Today the core markets have been exhausted for almost all brands. So additional potential is only available through development of new markets.

Winter pre-orders are finished and directors and sales managers have to work hard to achieve their sales targets and close existing distribution gaps. Little time remains to systematically find the right distribution partners for the summer collection 2012.

Brands that have a global distribution strategy based on a large number of markets are less vulnerable to national sales slumps. The successful development of a new market is largely dependent on the quality of the sales partner and takes between three and five years.

How long does it take to FIND the right partner?

To achieve the desired success, you should not always rely on the random method customary in the trade “Do you happen to know anyone…?” A systematic search of the many possible options and subsequent personal evaluation and comparison of the top contacts are essential to create the right picture and be certain of making the right choice. This high-quality selection process takes three to four months. So everything has to run very smoothly if it is to be completed between the winter orders in April 11 and upcoming summer orders 2012 in June 11. Ongoing projects and day-to-day business are a frequent distraction from systematic pursuance of strategic targets. The time and the associated internal costs are often not calculable and may include a loss of margins and damage the image for a wasted season with the wrong partner on the selected market.

HOW to FIND – support and strategies to achieve your goal

Through the international B2B agency portal www.SPORTS-CONTACTS.com, brands can instigate a systematic and requirement-oriented search for the right sales partner in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Poland. The international teams of experts are ready to give advice and support with achievement of the set goals. They are competent, efficient, rapid and aided by databases and so relatively inexpensive. The three HOW to FIND options, namely CONTACT - FINDER / PROJECT – PARTNERSHIP / MARKET -PLACE , offer just the right mix for every need and every budget.

You can find under SUCCESS STORRIES all the successful transfers of the last season.

"YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE THE FIRST IMPRESSION"

If you are interested or have questions about the three HOW to FIND options, please contact Michael Plank at plank@m2b.de.

With our new AGENCY-RADAR sports brands can - within only less minutes - filter out all active sales agencies which fit in the required profile. Then the well-chosen agencies are contacted personally within 24 hours after incoming orders directly via email and SMS!

With the AGENCY-RADAR international brands can find from now on fast and accurately in only 4 steps the suitable sales agency.



SPORTS-CONTACTS - The international B2B mediation platform:

More than 500 brand inquiries for Germany, Austria and Switzerland per year show a high interest of international brand companies to our B2B platform. A regular newsletter to more than 15,000 decision-makers of the sports industry, more than 10,000 monthly visitors of the website and the narrow collaboration with national professional magazines like the Sport & Mode, help SPORTS-CONTACTS to a high communication frequency with all distribution organizations.

Use the unique service: You find more detailed information in the presentation AGENCY-RADAR.

Among the rest, these brands have found during the last months with the help of our platform the right distribution partner. Topically more than 10 brand requests on the AGENCY-RADAR are published.

CRATONI 100% HEAD PROTECTION is looking for an agency in Germany

As global operating specialist for 100% of HEAD PROTECTION in the sports segment Cratoni Helmets supports since 25 years outdoor athletes to realize their aims.

The intensive cooperation with professional athletes, experts and motivated personalities of different areas inspires us every day, to redefine the high quality of our products. On our website there are shown the current winter products in detail.

To see our ambitious aims we are looking as of now for the range ski and snowboard helmets, goggles and protectors independent sales agents for the areas North Rhine-Westphalia and North Germany.

Success: CRATONI has found the agencies Lembcke and Good Life Products for Germany.

The Cratoni helmets GmbH has found with Michael Lembcke for North Rhine-Westphalia and the Good Life Products GmbH for North Germany two reliable sales organization in the winter sports retail market for Germany.

SPORTS-CONTACTS and m2b wish CRATONI with both agencies every success in their joint sales in Germany!

The alchemistic Wall-Street-Wizards blasted 80 trillions of dollars by means nothing but warm air. Only yesterday everybody feared Titanic. And now – that ship has sailed? Happy Ending? We wipe our blood shut eyes and marvel – the sporting goods industry full steam ahead. At the start of the winter season, there are partly binary turnover gains listed for the markets in Central Europe - Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The anxious question is: are we facing an intermediate high or will things stay that way? Those responsible are still taking an optimistic view on the development. This is also verified by a study that appeared in the October issue of the German magazine “Absatzwirtschaft” (“Distributive Trade”) … more


Increasing optimism

Already in early summer 2010 optimism dominated German-speaking executive floors. Therefore the German chamber of Industry and commerce (Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag DIHK) announced: “Economic recovery accelerates.”




In August 2010, “Absatzwirtschaft” and the German market research bureau “Innofact” interviewed German marketing decision makers on this topic. The result: The mood in the sector sales and marketing steadily increases as well.



