Nike scaling back on Tennis Apparel

[oodelally]

i just called and spoke to both Nike Factory Outlet stores in Illinois and the NikeTown store on Michigan Ave Chicago, and not only do the Outlet stores not carry any Tennis apparel, but the NikeTown store is pulling out it's entire Tennis section completely.

Seems as though Nike isn't making enough off of Tennis apparel and shoes and they're scaling back the entire operation. What a bummer!

 

[kimguroo]

i just called and spoke to both Nike Factory Outlet stores in Illinois and the NikeTown store on Michigan Ave Chicago, and not only do the Outlet stores not carry any Tennis apparel, but the NikeTown store is pulling out it's entire Tennis section completely.

Seems as though Nike isn't making enough off of Tennis apparel and shoes and they're scaling back the entire operation. What a bummer!

Probably it's just seasonal thing. Usually Nike stores does it all the time. I am not surprised that your niketown won't carry tennis items in the future. Atlanta has huge tennis population but Niketown does not have any single tennis items for at least 7 years. Also you can't trust what the employees say on the phone. Sometimes they just say what they want to say. In my opinion, Nike runs very poor management for factory stores.
Nike is not scaling back. Actually Nike needs to make less product lines. Too many ugly products nowadays and those items are waiting to go liquidate stores for dirt cheap.

 

[fantom]

I've scaled back on Nike tennis apparel because of the grotesque year-to-year price increases.

 

[Fedinkum]

I've scaled back on Nike tennis apparel because of the grotesque year-to-year price increases.

I am joining the scaling back of Nike Tennis gear too...as a matter of fact, I am scaling back all Nike items

 

[XFactorer]

Let's look at it from a business perspective ... you have X sq footage of your store dedicated to NikeTennis in a shop where people generally buy basketball and running apparel. Why would you keep carrying product to serve the potential one or two buyers a day when the other 100 are getting running/basketball items?

So what if Nike is going online-only? We're not a big enough market, but we have our dedicated retailers like TW!

 

[oodelally]

Let's look at it from a business perspective ... you have X sq footage of your store dedicated to NikeTennis in a shop where people generally buy basketball and running apparel. Why would you keep carrying product to serve the potential one or two buyers a day when the other 100 are getting running/basketball items?

So what if Nike is going online-only? We're not a big enough market, but we have our dedicated retailers like TW!

I would agree with you, except that every time I went to NikeTown, customers straight TORE through all of the stuff, I'd go back a week later and multiple items (including wristbands and headbands) were completely sold out. For Nike Chicago it's definitely not a matter of not selling enough stuff, because the golf section is right next to it, and I've never seen anyone buying anything there.

I wouldn't have a huge problem for an online only Tennis release system, except for the fact that Nike.com slacks hard on putting their stuff up. All the major tennis gear websites already have the full FW15 collection up, and Nike.com still hasn't posted a single thing, and they didn't even have half the wristbands/headbands from the past 3 seasons on there...

Considering Federer is the most marketable athlete on the planet and he and Rafa wear 10+ Nike logos every time they play a match, some of which go on for hours at a time, you'd think they would be trying to capitalize on that.

It also might help if they didn't charge stupid amounts like $18 socks and $75 for shorts and shirts and now $200 for shoes...

 

[Seth]

Glad I live in Florida where just about all the outlets regularly have discounted tennis items.

 

[Tyrus]

To be honest, It's Chicago, which isn't exactly a big Tennis town to begin with. It should come as no surprise to see how much sq footage is reserved for Jordans. Last I remember the tennis gear was tucked into a small corner of that store and selection was limited, but I haven't shopped there in years.

You're better off getting your stuff at Midtown, Strings Attached or Your Advantage. You might also have some luck at Dick's or Sports Authority.

 

[XFactorer]

It also might help if they didn't charge stupid amounts like $18 socks and $75 for shorts and shirts and now $200 for shoes...

It would help... but they have socks that are 6 for $18 and shorts that are $40, shoes that are $85.

We tennis fanatics usually prefer the high-end, performance stuff, though!

 

[scotus]

I'm glad I'm not picky about shirts and shorts and can play in just about any athletic attire. I will let some other people pay Nike $100 for a shirt.

 

[Atomicman]

Niketown in Seattle has NEVER carried Tennis, nor has the Nike outlet Store here.

 

[t135]

If they didn't charge $80 for a pair of $20 shorts etc I might buy their clothes

 

[Atomicman]

If they didn't charge $80 for a pair of $20 shorts etc I might buy their clothes

Not really fair, I wear a lot of the Nike 9" Court Shorts... $40.00 Cuz I can't stand the 7" shorts that Federer and Nadal have been wearing.

 

[Dave1982]

None of this really surprises me....I live in Australia and obviously we certainly don't have the same size market as the US but only time you will really ever see Tennis gear in the Nike stores is during the summer come AO time...it would be an absolute once off/fluke to see tennis gear in Nike stores outside of this period.

Most of the big retailers work on formula for their stores which dictates how much revenue they need each sq foot of space to generate...needless to say if in certain markets the tennis gear doesn't move as quick as the running or basketball gear....you can be damn sure which one is going to go. Additional to that many of the Nike stores where I live are privately owned so Nike doesn't necessarily determine what each store will carry, it's up to the owner of the store and again they sure aren't going to want to carry stock (or an excess amount of) which will only end up in the discount bin.

I do genuinely believe though that Nike have cooled on their big push into tennis...the fact we've essentially had vapor 9's for what will be 5 seasons next year (not discounting the fact if it aint broke don't fix it) and many of their designs have become pretty basic or repetitive to me suggests they've pulled back on the investment.

