Intersport, one of the world's major sporting goods retailers, currently holding four units on the domestic market, is going to speed up its expansion pace starting next year, planning to open six new outlets, in the wake of investments put at 6m euros.
"Owing to the positive market feedback we've received in the past two years, the outlet network will expand at a faster pace than so far. In 2008, we will be able to launch even 5-6 outlets onto the market, of which two in Bucharest and the other ones in Pitesti, Bacau, Oradea or Arad," stated Alexandru Bratu, commercial manager of Intersport Romania.
According to the company's representatives, investments will revolve around 1m euros per outlet. Thus, in 2008 Intersport outlet network will reach 11-12 locations, after the company launches two new stores this October, in Cluj-Napoca in Polus Shopping Centre and in Iasi, in Felicia Shopping Centre.
"We will have a total commercial area of over 1,500 square metres," Bratu also specified.
The two new outlets could drive Intersport's 2007 sales to around 10m euros, compared with 4.5m euros in 2006. In the first half of this year, Intersport generated sales worth around 4m euros, up 120% against the similar period of 2006 and for the second half the company's representatives project sales of around 6m euros.
"The higher weight of H2 is due on the one hand to the new outlets to be opened in October in Iasi and Cluj and on the other hand to the rising sales in existing locations," adds Bratu.
According to Intersport manager, the biggest sales are registered in the stores located in the area of Unirii Square and in Carrefour Feeria, Bucharest, but during the summer season the company reported sales increases in its store in Constanta, too.
"This clearly shows shoppers are switching to shopping centres from street outlets," Bratu also said.
According to company data, the biggest sales were registered on the sports footwear segment, weighing around 45% in the company's revenues.
Alexandru Bratu says the best-selling products are the Adidas, Nike and Puma-branded ones, though Intersport's own brands account for 25% of the sales.
On the domestic market, Intersport products are distributed in a franchise system by Genco, a company specialised in electronics and electrical home appliances retail. According to Intersport data, the company contributes 12-15% to Genco's turnover domestically.
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