French retailer Decathlon to open first of five Vic stores by November

The world’s biggest sporting retailer is set to open its first Victorian store in Box Hill South by November, with four more likely to follow.

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The world’s biggest sporting retailer is set to open its first Victorian store in Box Hill South by November, with four more likely to follow.

As revealed by the Whitehorse Leader on Friday, French-owned retail giant Decathlon today announced five stores would open across Victoria over the next two years, with the first to open at 249 Middleborough Rd, Box Hill South before the end of November.

The warehouse-style store will replicate Decathlon’s outlet in Tempe, Sydney, stocking more than 7000 sporting products across a space of more than 3800sq m.

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It will offer equipment, clothes and shoes for more than 70 sports, and will include an outside sports pitch where customers can test and play with equipment before buying.

Decathlon Australia was joined by State Trade and Investment Minister Philip Dalidakis this morning to announce its expansion into its second Australian state.

Mr Dalidakis welcomed “one of the newest forms of retailing in the sporting and clothing sector” to the Melbourne market.

Mr Dalidakis said Decathlon was already considering a site in Melbourne’s southeast for another store.

Decathlon Australia chief executive Olivier Robinet with Minister for Trade and Innovation Philip Diladakis during this morning’s announcement.

The retail giant has more than 1200 stores in 30 countries around the world and opened its first Australian store in Sydney last year as it celebrated its 40th birthday.

Decathlon Australia chief executive Olivier Robinet said the first store had been very successful, selling more than 60,000 items on average each month.

“The people of Australia have embraced our brand and we are excited about this,” he said.

Mr Robinet said he was confident Decathlon would also have success in Victoria, where it would provide up to 100 jobs at each store.

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A second NSW, located in Paramatta, will also be opened before the end of November.

Decathlon has previously been likened to a sporting version of Ikea because of its low prices.

Stating that its “main mission is to make sport accessible to as many people” as it can, the discount retailer has women’s fitness pants starting from as low as $9.

The chain only stocks its more than 20 exclusive brands, which include labels such as Kalenji, Artengo and Domyos.

Mr Robinet said Decathlon was able to offer the most affordable prices to customers because it sold solely its own designs and did not provide any corporate sponsorship.

The chief executive said the company would look at expanding its products to cater specifically for Australian sport, such as AFL, now that it was opening more stores.

More: decathlon.com.au