Sharapova Expands Her Marketing Empire

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 30th August 2013

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

Sharapova Expands Her Marketing Empire

epa03736360 Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts during her final match against Serena Williams of the USA in action during the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 08 June 2013. EPA/YOAN VALAT |

Maria Sharapova may be out of the US Open with a shoulder injury but that didn’t stop the top woman’s marketing machine in all of sport from expanding the product line of her successful Sugarpova candy company.

The 26-year-old world No. 3 has added a line of personal products for her upscale target audience – the ones who already willingly pay around $5 for a box of her signature sweets designed with a tennis motif.

Sharapova has now expanded the product mix to include an exclusive collection of jewelry, hair accessories, hats, bags and T-shirts.

The move into the fashion sphere is being tried at the New York outlet of Henri Bendel, which was among the first stores in the US to stock her candy when it debuted a year ago. “Henri Bendel was one of the very first supporters of Sugarpova; we actually launched the candy there in (Manhattan’s) Fifth Avenue flagship exactly one year ago,” Sharapova told Women’s’ Wear Daily. “And we were both eager to keep expanding the relationship. The [new collection] will keep the fun, bubbly and sweet vibe going strong.”

Sharapova’s fashion items are priced at the more modest end of the scale, selling from $22 to $58, all featuring her signature kissing lips logo. Meanwhile Sugarpova sweets are reportedly doing well.

Topics: 10sballs, Maria Sharapova, Sports, Sugarpova, Tennis, US Open