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Market The sports retail market in the Republic of Ireland has enjoyed phenomenal growth in the last ten years. A number of factors have contributed, like a booming economy, a new emphasis personal fitness and active lifestyles, and a crossover from into mainstream fashion. Sportswear is seen as aspirational and cool by the nation’s youth, yet it would not be uncommon for a much older generation to wear the same top brands as their younger brothers, sisters and even children. Dramatic growth in the fitness industry, with record membership figures being achieved has also meant an increase in sportswear sales and brand awareness.These products not only provide the desired , but also are proving extremely popular amongst consumers for the technological features used in their design and manufacture. The sports retail sector in the Republic of Ireland is part of a broad ‘specialised stores’ category that enjoys a multi-million punt annual turnover that is still growing. In a recent survey carried out in February 2000, Sports combined with its recent acquisition of Marathon Sports, show an incredible 42% of the market operating out of 24 stores. Not bad for a company that started with one store in O’Connell Street in Dublin in 1992. O’Connell Street, Dublin. USC, another The O’Connell Street store though having Champion Sports envisage further sales Champion group partner, specialises in designer humble beginnings showed overwhelming growth, with no immediate saturation point in label clothing and footwear.With 25 stores in potential.The store opened in 1992 with a sight. However, this situation is constantly the UK, USC was recently voted fashion retailer young lively team of sports minded individuals monitored through surveys, focus groups, world of the year by FHM magazine.Top brands such who where employed not only to sell and market analysis and simple common sense. as Firetrap,Tommy Hilfiger,Thomas Burberry and promote sports goods, but also to create an Catering for both males and females in the more have their latest collections in store for exciting atmosphere and fun retail theatre 15–30 age group, there seems to be a fairly both men and women. environment for a young and trendy customer even split of shoppers.The company has also base.Through extensive training, by very noticed a decided change in customer profiles History experienced retailers involved in the company, over the years, with a wider range of fitness Since it’s beginning, expansion of operations has the teams were taught to deliver the highest products available, there is now a much broader been significant. Champion Sports has grown level of customer service and value on top age profile amongst Champion customers. from one store, on Dublin’s O’Connell Street to sports brands. Infants, children’s and youths ranges complete a current total of thirteen stores throughout The team strived to become Ireland’s No 1 the mix, with parents now buying ‘branded’ Dublin, Limerick and Galway. sports company within a very short time period. sportswear items even for their smallest Within eight years the Champion Sports children. company owned a total of 28 stores throughout Ireland, and now has the coveted Number 1 Achievements position in the market place.The success of the Without doubt, the single most important company is attributed to buying the right achievement was the acquisition of Marathon product and selling these goods at the right Sports in June 1999. Not only did this make the price ahead of the competitors. group the leading sports retailer in the Republic The company has been steered by a small yet of Ireland, but accelerated the planned growth creative management team never short on new of the company many years in advance. ideas and concepts.The team includes former Marathon Sports had been the main competitor sports people from soccer, rugby, cycling and of Champion; both had aggressive advertising other sporting backgrounds yet all with extensive campaigns aimed at winning business from each retail floor and management experience. other on a daily basis. Surprisingly, a third placed From the initial opening day back in 1992 competitor, with more stores, never posed any with a staff of ten, Champion Sports as a group threat to either Champion or Marathon. now employs over 1,000 people. The company also has retail partnerships with other high street retailers including Schuh and Product USC. Schuh sells top quality big brand name Products available in-store includes a vast range fashion footwear including Red or Dead, Base of clothing apparel, footwear and accessories and Converse as well as their own brand. Schuh from the world’s greatest sports companies. In- is the in place for the fashion conscious or the store, customers will see a comprehensive discerning clubber. Schuh have 29 stores in selection of Nike, , , , , Great Britain and Northern Ireland and two in , Kickers, Le Coq Sportiff and Converse Dublin with a flagship store opening shortly on amongst others.

