Sports Direct International plc, the U.K.'s largest sporting goods retailer, announced plans to launch in Australia and New Zealand by forming an online partnership with OzSale.com.au, part of the MySale Group plc.
Australia's and New Zealand's most successful online flash sales fashion retailer will operate the e-commerce platform as part of a new joint venture, giving Sports Direct immediate access to MySale's 12 million members. Its Australian and New Zealand sites will be launched later this year and be ready to ship goods in the same month.
In parallel, Sports Direct announces that it intends to open three flagship stores in Australia and one in New Zealand, replicating its U.K. retail model, as well as hosting an OzSale.com.au outlet within each of the stores. It is currently working with MySale on the project and will announce a partnership with a leading Australian retail partner shortly.
"We are delighted to announce this partnership with MySale, which will give Sports Direct access to the tremendous markets in Australia and New Zealand and enable customers in both countries to benefit from our quality and unbeatable value," said Sports Direct CEO Dave Forsey. "It will be great to enter these markets, where sport is a way of life. I have been really impressed by the team at MySale and look forward to working with them."
Sports Direct acquired a 4.8 percent stake in MySale in June after the company's initial public offering.
"We are really delighted with this new alliance with Sports Direct, which is one of Britain's best and most exciting retailers," said MySale Founder and Executive Vice Chairman Jamie Jackson. "Sports Direct showed its confidence in our business when it took a 4.8% stake in us a month ago, shortly after our successful IPO. This partnership is the logical next step in the development of our relationship."