 

[Rosstour]

It's not just Nike stores--I went into my local Modell's, and there were like 2 men's tennis shoes. They said they get zero foot traffic for men's tennis, more so for women. Not a good sign.

 

[Bionic slice]

I actually prefer Adidas over Nike clothes. Not too worries, online tennis retailers will still have stuff. The big season slowing down and its now football and basketball season.

 

[BreakPoint]

I haven't seen any tennis apparel in any of the Nike Factory Stores (3 of them) near me in years and they very rarely ever have any tennis shoes. A couple of them used to have tennis apparel sections, but those disappeared years ago.

 

[BreakPoint]

Actually Nike needs to make less product lines. Too many ugly products nowadays and those items are waiting to go liquidate stores for dirt cheap.

Agreed. Way too much ugly Nike tennis apparel for the past few years. A lot of the stuff you see you're just like - "What the heck were they thinking???" And no need to come out with so many different styles every 3 months. Perhaps just a few good looking and good quality items every 6 months is enough.

 

[bigdaddyps]

I find great looking Nike clothes all the time. Keep them coming boyz. Each "season" there's usually something snazzy. Just cut back on the pinkish fetish Nike. That's my only gripe.

 

[szumowska]

i just called and spoke to both Nike Factory Outlet stores in Illinois and the NikeTown store on Michigan Ave Chicago, and not only do the Outlet stores not carry any Tennis apparel, but the NikeTown store is pulling out it's entire Tennis section completely.

Seems as though Nike isn't making enough off of Tennis apparel and shoes and they're scaling back the entire operation. What a bummer!

That sounds tragic for tennis. Is that why Nike is so desperate to be seen that all their top players have been wearing neon colored apparels?

 

[t135]

Not really fair, I wear a lot of the Nike 9" Court Shorts... $40.00 Cuz I can't stand the 7" shorts that Federer and Nadal have been wearing.

It goes without saying that Nike Apparel is very expensive. I too have a stock of $40 nike shorts that I wear. But nike isn't what you buy when you're looking for a bargain. Most major brands are way overpriced.

 

[Bartelby]

Nike has turned itself more into a fashion brand, so it produces expensive fashion-oriented seasonal garments rather than staples.

 

[t135]

Nike has turned itself more into a fashion brand, so it produces expensive fashion-oriented seasonal garments rather than staples.

You're right

 

[mjweatherup]

Nike has turned itself more into a fashion brand, so it produces expensive fashion-oriented seasonal garments rather than staples.

Yes great point. I like wearing the stuff, particularly the RF polos, because they look and feel great. I often wear an RF polo with tracksuit bottoms on my way to the gym, while doing some shopping or while at a coffee shop working or revising for an exam

 

[swizzy]

my two nike factory stores have been doing the same thing for about 5 years now.. occasional items show up. the only good part is that they come in for clearance purposes only and i have gotten pretty lucky.. in fact i have bought more since they switched to this seldom random items approach than paying off the floor retail.. i would prefer a bit of both.

 

[Chopin]

I'm also joining those scaling back on Nike tennis apparel. I'll still buy the Vapors because I need a good tennis shoe for my feet, but $75 for a short finished with glue and with cheap logos that wear off relatively quickly is absurd (not to mention the material wrinkles easily). The prices are premium, but the quality isn't. The older stuff is better.

 

[Backhanded Compliment]

I go to the Nike employee store on the corporate campus several times a year and the have a few pieces and that's it. They have several buildings named after tennis greats like McEnroe and Sampras but no they dont focus on tennis much. Once Roger retires Nike will likely lose most of its attention to men's tennis.

 

[RSWatkins]

I agree that the Niketown stores don't carry much tennis items if any anymore. I've found that the Nike Factory stores near me have had tennis items every time I've visited (Ga/Tn). It may just be my area.

 

[smboogie]

Other than the shoes I don't think I have much Nike Tennis gear, mostly because of the pricing. I can go to Old Navy and get DriFit shirts for MUCH less with matching shorts and hoodies/pullovers if I want to have an outfit (which I really don't care about).

 

[Big_Dangerous]

If they didn't charge $80 for a pair of $20 shorts etc I might buy their clothes

And for lame ass short shorts too. I don't mind paying 40-50 bucks for a pair of 11-12 inch length shorts. But no ****ing way am I paying that or more for 7 inch shorts...

 

[Big_Dangerous]

Nike has turned itself more into a fashion brand, so it produces expensive fashion-oriented seasonal garments rather than staples.

Which I also hate with a passion. I prefer colors and designs that go well with everything. Black, White, Grey. Maybe toss in other colors just as accents but not the focal point of the design. And certainly don't mix bright colors... Kokkinakis's hideous US Open outfit comes to mind. Bright Red with Volt, ****ing disgusting.

 

[adaan]

same thing here. I've recently went to the SoCal factory stores in Ontario, Orange, San Diego, Cabazon, Barstow, and even Las Vegas Nevada. No men's tennis apparel, gear, shoes whatsoever.

 

[ArliHawk]

Love the new Challenger shirts, feel like cotton, but wick like poly.

 

[Peak Nadal]

Love the new Challenger shirts, feel like cotton, but wick like poly.

Yes, they are awesome! I just got a pair of them in the mail from TW.

 

[SDN]

Someone please could write / find the link to the Tennis-Warehouse catalogue Fall 1997 and 1998?
I would like to check some things to level ad price.
Thanks

 

[snvplayer]

Someone please could write / find the link to the Tennis-Warehouse catalogue Fall 1997 and 1998?
I would like to check some things to level ad price.
Thanks

If I recall correctly, Tennis Warehouse and other internet stores did not begin selling NIke items over internet until 2000 or 2001.
(I think it was Nike's policy). Shoes were sold online though...

Most nike tennis polos were between $45~55 range, I think...