Klarna’s Post

Did you know that for every 9 pieces of men’s sports merchandise available in the US, women’s sports only has 1? 🤯 Did you know that 60% of fans shopping for women’s sports merch ended up not buying because they couldn’t find what they wanted? 🤯 The gap between men’s and women’s sports merch is huge, the untapped potential is huge, and the money being left on the table is huge… $4 Billion annually. I’m excited to share Klarna's latest efforts to support women’s sports with the launch of Rep Her — a global initiative to raise awareness around the gender gap in the merch market and introduce a better way for fans to shop smarter and fan harder. Proud to have teamed up with fan data powerhouse Sports Innovation Lab to release a first-of-its-kind global report — Rep Her: Revealing the Unmet Demand for Women’s Sports Merchandise. And, Klarna is walking the walk by releasing custom merch collections in partnership with TOGETHXR and Alexandra Krieger in the US and COPA90 and Foudys in the UK. 📣 Big shout out to my insanely talented team that made this happen Allie Weiller Kimberly Gibbs Kirschner Juliann Kane Cameron Yates Iona Haig Olivia Eaton and all the great partners who have rallied around this with us! Looking forward to continuing to prove that it’s good business to invest in the women’s sports business. Rep Her report here: https://lnkd.in/gWaXYAE3 #RepHer #Klarna #WomensSports

A new report from Sports Innovation Lab and Klarna found that the untapped potential of the women's sports merchandise market is $4 billion.💰 The research, titled: “Rep Her: Revealing the Unmet Demand Demand for Women’s Sports Merchandise” is the 4th iteration of Sports Innovation’s "The Fan Project" series that evaluates different business opportunities in the women’s sports sector. This analysis examined what merchandise is currently offered to women's sports consumers, and found there are significant disparities when it comes to availability & quality compared to that of men's sports. The key findings include: 💰 Women’s sports fans make more purchases per year than men’s sports fans -- and spend more per year on merchandise than men’s sports fans. 🏅 Even without ever attending a game live, 67% of women’s sports fans still make merchandise purchases. 👎 For every 9 pieces of men’s sports merchandise that are available for purchase, women’s sports have just 1. 📉 60% of fans who searched for and intended to buy women’s sports merchandise did not make a purchase because of inventory issues. 🛒 79% of surveyed respondents reported they would purchase more women’s sports merchandise if there were more options available to them, while 28% reported they could not find a style they liked. As part of the REP HER initiative, Klarna & Sports Innovation Lab also partnered with TOGETHXR to create a limited edition collection merchandise line to raise awareness around the gender gaps in sports merchandise & provide more supply to the marketplace. ➡ Read full report here: https://lnkd.in/eZR3rQQd

New report: "The women's sports merchandise market is $4 billion." It's prob much bigger than that. Not that this isn't a great and much-needed assessment. An important milestone in the long-awaited understanding that women's sports stands to become a hugely lucrative industry. But most new markets are undercounted at the beginning. Until the thing becomes a reality, analysts can't really envision what it looks like. And that means there's huge oppty for those who see the gap bw current assessment & ultimate reality. Kara Nortman, after all, started launching Angel City FC after walking around Vancouver during the 2015 women's World Cup, looking for player jerseys for her daughters--and couldn't find _any_. For any of the players. In the friggin' World CUP (!). $4 billion? The current global market for licensed sports merchandise is $33.5 billion. Women buy stuff. $4 billion? It's likely going to be much bigger than that. Get in while you can.

I was thrilled to read about the recent study valuing the women’s sports merchandise market at an astounding $4 billion. The journey to this milestone has been marked by passionate fans like Ali Krieger, who faced challenges finding jerseys of her favorite athletes. This highlights not just a frustration but an economic opportunity that’s been overlooked for far too long. Ali's persistence in searching for a Sue Bird jersey back in 2016 underscores a broader issue in women’s sports—fans are eager for more options that genuinely cater to them. The demand for diverse, well-designed women's sports merchandise is undeniable, and now the supply needs to meet it. It’s inspiring to see initiatives like Klarna’s women’s sports destination and their collaboration with Togethxr to create limited-edition merchandise. These efforts not only provide fans with what they've been asking for - but also drive awareness and support for women's sports. #WNBA #Merchendise #UnderservedMarket #HighPotential

According to a new report, “Rep Her: Revealing The Unmet Demand for Women’s Sports Merchandise,” developed by Klarna and the Sports Innovation Lab, that I highlight in my latest Forbes piece, women’s sports merchandise is a $4 Billion dollar a year industry. According to Angela Ruggiero “women's sports are the best value investment a brand can make right now. Fans are starved for options and are willing and able to spend with the companies that show up authentically as part of the community. Fans sniff out bad actors that shrink and pink their offerings from men's to women's. To be successful, truly invest and you'll be rewarded by the community.” Nearly 80% of respondents indicated that they would purchase more women’s sports merchandise if there were more options and greater inventory. As noted by Megan Gokey “the ‘Rep Her’ initiative is Klarna’s first step in spreading the word and making sure people know this is not just a real problem, but that it’s also a real business opportunity. I really hope this initiative has an influence on other brands and retailers and that they see the potential opportunity in the women’s sports merchandise market. From there, I think we can work together to try to solve it.” According to Gina Waldhorn, “When you see that 60% of fans are leaving the checkout line because an item is not in stock, it's the clearest indictment of missed revenue someone can see. We want everyone to use our data to convince decision-makers of the opportunity sitting here.” In my latest for Forbes I take a deeper look at their report and highlight some key findings. Read more ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/e2rVfdPq You can read the full “Rep Her” report here: https://lnkd.in/et3nUkPD

