sportFACHHANDEL 02_2018 Leseprobe

2.2018 Ice-Skating | WINTER | 57
If one looks at the number of
mobile ice-skating rinks over
the last years one can truly speak of
a small boom.« Mathias Angele
rinks amidst a great atmosphere with Glühwein
(mulled wine) stands and many more. One also sees
synthetic ice surfaces especially at events more and
more often.”
Olympia as revenue booster? Once the Olympic
Games start in Pyeongchang in South Korea from
the 9th February and the following day the ice rinks
are going to be conquered by the disciplines short
track and speed skating attention is certain. Even if
it is always stressed that Olympia – other than the
football world and European cups – doesn’t necessarily
lead to an increase in revenue the largest sports
event worldwide does especially direct the attention
to those sports disciplines that can actively be taken
part in during leisure time. Ice-skating is part of
that without a doubt. And if the weather here plays
along then one can also expect nice revenues aside
from the prepared ice-skating rinks. Especially
since ice-skating is a rather affordable and weather
independent sports discipline it can supplement
retail’s winter sports ranges.
In addition there is ice hockey, a speedy and
versatile sports discipline. The market has noticed
an additional “push, especially in Germany, too”, as
Mathias Angele reports due to the German ice
hockey national team’s qualification for the
Olympic Games but also already due to the ice
hockey world cup that didn’t only attract attention
in Cologne but Germany-wide in 2017.
And there, in the ice hockey scene is exactly
where Schanner is well-known. With the sale of
a total of 14 brands from the ice hockey and fun
sports segment, among them above all market
leader Bauer as well as Easton, Sherwood and
Vaughn the company from Füssen is a full-range
provider in this area. The Federal training centre
for ice hockey adds that the Panthers from Augsburg,
Sharks from Cologne or the ERC Ingolstadt
are also fitted out in the German Ice Hockey
League (DEL) apart from the German ice hockey
national team. The Adler Mannheim have recently
prolonged their outfitting contract with Schanner.
One also wants to be convincing in ice skating
with the expertise in ice hockey. Apart from the
approximately 250 ice hockey retailers one wants
to address the close to 1000 specialist retailers
that occupy themselves with ice skating. In order
to achieve that one has strengthened oneself
Schanner sales manager Mathias Angele and business manager Marc Meier also want to
win over the ice skating hobby sportsmen based on their expertise in ice hockey.
especially in the sales department over the past
two years. Apart from Mathias Angele who came
from Zoggs and the Marketing Manager Bert
Lammel, still known to many due to Marker
Völkl a total of twelve sales representatives in
Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia are to attend
to specialist sports retail.
Whilst to the ice hockey specialist retail the
season already begins in summer the beginning
of sales is mainly from September when it comes
to ice skating. The product range has its high
season especially from mid-November to January
and can thereby be a good supplement to other
winter products. Especially retailers near ice and
artificial ice rinks can count on ice hockey players,
school classes and hobby sportsmen that use the
sharpening service for example or equip themselves
with new shoes and accessories. Mathias Angele
explains: ”The well set-up retailer should equip the
product portfolio with figure skating shoes, Rec
Ice shoes, moulded boots – above all adjustable
children’s boots – and naturally authentic ice
hockey shoes. Bags, skate guards, bats (from
entry price 15.95 Euro), helmets (from 49,95 Euro),
Pucks or Tapes are part of the base product range.
With a share of protection equipment the retailer
can present himself as competent and generate
additional revenues. Especially shin guards or
gloves are also sensible for ice skaters or “lake
players”. Thereby the shoe models should be
presented on the sales area in a clear way beside
further ice sports products. Accessories are also not
to be forgotten in any case, Angele suggests, “since
the need is only awoken upon visibility.”