“Economic growth exceeds expectation!”
This is more or less how the headlines read those days. The expectations prove right. Admonishers still see black clouds on the horizon - and remember: “Don’t count the chicken before they are hatched!” -, but the mood brightens up. Pay rises are in the headlines and fuel anticipation of more consume. Jobs are safer, the unemployment rate declines. Interest rates are on a historic low-level. The tax office jubilates.

As long as the alchemist from Wall-Street forbear from blowing it and making their bubble economy burst, full steam 2011 is furthermore on the go.

The trade press has more good news on the Sporting Goods Industry in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

On Germany:
Sport 2000 listed a “binary plus in the sales revenue in 2010”*. “The very strong gains of profit in the last two month of 2010 summed up to a yearly plus of 10.3 percent for the traders. (…) The already successful year 2009 cannot make up with these exorbitant rates of growth.” (spomo.de)

On Austria:
“Intersport Austria looks back on a consistently successful year 2010”, and “there is also great contentment at Austria’s biggest sports dealer Sport Eybl & Sports Experts AG (Wels)”. The “business reports of Eybl, Sport 2000 and Intersport, the biggest trades, seems to affirm that the economic growth continues.” (saz sport)

On Switzerland:
“After the severe drop in sales in winter sport business in season 06/07 (-6%!) the industry can breathe easy now.” The sale of alpine skis and snowboards “documents stabilization of the market (…). There is also a clear upward trend considering ski wear (…), the gains in the clothing sector respectively run into three digits.” (saz sport)

Don’t hesitate to use the positive market sentiment to place your brand and products in the sporting goods industry along with the right distribution partner. SPORTS-CONTACTS is able to support you in all three countries to find your perfect reseller. Be it distributor, sales agent or specialized trade we connect well with all your target groups.

Get in contact with us...

Diffusion Sport founds partnership with SPORTS-CONTACTS.


Read press article...

If you don’t go forwards, you go backwards... So, in good time for the ispo11 in Munich, SPORTS-CONTACTS is adding Spain to its portfolio.
Since the ispo 2010, a comprehensive network with over 15,000 contacts in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Italy, Poland, Belgium and the Netherlands has been on offer. For systematic expansion of its services, the next step for SPORTS-CONTACTS is to include Spain.

With its population of almost 48 million and a medium financial power, Spain it's one of the "Big 5 European Markets". The country belongs to the European Union since 1986 and its natives speak Spanish and in some parts also Catalan, Basque and Galician. Spain is spread over 505.000 km² and is subdivided into 17 Autonomous Communities (usually 8 selling areas) that are further divided into 50 provinces.
Service is the main economy in the Spanish sector, with a special importance for tourism, because Spain it a famous and popular destination. Spanish weather is ideal to practice outdoor sports.

In co-operation with two Spain experts, Manuel Freixas and Jordi Vlagut, we are delighted to offer our customary premium brokerage services for all sports brands for Spain.

The SPANISH SPORTS-CONTACTS Team:

Manuel Freixas is the Spanish expert for SPORTS-CONTACTS.
Manuel has more than 30 years of experience in the sporting industry. He started his career in former sporting goods trade magazine Turisport and later, in 1982, he founded Diffusion Sport, the oldest sporting goods industry magazine in Spanish market that he managed. He's a recognized person in the sporting goods market and he has been acting as a consultant for many years for different companies. He enjoys sport and traditionally practices paddle (sport similar to tennis) and often goes running.

Jordi Vilagut is the second part of the SPORTS-CONTACTS team for Spanish market. He's a journalist with more than 20 years of experience, 10 of these ones focused in sports industry. He's the Diffusion Sport editor and he supports SPORTS-CONTACTS building up all the information and contacts that this business needs. He's a sports enthusiast and he usually practices running and he also likes going to the mountains and skiing.

SPORTS-CONTACTS is pleased to welcome these latest additions to its team and wishes them continuing success.

In cooperation with the Technical University Munich, SPORTS-CONTACTS has ordered within a diploma thesis a structural analysis of the sports retailer market in Central Europe. Each brand should bring off - before the planned entrée into new markets - an exact potential analysis. At the same time the themes distribution channels and key accounts are of prime importance for their future business success in Central Europe. Even famous enterprises like SALEWA, SILHOUETTE and ERKE have already perceived this offer.

Detailed sports retailer landscapes are at once individually available for Germany, Austria and Switzerland!

Overview – Market Potential Central Europe. Chapter 1 gives you a detailed review over the countries Germany, Austria, Switzerland!

What is the number of sport participants in the population?
Which specialty does the respective country have?
What’s the total turnover in the sports retail market?
Which sports segment has the highest sports activity?
Where are the market potentials?
How high is the interest in sports?
In how many sales areas is the country split?
What do I need to know about the particular sales area?

