Buy now, pay later (BNPL) platform Afterpay on Tuesday (Dec. 14) announced a collaboration with Dick’s Sporting Goods that brings flexible payments to the chain’s in-store and online channels.
Afterpay merchants processed 442% more in-store orders this year on Black Friday than they did in 2020, and the company found that omnichannel customers shop four times more frequently than those who make all their purchases online.
“When the pandemic prompted a surge in recreational activities, the time was right to bring on Dick’s high-quality sport products to Afterpay shoppers,” said Zahir Khoja, general manager of North America at Afterpay, in the joint announcement.
“Consumers can get the equipment they need for their new year fitness goals, while spreading payments out in four easy installments,” he said. “Afterpay is excited to partner with Dick’s and enable their portfolio of world class sports brands to reach a group of engaged young shoppers who want to spend responsibly.”
More than 20 million North Americans use Afterpay at almost 100,000 merchant partner locations at no cost to the user. Shoppers can use Afterpay to spread their payments out in four installments across six weeks with no fees.
Related: Dick’s Sporting Goods’ Focus on Experiential Retail Boosts Q3 Sales
Last month, Dick’s Sporting Goods reported that its 2021 third-quarter sales for the three-month period ending Oct. 30 were $2.75 billion, up 13.9% from the same time a year earlier and up 40% from two years ago.
Dick’s and Nike recently announced a “connected partnership” to give customers access to exclusive products, experiences and offers through their Dick’s Scorecard and Nike Membership accounts, which can be linked in the Dick’s mobile app to unveil an expanded selection of Nike footwear and apparel.
Dick’s House of Sport opened in Rochester, New York, in April, as a place for more experiential athletic experiences, and added a location in Knoxville, Tennessee, earlier this year. Its goal is to “explore the future of retail through multi-sport experiences inside and outside the store.”