🌟 Exciting News for Women's Sports! 🌟 The women’s sports merchandise market is booming, and it's about time! 🏅 According to a recent USA Today article, the market is finally recognizing the immense potential and passion of women’s sports fans. This growth not only highlights the increasing visibility and popularity of women’s sports but also the demand for merchandise that celebrates and supports female athletes. At Data Talks, we are thrilled to see this shift. Our Customer Data Platform (CDP) helps sports organizations harness the power of supporter data to boost ticket sales, increase merchandise revenue, and negotiate higher-value sponsorships. Women's sports teams can now leverage data to maximize their reach and profitability. 💬 Let's talk about how Data Talks can help your organization capitalize on this momentum and drive even greater success for women’s sports. Whether it's filling stadiums, increasing merchandise sales, or enhancing sponsor value, our CDP is designed to meet your needs. Join us in supporting and celebrating women’s sports! Together, we can turn this growth into a lasting legacy. #WomenInSports #DataDrivenSuccess #SportsMarketing #MerchandiseRevolution Here is a link to the article and report; https://lnkd.in/de4VngdG Feel free to reach out if you want more information on how we can help you drive results! 🚀 #DataTalks #SupportWomenInSports #FanEngagement #SportsData #SalesBoost

Fanatics continues to reshape sports fandom, but I question the affordability, inclusivity, and sustainability of the business model. Now valued at $31 BILLION with a B!! ⚾In April 2017, Fanatics acquired Majestic Athletic, MLB uniform provider, from VF corporation to grow vertical capabilities. 🏀In September 2017, Fanatics closed a $1 Billion fundraising round led by Softbank (incl. the NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS, and NFLPA). ⚽Today, Fanatics has deals with the NHL, NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, MLS, NCAA, UFC, and WWE to manufacture and distribute gear. Among trading cards, media, gambling, how could this sports empire continue to grow? . . . 🏈Fanatics Fest NYC🏈 A three-day event in August. Forget trade shows and collectible events, it’s an immersive sports event showcasing collectibles, sports betting, and merchandise, while also using the event as a platform to discuss how sports provide a stage for inspiration and influence. I have a few thoughts: 🏀What I find fascinating - this couldn’t come at a better time. On the heels of historic attention to women’s sports from all the narratives surrounding women's basketball and with the Olympics quickly approaching – the sports industry is talking women’s sports. Let’s see if Fanatics takes advantage of this momentum and caters a portion of the event to women’s merch, events planned with women in mind, and women’s sports. ⚾Pricing – how is this strong hold going to continue to impact pricing for the middle-class? It’s not looking good. There is no incentive to pass on cost savings to the consumer. We are taking our 5 YO son to his first professional baseball game in 2 weeks. I bought him a Yankees basic t-shirt - $28! It pained me! ⚽Quality & Sustainability – Over the last few years, I’ve read concerns over the quality of sports apparel going downhill, a renewed focus was put on this at the beginning of the MLB season. I see it in the t-shirt I bought my son that is paper thin. The apparel is not meant to last as long, perpetuating a continuous buying cycle. I still have my Starter 1998 New York Yankees World Series jacket in great condition. Similarly to pricing, there is no incentive to do better. Fanatics continues to get paid more for lesser quality. #sports #merch #apparel #sales #competition #quality #memorabilia #retail #womenssports 🔗 in comments

Interest in women’s sports is at an all-time high – so why don’t we see very many female athlete jerseys worn by fans? A recent report by Klarna and Sports Innovation Lab on this topic is eye-opening (https://lnkd.in/gHPedXwa) 1️⃣ the women’s sports merchandise market is estimated to be valued at $4 billion per year 2️⃣ for every nine pieces of men’s sports merchandise available in the US, there’s only one available for women’s sports. 3️⃣ 79% of fans reported they would purchase more women’s sports merchandise if they had more options But there are people working on innovative solutions to this problem. For example, my niece Lauren Gilbert plays professional lacrosse for Athletes Unlimited - and I love their approach to bringing fans closer to the game. You can support your favorite Athletes Unlimited players with merchandise: https://lnkd.in/gXdQ_5za #WomensSports

The athletes and partners in women’s sports would give the shirts off their backs to keep the game growing—if those shirts were available. To highlight the disparity between apparel availability and selection in men’s and women’s sports, payment processing and “buy now, pay later,” brand Klarna teamed with Sports Innovation Lab on the new report Rep Her: Revealing the Unmet Demand for Women’s Sports Merchandise. The report estimates the women’s sports merchandise market at $4 billion annually, despite having only one piece of women’s sports apparel for every nine made for men’s sports. With 79% of those surveyed saying they’d buy more women’s sports merchandise if it were available, Klarna teamed with equity-focused media and commerce company TOGETHXR and National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Champion, two-time World Cup winner and ESPN analyst Ali Krieger to create a merchandise collection touting women’s sports as “A Movement, Not a Moment.” “Up to this point, it’s been hard to be a [women’s sports] fan. There’s been a lack of investment from a storytelling side. But even more so on the consumer product side,” Togethxr's Jessica Robertson told ADWEEK. Krieger talked about the importance of seeing her name on a fan's jersey early in her career in Germany, but how she and her USWNT teammates had to fight for equal pay and equal facilities before addressing inequities in merchandise. Sports Innovation Lab founder and CEO Angela Ruggiero is a four-time Olympic medalist and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, but played in jerseys made in men's sizes and only saw her name on her old jerseys that her family wore. She knows the difference the Klarna-backed report's data can make. "Why do I have so much passion for this? I lived it,” Ruggiero said. “I was a pretty good hockey player, but no one knows, and no one even saw me play. The women of my generation didn’t have that same visible platform. I’m trying to change the paradigm for the next generation of athletes to have opportunities I didn’t have.”