Structure of the Sports Market. Learn more about the specialities of the sports retailer market in chapter 2!

What are the important purchasing associations?
What’s the difference to the independent sports retailers?
Which role play purchasing associations in the country?
What’s the particular turnover?
How is the particular percentage of the turnover?
Who has which market share?
What’s the key account ranking?
Are there more important sales channels?

Main Sales Channels. Get informed about current facts and figures of all the important key accounts in chapter 3!

Who are the major players in the country?
How many shops has the particular retail chain?
How does the shop format look like?
What are the target consumers?
How are the turnover figures?
What’s the price range?
Which specialities has the particular key account?
Is there an online shop connected?

Offer presentation to the structure analysis in the sports retail market GAS for 2010 can be requested here...

SPORTS-CONTACTS premium retailer news is your direct access to more than 14,000 qualified retailer contacts from the sports and bike industry. The shop profiles include beside the location, the current communication data, one contact person per shop on decision maker level, the product segments and also the market portfolio. The address profiles and the additional information are individually to select.
The direct access to the bike and sports retailers

Highest quality and reach for your trade fair invitation to ispo11
SPORTS-CONTACTS premium retailer news is your direct access to more than 14,000 qualified retailer contacts from the sports and bike industry. The shop profiles include beside the location, the current communication data, one contact person per shop on decision maker level, the product segments and also the market portfolio. The address profiles and the additional information are individually to select.

Highest quality for your marketing success
Because of the permanent use of all contact data via the communication channels and the ongoing work of the returns there is a highest measure on data innovation guaranteed. The error rate is far below 5%.

The networking from SPORTS-CONTACTS with brands, distributors, sales agents, trade magazines and shows enriches the data base additionally with updated daily information. The data are in charge of SPORTS-CONTACTS because of quality reasons and also for data security.

The content of all transmissions to the trade market will be proved by the SPORTS-CONTACTS team through the information content and a consistent high standard. Therefore the sustainability and the effect for the trade market is guaranteed via the addresser SPORTS-CONTACTS.
Many famous brand enterprises have already used this advantage: SKINS, SYMPATEX, GORDINI, ELKLINE, FIRST B, STREET STEPPER, PG-BIKES, ALAN, SNOW BULL, SWISS EYE, …

Support the sales force and enlarge with a targeted and direct address for your brand the retailer network in Germany, Austria and in Switzerland.

You can find a detailed product presentation of the "premium retailer news “ here …

The brand SKINS made use of ispo 10 being a perfect contact platform to the sports retail market

For the Australian brand SKINS, the new 400 series was in the center of attention of the extraordinary communication concept. The booth has been highly frequented because of the spectacular trade-fair appearance and a professional three-stage retailer mailing.

Result: SKINS got during ispo 10 into conversation with more than 5000 new customers

With an extraordinary show concept, that represented a perfect platform for retailers and media, the Australian compression apparel manufacturer SKINS has impressed in his typical way at ispo 10.
The focus has been the world premiere of the new 40 series that has been presented for the first time to trade visitors and journalists from all over the world.
A huge six meter high, 17 meter long and one and a half meter wide wall with “living models” caused surprise to the visitors and has been at the same moment the entrance into the SKINS world 2010.
Retailers and media were equally impressed and the booth has been THE “talk of the ispo”.
The direct mailing action from SKINS found as well active popularity: Beforehand the sports retailers were written down with a three-stage retailer mailing. On site of the show they got a pair of POWERSOX to convince themselves during the trade show marathon out of the advantages from compression apparel.
Mr. Christian Scheffold, Regional Manager SKINS Central Europe: “Our expectations were surpassed by far. I have seen in all the years rarely such an expressive retailer mailing action. The retailer quality at our both has been excellent! A big thank you is for the team of SPORTS – CONTACTS who certainly did a large part for the trade show success from SKINS.”

SPORTS-CONTACTS and m2b wish SKINS and Mr. Scheffold many success for the coming order season and the consequent extension of a qualitative premium retailer network.

With our new AGENCY-RADAR sports brands can - within only less minutes - filter out all active sales agencies which fit in the required profile. Then the well-chosen agencies are contacted personally within 24 hours after incoming orders directly via email and SMS!

With the AGENCY-RADAR international brands can find from now on fast and accurately in only 4 steps the suitable sales agency.



SPORTS-CONTACTS - The international B2B mediation platform:

More than 500 brand inquiries for Germany, Austria and Switzerland per year show a high interest of international brand companies to our B2B platform. A regular newsletter to more than 15,000 decision-makers of the sports industry, more than 10,000 monthly visitors of the website and the narrow collaboration with national professional magazines like the Sport & Mode, help SPORTS-CONTACTS to a high communication frequency with all distribution organizations.

