Puma’s massive new flagship store has giant shoes, video games, and a virtual soccer field. We visited and saw why sales are soaring.

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• Sportswear maker Puma opened a new flagship store on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue in New York City on Thursday.
• The sportswear company has seen steady growth in the last few years. Most recently, Puma reported a sales increase of 15.7% for the second quarter of 2019. 
• "I don’t see my job as competing against all the brands. I see it as trying to be a good brand for the consumer," Puma CEO Bjørn Gulden said.
• Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Puma might be smaller than other leading sportswear brands.

But the German company is undoubtedly on the rise. 

"I don’t really see myself as having to compete against Nike and Adidas," Puma CEO Bjørn Gulden told Business Insider inside of the brand new Manhattan flagship store on Fifth Avenue.

Admittedly, Puma rakes in less than its competitors annually but its growth is something that increasingly cannot be ignored.

Read more: We visited Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour to see which store does athletic-wear the best — the winner shocked us

"The brand is much smaller than the big names but definitely getting some traction," VP and senior industry advisor for NPD Group Matt Powell told Footwear News earlier in August. 

Executives say that the growth comes from different places.

"We’re getting better at everything that we do," Puma’s North America President Bob Philion said, citing advancements in everything from product to marketing.

Puma re-entered the basketball sector last year to great success and plans to continue capitalizing on that market in  North America. Additionally, the growing trend toward the fusion of sport and lifestyle apparel plays nicely into Puma’s general offerings.

"We’re playing in a really good space that is growing," Philion said.

Both Philion and Gulden say that the opening of the brand’s Manhattan flagship will further represent the company’s commitment to the North American market. The store will also serve as a testing ground for what works and what doesn’t, featuring three separate interactive experiences like a simulator to test out shoes on a virtual soccer pitch.

With 18,000 square-feet spanning two floors, executives hope the flagship makes a favorable impression on the consumer in America.

"Let’s be honest," Philian said. "The size of the prize is significant here."

We visited the flagship right before it opened to the public and saw why Puma has been riding this wave of success.

We made our way to the location of Puma’s first-ever North American flagship a day before it opened to the public. At 18,000 square-feet with two floors, the store took up a whole corner spot.

Shoshy Ciment/Business Insider

A giant classic Puma Suede sneaker greeted us at the front of the store.

Shoshy Ciment/Business Insider

The first floor was full of clothes and shoes for women and children. We decided to begin our journey on the second floor, which was home to the men’s clothes as well as a host of interactive experiences.

Shoshy Ciment/Business Insider

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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SEE ALSO: We visited Nike and Adidas flagship stores to see which brand is better at serving women. The winner was obvious.

Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Shoshy Ciment)