Lids to open in-store shops in DSW, Shoe Company stores

Lids is expanding its footprint in Canada through a partnership with Designer Brands.

The headwear and licensed sports product retailer will open in-store shops in 45 DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse and The Shoe Company locations in Canada, including Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, starting in mid-May. Product will also be available online, on each brand’s respective website. (Lids currently operates 130 stores throughout Canada.)

The new shop-in-shop formats will range from “impactful” headwear displays to mini shops that include licensed jerseys. The merchandise assortment will include licensed headwear and jerseys, with an emphasis on gear representing top Canadian sports teams, including the Maple Leafs, Oilers, Raptors, and the Blue Jays. 

"We are thrilled to partner with Lids on the roll-out of store-in-store boutiques offering licensed sports merchandise to local fan communities across the country," said Mary Turner, president of Designer Brands operations in Canada. "We believe that Lids' merchandise provides great synergies with our growing athletics assortments while allowing us to tap into a younger customer demographic."

The announcement with Designer Brands follows a breakout year for Lids that saw the company add 70 stores during the COVID pandemic and cement an international expansion agreement with the NBA. Lids is part of Lids Sports Group, which operates more than 1,200 stores under the Lids, Locker Room by Lids, Fanzz, Yankees Clubhouse Shops, Dodgers Clubhouse, Cardinals Clubhouse and other banners, along with locations in select Macy's stores.

"At Lids, we're always looking for new ways to bring our unparalleled assortment of licensed sports apparel and headwear to more customers," said Lawrence Berger, co-founder and partner at Ames Watson and chairman of FanzzLids Holdings, which is the owner of Lids. "Designer Brands offers a one-stop-shop for footwear and accessory needs and we're looking forward to complementing that with Lids' diverse offerings to better serve Canadian customers."