Use the unique service: You find more detailed information in the presentation AGENCY-RADAR.

Among the rest, these brands have found during the last months with the help of our platform the right distribution partner. Topically more than 10 brand requests on the AGENCY-RADAR are published.

Based on our sales agent study, in collaboration with the University of Technology of Munich, we have worked out the most important criteria of a perfect agency presentation:

Our graduands have interviewed 100 sales managers and managing directors of sports brands and asked for their opinion! How should an optimum presentation be built up for the assessment of a sales agency? 90% of the interviewees have named main points of competence as background information about the first assessment. These points of competence were transformed from our team in an agency short profile and were sent to more than 1,500 agents for process.

Now the individually provided agency profiles allow a very purposeful search for suitable and relevant distributors from the first sight. The agency profiles are maintained constantly and updated regularly.

Pattern profile to the view

The brands TIMEX and A & R are looking for a distribution partner in Scandinavia.

The American watch manufacturer TIMEX is worldwide one of the leading specialists for sport watches in the segment triathlon and outdoor. They are represented in more than 80 countries.

With more than 150 years of experience TIMEX guarantees even in the future innovative products and for everyone good at the price. With both sport collections, IRONMAN and EXPEDITION, TIMEX is able to offer for the sport and outdoor trade market specialized products. In the last 30 years it has been invested many time and energy for further development of the sport collection.

For the expansion of both collections in Scandinavia, TIMEX is looking for a sales team that has experiences in the sport and outdoor trade market as well as in the triathlon scene.

Result: TIMEX has found the distribution company Cape Nordic for Finland.

A&R, established in 1996, is the leading manufacturer of hockey and figure skate accessories. Due to our exceptional quality, impeccable service and competitive pricing, we rapidly became the number one source for hockey accessories in America. We service retailers of all size, from small shops inside rinks to the major American sporting good chains. Our durably-crafted products are used by athletes worldwide and our fully-stocked warehouse enables us to process orders within 24 hours.
For the expansion to Europe, A & R is looking for a sales team that has experiences in the sport and hockey trade market as well as in the competition scene.

Result: A & R has found the distribution company Sher-Wood Hockey Scandinavia for whole Scandinavia.


SPORTS-CONTACTS and m2b wish TIMEX and A & R with the new partners in Scandinavia every success for the future!

Today the core markets have been exhausted for almost all brands. So, additional potential is only available through development of new markets.

Summer pre-orders are finished and directors and sales managers have to work hard to achieve their sales targets and close existing distribution gaps. Little time remains to systematically find the right distribution partners for the winter collection 2011.

Brands that have a global distribution strategy based on a large number of markets are less vulnerable to national sales slumps. The successful development of a new market is largely dependent on the quality of the sales partner and takes between three and five years.

How long does it take to FIND the right partner?

To achieve the desired success, you should not always rely on the random method customary in the trade “Do you happen to know anyone…?” A systematic search of the many possible options and subsequent personal evaluation and comparison of the top contacts are essential to create the right picture and be certain of making the right choice. This high-quality selection process takes four to six months. So everything has to run very smoothly if it is to be completed between the summer orders in August 10 and upcoming winter orders in January 11. Ongoing projects and day-to-day business are a frequent distraction from systematic pursuance of strategic targets. The time and the associated internal costs are often not calculable and may include a loss of margins and damage to image for a wasted season with the wrong partner on the selected market.

HOW to FIND – support and strategies to achieve your goal

Through the international B2B platform www.SPORTS-CONTACTS.com, brands can instigate a systematic and requirement-oriented search for the right sales partner in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy and Poland. The international teams of experts are ready to give advice and support with achievement of the set goals. They are competent, efficient, rapid and aided by databases and so relatively inexpensive. The three HOW to FIND options, namely CONTACT – FINDER / PROJECT – PARTNERSHIP / MARKET– PLACE , offer just the right mix for every need and every budget.

You can find under SUCCESS STORIES all the successful transfers of the last season.

"YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE THE FIRST IMPRESSION"

If you are interested or have questions about the three HOW to FIND options, please find more details on our website / PRODUCT INFORMATION CENTER or contact Michael Plank at plank@m2b.de.

However, many sports brands are owned by medium-sized enterprises which are not supported by investment funds or large-sized shareholders. So these are the companies who need different approaches in order to cushion seasonal fluctuations and “ins” and “outs”.

For small and medium-sized enterprises, the solution is to link brands at national or international sales level. In future, only few companies will be able to afford the luxury of 100% concentration on their own brands. Partnerships can be based on a very wide variety of models, and the brand as a sales partner can assume the role of a distributor or of a commercial agency with full services.

