Roots Has Big Expansion Plans in United States
The New York Times reports that Roots plans to open 300 stores in the United States in the next eight years. The article says that the Toronto-based company currently has seven stores in the United States, including Salt Lake City, Manhattan, and Birmingham, Michigan.
The interest in Roots clothing in the United States currently stems from the fact that the Roots is the official uniform supplier to the U.S. Olympic Team. The article explains the history behind the USOC's choice, which hasn't been widely known until now:
The company seems to have clinched the United States Olympic Committee uniform contract more or less by default. A Nike spokeswoman said her company, based in Beaverton, Ore., considered making a bid for the Olympic contract, but could not agree on terms with the committee. The committee signed a contract with Tommy Hilfiger, but rejected the proposed design, and is now suing the company.
The committee then turned to Roots. "It was the quality of the Roots merchandise and the enthusiasm they expressed at the initial meeting," said Matthew B. Biespiel, the committee's managing director for brand development. "When we showed them where we wanted to go, they became extremely excited."