sportFACHHANDEL 08_2018 Leseprobe

116 | RETAIL | City Report 8.2018
Bergfuchs: Since 1983, an
institution for outdoor fans
in Vienna
Suppliers Austria (VSSÖ) 414000 bikes got into
specialist and sports retail last year – a healthy
increase of 17000 bikes compared to 2016, and a
new record high since 2010. A good 120000 of the
414000 bikes in 2017 were e-bikes. The Viennese
bike and sports retail in particular makes a profit,
and has significantly pushed the segment over the
last years. The accessory and equipment retail, that
even classical sports retail gets a piece of, has always
been important to the city of the Danube.
Additionally, Intersport is also trying to rekindle
the younger generation’s enthusiasm for the
skiing business by organising competitions at
Viennese schools. In the long run that is to pay
off for specialist retail. And the new large surface
stores with up to 3000 square metres went better
than expected. Skis, helmets, and high-quality ski
clothing, rounded off by hiking and running shoes,
as well as fitness and swimming fabrics during
summer are fast sellers.
The retailers who are members of the
purchasing association Sport 2000 in Austria
were even able to celebrate an increase in sales of
close 15% last year. The early arrival of winter and
the customers’ resulting good spending mood were
responsible for that. Winter hardware is also gladly
purchased in the city of Vienna and taken along to
the ski regions. Boot fitting remains a large topic,
as reported by retailers: Individually tailored for the
own foot ski shoes are still booming. Additionally
there is an interesting fabric retail that is getting
stronger and stronger, and is defined by highquality
wares. In comparison to the previous years
the sale of Alpine skis has increased. The rental
platform “Sport 2000 Rent” was able to record a
strong growth. In this case the boom concerning
online bookings already started in early December,
due to the good snow conditions. But all that
wouldn’t work if specialist retail didn’t offer quality
products, as well as competent consultation in the
stores, as the Austrian Sport 2000 boss Holger
Schwarting underlines.
Selling Sport Eybl to the cheap British chain
store Sports Direct four years ago had massive
consequences on the entire industry: Austrian,
including the Viennese, sports retail had to start
thinking differently in order to reinvent itself. There
was a stately customer migration, Intersport and
Sport 2000 retailers thereby successfully ensnared
disappointed Eybl customers with specialist retail
offers. Meanwhile the threat of competition from
England has fizzled out. In Austria, the company
lists high losses and sales drops. But therefore there
was a new strong competitor from the North: Last
August the Norwegian sports chain XXL opened
its first store in Austria. Meanwhile there are three
POTOS: XXL, NPK