sportFACHHANDEL fashion_09_2016

Product range subjects in summer are hiking,
traditional fashion and fashion such as the
production of ski shoes which have developed
itself into a year-round business.
The company
The foundation for the Strolz company was provided
by Ambros Strolz who opened up a shoemaker’s
workshop in Lech in 1921 and produced leather
ski shoes for the still rare skiiers. His son Martin
Strolz succeeded him as orthopedic shoe master
craftsman. As member of the Austrian national team
he became vice world champion in downhill racing
in the Swedish Äre in 1954- in his own ski shoes.
That granted him access to equipping international
ski teams. In the 1960s Martin familiarised himself
with the technology of plastic shoe making and
in 1969 he launched the first plastic shoe. In 1990
Martin’s son Hannes Strolz took over the company.
He was also orthopaedic shoe master craftsman and
had furthermore studied graphic design in Munich
in order to also handle the shoe’s design in-house.
Since 2010 Strolz doesn´t only offer own ski shoes
Summer Seasons
Importance is Rising
That would work with the catalogue.
Additionally Strolz is a season business
meaning its rhythm differs from a year-
anymore but also an exclusive ski model with Golden
Eagle which was developed in cooperation with
Fischer.
Despite the relatively low importance, the
summer season is important tot he company.
The ‘Sporthaus’ is located in the town
round operation’s rhythm. The wares
are shipped later since retail begins in
December and employees are occupied
Today Daniel, Hannes, Florian and Ambros Strolz are
the principal shareholders. Stefan Maierhofer is the
centre and to close it in summer would be
impossible. Furthermore it is valid to occupy
the management thoughout the entire year
in order to uphold the system. “Town shops
with reception and product labelling during
the non-retail time. Strolz: „We would have
to devise an entirely new system in order
to establish an online shop. It would also
first non-family manager. In winter Strolz employs
150 employees and apart from the main building in
Lech it has more than six rent locations: Skiservice
have a fluctuation rate of 15 to 20 percent”,
Ambros Strolz explains, “and –though we
are a season business- we aren’t above
be too expensive to put the entire product
range online.” It would be conceivable to
put key-looks from the catalogue online
Lech, Filomena Lech, Rüfiplatz Lech, Sporthaus Zürs,
Zürserhof Zürs, Fuxbau Stuben. The main building
that either. On average we can keep our
employees three to five years.“ Product range
subjects in summer are hiking, traditional
fashion and fashion such as the production of
since customers are already receiving
sampled offers on the basis of the catalogue
illustrations. The catalogue is published
with a print run of 12000 and is sent to
in Lech stretches out over six levels and a sales area
of 1400 m². In sum the company has a sales area of
2800m².
ski shoes that has developed into a business
Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The
all year round. Up to now only Sporthaus
product range’s sustainability is barely
was opened during summer but in the
influenceable. Sustainable collections,
coming months of summer Strolz is going
such as the brand Frauenschuh produced
to offer bycycle rental and service for the
in Austria, are held. A further ecologic
first time. The branch near the cable car at
orientation for the product range mainly
the Rüfliplatz presents itself as a suitable
fails because of the sports fashion
location.Two enthusiastic bike specialists
collection mainly coming from the Far East.
within the business are to take on the
The company largely acts in a sustaineable
installation of this new business unit.
way in influenceable aspects. The sites are
run with heat recovery from light which is
Struktural Problems
used for heating. Furthermore strict waste
seperation is taken heed of.
© Sporthaus Strolz
Online retail was ceased after the first
try. Ambros Strolz sees no possibility of
transferring the shopping experience
that defines Strolz to an internet site.
Text: Hildegard Suntinger, Vienna
79
sportFACHHANDEL
FASHION • 09/2016