To achieve the desired success, the linked brand and sales profiles must harmonise. To review this very significant aspect prior to any action being taken, an independent expert is required in most cases, who will also ensure the anonymity of both brands at the first stage. 90% of companies do not want to instigate this search on an official basis, since there will then frequently be assumption in the sector that the company is weakening. The announcement of the successful linking of two top brands, on the other hand, is seen as a very positive step.

On neutral ground, brands can search and find through the B2B SPORTS-CONTACTS.com platform. In this way, they can have the new sales trend tested for their company, country by country, systematically and requirement-oriented. To achieve the desired targets, international teams of experts in 10 European countries are available, offering advice and active assistance.

You can get to know the current distribution areas with the help of SPORTS-CONTACTS in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Poland.

Put YOUR business in the RIGHT hands!

We prove in advance the skills of each brand partner anonymously before it is coming to an offer.

If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Michael Plank plank@m2b.de

“Direct marketing – a more essential factor of success in sales support”, is the theme of a diploma thesis from the TU Munich. Within this thesis there has been realized a specialized trade inquiry with more than 2,000 bike and sports retailers in Central Europe. 90% of the queried retailers would like to get the information directly from the brand.
The most important subjects, about the retailers would like to be informed, are: products, offers, new brands and trade show invitations.
Here we would like to present you an extract of our trade show invitation campaigns. Please click here…


NEW SERVICE – THE DIRECT CONNECTION TO THE SPORT-AND BIKE-RETAIL MARKET
SPORTS-CONTACTS offers as of now an extension of its product CONTACT-FINDER. With more than 10,000 qualified retail contacts from the sport- and bike-retail market, SPORTS-CONTACTS has worked out the largest data base in Central Europe. The shop profiles contain beside the location, the actual communication data, contact person, the product segments and the market portfolio. The address profiles and the additional information are individually to select. Because of permanent tests and updates the rate of erroneous mail addresses is less than 5%. This guarantees high efficiency at the direct and target-oriented customer approach as well as low delivery charges because of very little divergence loss.


HIGH QUALITY FOR YOUR MARKETING SUCCESS
Because of permanent use of the contact data from all communication channels and the updated daily process of the returns a maximum of data actuality is guaranteed. The networking from SPORTS-CONTACTS with brands, distributors, sales agents, trade magazines and trade shows accumulates the data base additionally with updated daily, important information. The details are for quality purposes and for the backup of data protection in charge of us. The data of all mailings to the specialized retail market will be proved on the information content and a consistent high standard by the SPORTS-CONTACTS team. Therefore the sustainability and effect should be guaranteed.


CURRENT DATABASE
Bikeshops in Germany: More than 5.000
Bikeshops in Austria: More than 1000                  
Bikeshops in Switzerland: More than 1000
>> More than 7.000 bike shops in Central Europe

Sportshops in Germany: More than 4.000
Sportshops in > Austria: More than 1000             
Sportshops in Switzerland: More than 1000
>> More than 6.000 sport shops in Central Europe


NEW OR STEADY CUSTOMER QUALIFICATION
It doesn´t matter whether your company is known in the sports trade market and you occupy a new sport segment or if you want to take over a new market: Refined and current retailer profiles relief the structure and extension of your turnover considerably with the help of selection and address.


EXEMPLARY APPLICATION SZENARIOS AT A GLANCE:

• Sport brand wants to be listed as a new distributor
• Sport brand wants to qualify its existing master data
• Sports brand wants to support its customer service for the new customer acquisition
• Sports brand wants to support its customer service for the existing customer care
• Sports brand wants to invite requested customers to a show
• Sports brand wants to communicate test results and product information
• Sports brands wants to control distribution potentials
• ……

LITTEL COSTS BY PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
SPORTS-CONTACTS is able to offer full service for the complete dialogue marketing spectrum with the help of his marketing partner FORWARD, the New Media Unit of FEDERKIEL UND PARTNER GmbH. The perfect maintenance of the data base with marketing able contact profiles forms the solid basis for all efficient communication measures. If there are show invitations, product news, distribution supports and coordination, newsletters, etc.: All campaigns are turned over professionally and contemporarily. The long experience in the sport area and the efficient contact with dialogue media and technologies makes FORWARD as your ideal partner for your communication strategy that is turned over successfully.


CONTROL IS ONE OF THE SUCCESS GUARANTORS
Knowledge is power. For all actions via fax, email or online you get gapless reporting. Depending on the medium there are available the information about opening rates, clicks, returns, reading duration, etc. for the evaluation of your marketing action.


YOU DEFINE YOUR WISHED COORDINATES, WE BRING YOU SAFELY AND EXACTLY TO THE FINISH.
Profit from the unique all in one service. From the address to the successful 1:1 dialogue marketing campaign with your wished customers. With pleasure we find together with you the optimal solution for your company. Our consulting team is gladly available. We are pleased to get in dialog with you.

