Columbia Sportswear has opened its first standalone retail outlet in Ireland, with a 120 square metre shop in Dublin city centre.

Plans to open the store were made three years ago, when the American sportswear brand signed a deal with Irish-owned retailer Great Outdoors, according to the Irish Times newspaper.

Prior to that, Columbia was only a supplier to Great Outdoors. It also said the company has a European network of 36 stores and most of its products are sold by third-party retailers.

The paper quoted Tim Boyle, Columbia’s president and CEO, as saying the standalone store gives customers a chance to touch and feel potential purchases.

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