in New York City as well as the National Basketball Association (NBA) flagship stores in New York City and London.

[Read More: Lids goes big in San Francisco]