Utilize the CONTACT-FINDER for free and control the specialized retailer potential for your brand in Central Europe.


Contact:
FORWARD Communications / Thomas Federkiel
E-Mail: t.federkiel@federkielundpartner.de

Innovative bike manufacturer is seeking for bike retailers for an innovative in store affiliate program

The industry leader in the area custom bike is looking for the extension of his trade structure. He seeks after interested bike retailers in Germany, Austria and in Switzerland for a new in store affiliate program.

The still young but very successful brand relied on the fast and target-oriented customer acquisition on the new offer “DEALER-FINDER” from SPORTS-CONTACTS. With a multi-level campaign (email and fax) 5,000 bike retailers were contacted at the first step by info email in Germany. The interested party could order an information package and will soon be reworked in cooperation with the sales reps.

Result: The feedback war overwhelming. Already after one hour of the emailing there were 50 requirements for the information documents. After 10 days there were already 200 interested retailers. The first orders are already commissioned.

Why was this way chosen to support the sales representatives for the new customer acquisition?

Manu Ostner, CEO of the PG Trade & Sales GmbH justifies the step as follows:

„Averaged every sales rep knows personally approximately 50% of the retailers who are in his sales area. 30% of these retailers sell his brands. 70% of the potential retailers won´t be visited or are just rarely visited because they are unknown for the sales reps or it is uncertain if a visit is profitable.
That’s why we decided to write to 100% of the potential retailers. All retailers who are interested in our program will be guided actively by the help of our sales team. We know from experienced sales managers in the branch that the winning of a single retail partner is already a success. With our campaign we could gain within one week already more than 200 interested people for our in store affiliate program. More than 20 orders we could be assigned only after one week on starting the campaign. This surpasses all our expectations by far.”


SPORTS-CONTACTS wish PG Trade & Sales GmbH good luck for the additional process of all interested persons and the new consequential contracts. Further campaigns will follow in Austria and in Switzerland.

Rucanor GmbH is looking as of now for a sales agency in Austria.

The Dutch sports brand Rucanor Sport stands since 1956 for functional ski apparel in the segment outdoor and leisure. It is distributed in the elevated sport and outdoor retail market and presents a wired range of goods for NOC articles in the segment mass sports.
Since more than 3 years the company Rucanor works successfully with the NOS concept (textile and hardware).

“THE BEST DUTCH SPORTS BRAND OF THE WORLD“

www.rucanor.com

Your task is the support of an already existing range of customers, the new customer acquisition and even the implementation of POS procedures.
If you are interested in the distribution of the brand RUCANOR in Austria, we would like to talk to you.

Please write us an email to plank@m2b.de and request for further information.

Switzerland is a more attractive marketplace for many international sports brands. At this time there are seven well-known brands that are looking for a relevant sales partner in Switzerland.

The following seven sports brands are looking for a sales partner in Switzerland:

VAQUE, the outdoor footwear brand of Red Wing Shoe Co. USA is looking for a distribution or agency partner in Switzerland.
More information here: www.vasque.com

TREZETA, the Italian brand of outdoor footwear is looking for distribution partners in Switzerland.
More information here: www.trezeta.com

SQUEEZY, a synonym for energy gel since the 80s and today already an innovative full-range trader with unique WEIGHT LOSS products is looking for a professional positioned distributor in Switzerland.
More information here: www.squeezy.de

WEST SCOUT, the Italian brand of skiwear is looking for distribution partners in Switzerland.
More information here: www.westscout.com

SUB, the textile winter sport apparel for snowboarder and free skier is looking for distributors in Switzerland.
More information here: www.subindustries.com

Reichmann & Sohn GmbH, based in Germany, is looking for their ski and service machines for a distributor in Switzerland.
More information here: www.reichmann.com

A&R, the American Hockey and Figure Skate Accessory manufacturer is looking for distribution in Switzerland
More information here: www.ar-sports.com

If you are interested in the distribution of this international sports brands in Switzerland, we would like to talk to you.
Please write us an email to plank@m2b.de and request for further information.

Outdoor footwear brand is looking for a distribution or agency partner in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Vasque Outdoor Footwear began in Red Wing Town Minnesota on the banks of the Mississippi in 1965 and is the outdoor division of Red Wing Shoe Co. USA, a family owned company started in 1905. Through the 1970’s and 1980’s Vasque Outdoor Footwear’s business experienced good growth. It quickly became the benchmark in North America for supreme performance, comfort and durability.

Vasque has established a global reputation for best in class with high quality outdoor footwear. The brand has expanded on its hiking heritage with running and technical mountaineering footwear.

