Page 24 - May #172

COVER STORY - U.S. POLO ASSN.
Growth on a

Global Scale

U.S. Polo Assn. is the official brand of the United States
Polo Association (USPA), which was formed in 1890 as the
non-profit governing body for the sport of polo in the United
States. Here, RLI sits down with J. Michael Prince, President
& CEO of USPA Global Licensing, the company that manages the
multi-billion-dollar, global U.S. Polo Assn. brand to discuss its global
growth ambitions.

ot just a brand, U.S. Polo Assn. is an experience. When Machine Group (BMG),” explains J. Michael Prince, President & CEO
customers purchase from the company, they own a piece of USPA Global Licensing. “This store brings a 2,000 sq. ft presence to
Nof the sport of polo. Royalties generated from U.S. Polo the prestigious McArthurGlen Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. While
Assn. help fund the USPA, which grows and promotes the sport in the we already had a presence in the UK wholesale market, our focus is
United States and around the world. now to build out retail, and we anticipate opening a good deal more
As they come into mid-Q2 of 2022, the brand is performing very well brand stores in the UK, this year and beyond.”
and is continuing with its aggressive growth trajectory with dozens of A major milestone opening for U.S. Polo Assn., the Cheshire Oaks
store openings around the world. store fits in perfectly with their position that there is a blurred line
Today the business has 1,200 U.S. Polo Assn. brand stores globally, between the high street and outlet stores today, so their focus is to open
and they are targeting to open more than 100 stores annually from now sites in great locations, and to reach as many consumers as possible.
through 2025. Of these new store openings, a number of them are At the Cheshire Oaks location, UK shoppers can experience the
targeted to be in the UK. elevated outlet store design concept complete with aspirational
“Our most recent opening saw us enter the UK market alongside imagery, the brand’s signature stripe detailing, tech-driven touchless
our outstanding UK-based partner and retail industry-leader, Brand pay, and LED screens for streaming photoshoots as well as some of