Duluth Trading adding stores

Duluth Trading Co. is continuing to enlarge its retail footprint, saying Friday that it has signed leases for three more stores and identifying the states in which it plans to expand through 2019.

In a presentation to analysts in suburban Chicago, Duluth said it has signed leases to open stores next year near Boston; in suburban Cincinnati; and in Warwick, R.I., near Providence. The clothing retailer, which is based in Belleville, Wis., also has a signed lease for an Indianapolis-area location in 2017.

Duluth last month unveiled two stores in suburban Chicago, and plans to open three others — in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Kansas City and Washington, D.C., respectively — yet this year.

All told, the already opened or leased locations will bring Duluth’s store count to 20, including two outlets. Two years ago, the firm had six stores.

Known for its rugged work wear and casual clothing, Duluth is largely an online retailer. But despite the rise of e-commerce, the firm says brick-and-mortar stores remain a key driver of clothing sales.

Duluth Trading ads win eyeballs

Availability in stores is by far the biggest single factor influencing decisions to buy casual clothing, survey data cited by Duluth shows.

The company also said that since it opened two stores in metropolitan Minneapolis-St. Paul, in 2013 and 2014, total sales in the market — from the stores, online and catalog — have tripled.

Duluth said it plans to accelerate its rate of store openings in the coming years, and phase in openings in geographic clusters.

For 2017, the target remains a broad area stretching from the Great Plains to New England.

In 2018, the company is looking to expand in Texas, Colorado and the Pacific Northwest, according to Friday’s presentation. The following year, California, Utah and part of Florida are on tap.

Duluth saw annual sales nearly double from 2013 to last year, when revenue totaled $304 million.