Vasque is committed to making functional, innovative and aesthetic product that performs to the highest standard. Fit is a core element of performance for the brand. At Vasque, this means shoes have to fit in order for the technology to fulfil its performance requirement. We offer narrow, medium and wide widths and five different last shapes so products fit various foot shapes. Our ultimate goal is to make shoes that inspire you to go outside, seek adventure and push your boundaries – personally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually – as soon as you pull them on your feet.

www.vasque.com

Our 2011 product line builds on some of our recent successes as well as being tempered by 45 years of outdoor footwear experience. New developments to our 2011 line include the re-introduction of 5.10 Stealth rubber outsoles and cool new crossover product for Women. Overall, it is a great year for new product.

The small, dedicated team at Vasque strives to provide you the best possible solutions for your outdoor performance footwear needs.

If you are interested in a innovative, outdoor footwear brand for the distribution in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, we would gladly discuss with you the brand and project in detail.

Please write us an email to plank@m2b.de and request for further information.

PREMIUM OutDoor RETAILER NEWS - The new retailer service from SPORTS-CONTACTS.com

The direct access to the outdoor retailers
SPORTS-CONTACTS premium retailer news is your direct access to more than 14,000 qualified retailer contacts from the sports and bike industry. The shop profiles include beside the location, the current communication data, one contact person per shop on decision maker level, the product segments and also the market portfolio. The address profiles and the additional information are individually to select for the OutDoor.

You can find all informations here... (pdf-Download)

Well established distribution company with more then 20 agents is looking for a footwear brand in Germany and Austria:

One of the leading brand agents for comfort and hygiene in the segment footwear, the company Therm-ic, which is based in Austria, wants to complete its brand position in Germany and Austria. They are looking for an established sports brand for all-season distribution.

Many years of experience in the market and very well contacts in all distribution channels in the sports and outdoor market are a mark of this company. A hardware brand to be out of the segment footwear, running, outdoor or accessories would match at best to the existing range of products.

Result: The distribution organisation Therm-ic chose the Italian outdoor footwear brand TREZETA

The company Therm-ic Products GmbH found in TREZETA an outdoor footwear brand that completes perfectly the already existing brand portfolio with the slogan “Competence around the foot”. TREZETA is in possession of a retailer stock in Germany, which will be expanded through the sales team around Robert Bauer. David Macher is responsible for TREZETA in Austria.


SPORTS-CONTACTS and m2b wish the Therm-ic team every success for their joint sales from TREZETA in Germany and Austria!

With targeted visitor marketing, you can be sure that you will welcome the customers to your trade fair stand who are relevant to you and who are also interested in you.
“Nothing is more ineffective at a trade fair than chance and hope.”
Download exclusively the 8-sided expert contribution for free, including a checklist “advices for your trade show success”.

The direct access to the outdoor retailers
SPORTS-CONTACTS premium retailer news is your direct access to more than 14,000 qualified retailer contacts from the sports and bike industry. The shop profiles include beside the location, the current communication data, one contact person per shop on decision maker level, the product segments and also the market portfolio. The address profiles and the additional information are individually to select for the OutDoor.

Highest quality for your marketing success
Because of the permanent use of all contact data via the communication channels and the ongoing work of the returns there is a highest measure on data innovation guaranteed. The error rate is far below 5%.

The networking from SPORTS-CONTACTS with brands, distributors, sales agents, trade magazines and shows enriches the data base additionally with updated daily information. The data are in charge of SPORTS-CONTACTS because of quality reasons and also for data security.

The content of all transmissions to the trade market will be proved by the SPORTS-CONTACTS team through the information content and a consistent high standard. Therefore the sustainability and the effect for the trade market is guaranteed via the addresser SPORTS-CONTACTS.

Support your OutDoor success and enlarge with a targeted and direct address for your brand the retailer network in Germany, Austria and in Switzerland. You can find examples for successful campaignshere...

The brand SKINS made use of ispo 10 being a perfect contact platform to the sports retail market

For the Australian brand SKINS the new 400 series was in the center of attention of the extraordinary communication concept. The booth has been highly frequented because of the spectacular trade-fair appearance and a professional three-stage retailer mailing.

Result: SKINS got during ispo 10 into conversation with more than 5000 new customers

With an extraordinary show concept, that represented a perfect platform for retailers and media, the Australian compression apparel manufacturer SKINS has impressed in his typical way at ispo 10.
The focus has been the world premiere of the new 40 series that has been presented for the first time to trade visitors and journalists from all over the world.
A huge six meter high,17 meter long and one and a half meter wide wall with “living models” caused surprise to the visitors and has been at the same moment the entrance into the SKINS world 2010.
Retailers and media were equally impressed and the booth has been THE “talk of the ispo”.
The direct mailing action from SKINS found as well active popularity: Beforehand the sports retailers were written down with a three-stage retailer mailing. On site of the show they got a pair of POWERSOX to convince themselves during the trade show marathon out of the advantages from compression apparel.
Mr. Christian Scheffold, Regional Manager SKINS Central Europe: “Our expectations were surpassed by far. I have seen in all the years rarely such an expressive retailer mailing action. The retailer quality at our both has been excellent! A big thank you is for the team of SPORTS – CONTACTS who certainly did a large part for the trade show success from SKINS.”

