The only decoration in the boardroom of Time International's offices on the second floor of the Fino Building is a Nike football. The Nike slogan - Just do it - is very apt for the company which is expanding from its Malta base, opening offices in Algiers, Algeria, Tripoli, Libya and Naples.
In June 2006, Alfie Borg became the major shareholder of Time International Sport Ltd, the local importer of Nike, Swatch, Oakley, Converse and, as from next year, Timberland and Crocs, which produce after-sport shoes and are the fastest growing US company in the footwear segment.
Other shareholders in the company are Etienne Camenzuli, who is director for Africa, George Amato, director of logistics, and Chris Muscat, director of business development. Ian Busuttil and Mike Naudi will run the local sales operations.
The company operates the Urban Jungle franchise, which has outlets in most major towns: two in Valletta, Sliema and St Julian's; and one each in Birkirkara, Mosta, Paola, Bugibba and Gozo. Seven of these stores were refurbished this year and the remainder will be redecorated next year. They also distribute to other sports stores and shoe shops.
"We provide products, do the marketing and merchandising. We design the store, even visit to decorate the shop windows," Mr Borg said.
"The owner controls the stock and then cashes in. We provide all the supplies necessary, down to coat hangers and displays.
"Urban Jungle is projected as a sports brand outlet in Malta. The Urban Jungle brand being developed in Europe is a sport culture and fashion identity. We have identified this niche and we are seeking to launch it in Eastern Europe and the UK."
Mr Borg has been in retail and distribution all his life. He joined Time International 22 years ago aged 21 as a salesman and built up the company, together with Daniel Reginiano, from scratch, working from a room in Regency House, Valletta, with a desk and a telephone.
"The brands we took were not well known," Mr Borg said.
"Swatch was a plastic watch. Nike was unheard of in Europe at a time when the dominating brands were Adidas and Puma. Oakley was also totally new. We saw their potential and launched a culture."
Having ventured to southern Italy and three African countries they are venturing further north to the UK and Eastern Europe. "Earlier this month I was in Orlando at a sales meeting and spoke to the Nike subsidiaries in Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
"We have started to put our strategy together," he said.
"We will trade under the Urban Jungle franchise in these countries, with the full support of Nike International."
2007 was an exceptional year for Urban Jungle in Malta with business up 20-30 per cent on previous years.
"I see a very bright future," Mr Borg said. "There is lots of work to do but we put a lot of enthusiasm behind it. I have an excellent team around me performing and making it work."
In June 2006, Alfie Borg became the major shareholder of Time International Sport Ltd, the local importer of Nike, Swatch, Oakley, Converse and, as from next year, Timberland and Crocs, which produce after-sport shoes and are the fastest growing US company in the footwear segment.
Other shareholders in the company are Etienne Camenzuli, who is director for Africa, George Amato, director of logistics, and Chris Muscat, director of business development. Ian Busuttil and Mike Naudi will run the local sales operations.
The company operates the Urban Jungle franchise, which has outlets in most major towns: two in Valletta, Sliema and St Julian's; and one each in Birkirkara, Mosta, Paola, Bugibba and Gozo. Seven of these stores were refurbished this year and the remainder will be redecorated next year. They also distribute to other sports stores and shoe shops.
"We provide products, do the marketing and merchandising. We design the store, even visit to decorate the shop windows," Mr Borg said.
"The owner controls the stock and then cashes in. We provide all the supplies necessary, down to coat hangers and displays.
"Urban Jungle is projected as a sports brand outlet in Malta. The Urban Jungle brand being developed in Europe is a sport culture and fashion identity. We have identified this niche and we are seeking to launch it in Eastern Europe and the UK."
Mr Borg has been in retail and distribution all his life. He joined Time International 22 years ago aged 21 as a salesman and built up the company, together with Daniel Reginiano, from scratch, working from a room in Regency House, Valletta, with a desk and a telephone.
"The brands we took were not well known," Mr Borg said.
"Swatch was a plastic watch. Nike was unheard of in Europe at a time when the dominating brands were Adidas and Puma. Oakley was also totally new. We saw their potential and launched a culture."
Having ventured to southern Italy and three African countries they are venturing further north to the UK and Eastern Europe. "Earlier this month I was in Orlando at a sales meeting and spoke to the Nike subsidiaries in Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
"We have started to put our strategy together," he said.
"We will trade under the Urban Jungle franchise in these countries, with the full support of Nike International."
2007 was an exceptional year for Urban Jungle in Malta with business up 20-30 per cent on previous years.
"I see a very bright future," Mr Borg said. "There is lots of work to do but we put a lot of enthusiasm behind it. I have an excellent team around me performing and making it work."