After inaugurating its official merchandise outlet, JDT Direct megastore at Stadium Sultan Ibrahim in March 2024, Johor Darul Ta’zim football club (JDT) has launched its first branch at The Topp, Toppen Shopping Centre.
His Royal Highness Tunku Iskandar Ibni Tunku Ismail, Raja Muda of Johor officiated the launch, accompanied by Her Highness Tunku Khalsom Aminah Sofiah binti Tunku Ismail.
Kevin Ramalingam, JDT’s Head of Commercial in an interview said the store is located 30 to 40 minutes away from Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, the home of JDT, in order to engage more fans in the area.
“We aim to open more JDT Direct in different locations, maybe in the airport too, and we are hoping (JDT’s merchandise) would be among the souvenirs of choice that tourists and travelers would think of getting, returning from Johor,” he said, citing the branch’s launch as one step towards the plan.
Sergey Aristarkhov, Managing Director of Toppen Shopping Centre, said the opening of the store is aligned with the mall’s reputation as a venue to promote an active lifestyle citing the many recreational activities from wall climbing, basketball, golfing, archery, and even a Splash Park are available to bring the community together.
Fans were seen flocking to the new store to get the limited edition t-shirt under the collaboration of JDT and Johor-born concept store, CROSSOVER.
Eng’s Popcorn, another local brand from Johor, has a special corner at the store, a mini extension to its concession in the stadium.
Besides the appearance of JDT stars like Jordi Amat, Safiq Rahim, Bergson Da Silva, Park Jun-Heong, Ahmad Syihan Hazmi and Arif Aiman Hanapi, the award-winning supporting community, Boys of Straits also brought football’s commonly heard in stadium’s cheers and chants to the venue.