SPORTS-CONTACTS and m2b wish SKINS and Mr. Scheffold many success for the coming order season and the consequent extension of a qualitative premium retailer network.

The net video is the ideal platform to put across fast and uncomplicated even complex contents. The SPORTS-CONTACTS team took the slogan “Animated pictures speak louder than 1,000 words” to heart and realized it in cooperation with the new platform LIGHTS-CONTACTS for its visitors. With support from the video and movie professionals Weisser Studios we produced a German and an English tutorial that explains only in three minutes the main contents of the SPORTS-CONTACTS platform. Ongoing there is, if desired, more detailed information in our new PRODUCT INFORMATION CENTER. Here are all product presentations available for download.

WATCH THE VIDEO >>

Since ispo 10 a comprehensive network with over 15,000 contacts in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands and Italy has been on offer.
For systematic expansion of its services in Scandinavia, the next step for SPORTS-CONTACTS is to include Norway.

With its population of 4,83 million and a very strong economy, Norway counts among the most attractive markets in Scandinavia, and its natives speak Norwegian. The country does not belong to the European and it is the “Switzerland of Northern Europe“. The area of Norway is 385,199km² with long coastlines and is usually divided into two sales areas. Norway is also chosen many times as one of the trend-setter nations for winter sporting goods.

In co-operation with two Scandinavien experts, Aki Karihtala and Mika Sulin, we are delighted to offer our customary premium brokerage services for all sports brands for Norway. The SPORTS-CONTACTS database can offer you currently more than 300 distribution contacts for this country.

The Scandinavian SPORTS-CONTACTS team:

Aki Karihtala is the second expert in the Scandinavian team. Aki has 22 years of expertise in international sporting goods business from over 40 countries worldwide. As the former Senior Vice President of Exel Sports Division, Aki Karihtala brings a lot of know-how in the fields of sales, marketing, distribution and overall management. In 2004 he was awarded in Finland as the Salesman of the Year.
Like the other members of the SPORTS-CONTACTS team, Aki has a sportive lifestyle and competitive sports background from American football and freestyle skiing.

Mika Sulin is the Scandinavian expert for SPORT-CONTACTS.
Mika has 25 years of global expertise in the sporting goods industry. As the former General Manager at NIKE Nordics, NIKE Central and Eastern Europe and as the Sales Director at SALOMON, Mika has extensive knowledge, know-how and network in the area of sales, marketing and leadership.
For the more than last ten years Mika has been a key player in the developing of the European Multipurpose Arena business and working with the sport and live entertainment industry.
In 2007 Mika has founded his own company Sport and Live Vision, while keeping several positions of Member of Board of Directors, one of them being for the Finnish Ice Hockey Federation.
Mika is leading a sportive lifestyle due to his days as a pro ice hockey player.

SPORTS-CONTACTS is pleased to welcome these latest additions to its Scandinavian team and wishes them continuing success for the new region Norway.

The Italian ski apparel brand DKB is looking for a distribution partner in Germany.

DKB Consulting GmbH, based in Italy, is seeking for the specialized trade market as of the coming winter order 2010/2011 for their own brand “DKB – for active use only” for optimally launched distributors in Germany.

Result: The DKB Consulting GmbH has found the distribution company Edi Kaiser for Germany.

The DKB Consulting GmbH has found with Edi Kaiser and his sales force, a reliable sales organization in the winter sports retail market for Germany. The sales team from Mr. Edi Kaiser looks with great success also after ski schools and ski clubs. Edi Kaiser brings along in this partnership, apart from a very good sales team, perfect winter sports knowledge.

SPORTS-CONTACTS and m2b wish DKB with Edi Kaiser every success in their joint sales in Germany!

“Direct marketing – a more essential factor of success in sales support”, is the theme of a diploma thesis from the TU Munich. Within this thesis there has been realized a specialized trade inquiry with more than 2,000 sports retailers in Central Europe. 90% of the queried retailers would like to get the information directly from the brand.

The most important subjects, about the retailers would like to be informed, are: products, offers, new brands and trade show invitations. In which way the trade market would like to be addressed, has also been a question in the study. Thereby the following sequence has been investigated: email, phone, mail and fax.

If you would like to analyze the study in detail, you could preorder the workout for free. Click here…