Gulf Marketing Group has expanded its in-house capabilities over the last three years in particular.Ĭurrently Gulf Marketing Group is focused on upgrading its current IT applications landscape, investing in new infrastructure both on-premise and in-cloud along with next generation technologies in the areas of machine learning, artificial intelligence, robotic process automation, and data analytics. Their global expertise and experience have been invaluable. To realise those ambitions, Gulf Marketing Group has strategic partnerships with many consultants and solution providers. The pandemic did prompt an aggressive review of its IT policies and infrastructure.ĭigitalisation plans were accelerated by Covid-19, but the foundations of the strategy have been in place for many years. Gulf Marketing Group has considered a strong digital strategy to be of key importance-in retail sports as well as in other business divisions such as food, health, and more. That is why Gulf Marketing Group have been investing in new infrastructure and even greater capacity on the e-commerce front. Gulf Marketing Group focused on home fitness products so that people in lockdown could still work out at home – and were met with greater than expected demand. Digitalisation has long been part of business strategy, yet Covid-19 greatly accelerated this digital transformation. The conditions of the last year have ignited significant e-commerce surge in the region and globally. The pandemic has created circumstances that have impacted retail. We always challenge ourselves to look at innovative ways to bring added value to our partners and customers,” said Bhavna Buttan, Group Chief Operating Officer, GMG. In both cases, consumers have shown they prioritise product variety and availability, and the option to speak to a knowledgeable authority-whether that is in person, via mobile, or otherwise. Meanwhile, customers starting their purchase journey online want the convenience of being able to browse at their leisure, from anywhere, and to easily save their digital shopping basket. They also desire accessibility to the physical product, to feel it, try it, even if they eventually do purchase the product online. In-store customers expect to meet knowledgeable staff who can guide them and inspire them. Delivering that experience requires different elements whether online or offline. This is true regardless of the channel they choose to engage with. The rapid rise in its online sales demonstrates the effectiveness and headroom for further growth in the future.Ĭustomers have strong expectations for quality, but also an engaging retail experience from GMG Sports brands. Whether this means building unique in-store environments or developing mobile offerings, digital transformation aims to ensure that customers enjoy the experience across all touchpoints.
It has always challenged itself to look at innovative ways and use of advanced technologies is fundamental in this ambition. Gulf Marketing Group announced at the start of 2021 the deployment of an expanded omnichannel ecosystem that enhances customer accessibility to the sports brands through digital and mobile-commerce platforms. Gulf Marketing Group is gearing up for a continuing surge in e-commerce demand across the GMG Sports division, in which online sales more than doubled in volume between 20. In addition to this brick-and-mortar presence, Gulf Marketing Group is constantly investing in and enhancing digital infrastructure. GMG Sports now operates 550+ sports retail stores globally, with the potential to reach more than 700 million consumers. This expanded the sports business in Middle East, and helped to enter Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. In late 2020, Gulf Marketing Group acquired Royal Sporting House, one of the largest multi-brand sports retailers in Southeast Asia. The GMG Sports portfolio includes homegrown brands such as Sun and Sand Sports as well as distribution for global brands Nike, Columbia, Timberland, Vans, and more. Gulf Marketing Group’s sports business has grown from a single retail store in Dubai to a multinational operation, making us the largest sports retailer in the MENA region.