Hockey gear maker Bauer Hockey to open retail stores

Exeter, N.H. -- Ice hockey equipment manufacturer Bauer Hockey is throwing its puck in the retail arena. The company will open its first-ever store this summer, in the Boston suburb of Burlington, Massachusetts. It will be followed by a second location in the fall, in the Minneapolis area.



The Bauer stores, which the company describes as the “Own The Moment" retail experience, will include an indoor ice rink where shoppers can try out equipment. Designed to inform and inspire hockey players, the stores will feature expertly trained associates to guide each shopper through a "fit, learn and experience" process.



"Similar to other premium brands that have entered retail, offering the full depth and breadth of our products in one place allows us to tell our unique stories in a way that only we can and helps strengthen the surrounding hockey retail environment. The Bauer Hockey 'Own The Moment' retail experiences will be living representations of our brand," said Rich Wuerthele, executive VP, Bauer Hockey, a subsidiary of Performance Sports Group Ltd.



The stores will have dedicated areas for each product category as well as specific areas to educate new-to-hockey families and welcome them to the sport. Stores will host several events and initiatives for players, parents and the overall hockey community.



“The Bauer retail experience is designed around every hockey consumer's needs and will fully showcase our technological advancements, how our products work together and the benefit of selecting equipment that is fine-tuned for your game," Wuerthele said.



Bauer plans to open six-to-eight stores during the next several years in key hockey markets across the United States and Canada. The company expects its retail operations to grow its overall business and be profitable in the next 18-24 months.