Serie A side Napoli became "the first football club in the world" to launch its own store on Amazon, according to FOOTBALL ITALIA. The club on Thursday launched its new kit, "complete with a roaring panther design." Rather than "simply being available on the club website and in stores," fans will also be able to purchase Napoli gear on Amazon. The club confirmed it will be available on the Italian, German, French, Spanish and U.K. Amazon. Napoli said in a statement, "The aim is to extend the agreement in the near future to include the North American market" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 7/18). FORBES' Mike Ozanian reported Amazon "is quickly becoming the 800 pound gorilla of sports." The e-commerce retailer "has been growing rapidly in the sports apparel market." A report this year by CPC Strategy noted, "This Apparel survey wasn’t supposed to revolve around Amazon -- but as with most e-commerce conversations, Amazon is at the center." According to Morgan Stanley, Amazon will become the "top player" in the U.S. apparel industry in '18, having gained 1.5% of market share last year. The gains will "largely be driven by millennials moving dollars away from bricks and mortar, the firm said in a new report." CNBC reported "Amazon's push into fashion relies heavily on athletic apparel" (FORBES, 7/19).