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A young and enthusiastic buying group who By November 2000 a flagship Schuh store store promotions are an inherent part of the are aware of global trends, have the ability to opens on O’Connell Street Dublin with two company’s customer satisfaction policy. predict the next season’s look, enabling them floors of high fashion footwear and accessories. Frequently Champion Sports partakes in therefore, to select a desired range of clothing apparel, footwear and accessories. Excellent relations with suppliers have lead to the development of exclusive product ranges that cannot be bought in any other sports store in the country. Champion Sports are the biggest customers for many of the top sports brands in the Republic of Ireland.The number 1 best seller continues to be the Nike brand followed closely by adidas in both the footwear and clothing markets. An additional advantage of the Champion Sports buyers attending trade fairs, looking at fashions in major cities and studying retail trends on a world-wide basis, is the ability to identify ‘craze’ products and bring them to the high street first. Knowing the potential of such revolutionary new products such as In-line blades in the mid 1990s and the Micro Skate Scooter in the late 1990s, buyers have bought product for which niches in the Irish marketplace exist. This will be the biggest shoe retail outlet in the promotions either on a sales basis or offered With enormous sales of In-line blades at their country.Top European architects were freely to customer in-store. Some have included peak reaching sales of over 500 units per week, commissioned for the design of this unique the distribution of isotonic sports drinks, sports Champion Sports developed a series of In-line store, which is one of the first projects in the deodorants and shower-gels, sports bags, t-shirts, blade events, races and competitions around the regeneration of Dublin’s premier O’Connell watches and maths sets. country which were very popular with young Street. Consumer reward schemes are also a and old alike. More than 5,000 people turned Earlier this year saw the launch of Champion common tool in encouraging loyalty with the out at one event in the Phoenix Park. Sports on-line store, which has proven to be a Champion Sports customer.Two of the most Other hugely successful exercise equipment huge success and is constantly being developed, successful schemes, which Champion Sports includes the ab-shaper home work-out system, monitored and improved (www.champion.ie). actively participate in, are Superclub and air-walker exercise machines, step aerobics Hibernian Swiftpoints. equipment – all amongst the latest phenomena. Promotion Superclub is considered the one of best These products are sourced and bought in huge The company’s aggressive marketing strategy has loyalty schemes in Europe with over 600,000 quantities to retail at a substantial discount to been paramount in the creation of the card holding members receiving point rewards consumers.The latest craze is the micro-scooter; ‘Champion Sports’ brand. Now, one of Ireland’s through various partners within the scheme. a compact, lightweight, fun product as used by Superbrands.The company regularly advertises Hibernian Credit Card holders enjoy discounts the rich and famous, is now a huge success, in a number of national and local newspapers and benefits from a range of retail partners and retailing hundreds of units per week and and radio stations to communicate its sales gain gift certificates by regularly shopping within growing. promotions, product launches and new sports partnership stores. The Champion Sports retail chain is dedicated technologies, as well as utilising outdoor media Offering free gifts to customers has been to the latest in retail layout and design. Retail for its award winning advertising campaigns. highly effective in encouraging sales during display concepts are developed by visual Paul McGrath, ex Manchester United, Aston selected periods and has often given Champion merchandisers who incorporate designs from Villa and Republic of Ireland footballer has been Sports the competitive edge with customers American and European retail. Concepts are recruited as the face of Champion Sports proving loyal in returning to take advantage of then developed into custom-built fixtures and regularly featured in radio,TV and newspaper further in-store promotions. fittings for the Irish marketplace.The store advertisements. He frequently environment encompasses density of product meets the public at high profile Brand Values displays maximising the quantity and variety of events and charity functions. ‘Top Brands at Lowest Prices’ is now product, the correct colour and contrast, strong Many famous sports stars from synonymous with Champion Sports. Champion brand images and state of the art audio-visual the world of soccer, rugby, continuously strives to uphold its mission displays. , and other have statement, offering added value through product Champion designers re-assess in-store layouts taken part in in-store and promotion.The company only recruits the regularly to ensure its retail environment adapts promotions and signings. very best people to represent the its image. Staff to the changing consumer trends and product Within the Dublin district, undergoes rigorous but fun training schemes – lines. Product displays reflect the cutting edge where the majority of from professional training companies – so that image of the range of global brands. New store locations are based, they can offer the highest quality of customer developments are constantly sought to engage, Champion Sports have service on the Irish high street. entertain and educate customers via audio- an intensive branding visual, theatrical and interactive effects. strategy with FM 104 Throughout all stores, the customer will find a through the sponsorship vibrant and welcoming environment where they of hourly sports news. Things you didn’t know about are at ease to experience the merchandise and Various other Champion Sports ambience. sponsorships have been used in It is a private Irish owned company. Recent Developments Limerick and In addition to the take-over of Marathon Sports Galway. Such opportunities keep the brand at The Champion Group is made up of the following the company have secured property in Cork the forefront of the target market and reinforce retail outlets: Champion Sports, Marathon and Northern Ireland. Other sites within major Champion Sports status within the sports Sports, Sports 2000, USC, Schuh, and 2 towns and cities will also come to fruition within industry, restaurants Captain America’s steakhouse and the coming years. European destinations are also With sporting events both national and Wagamama’s Japanese noodle bar. in negotiation, as the company strives to fulfil international, Champion Sports is continuing to sports demand in under supplied and untapped promote the association with sports and Champion Sports has it’s own in-house markets. performance, support and sponsorship of advertising/design agency. The company recently opened a dedicated various activities. Some of these include; Top DJ’s are used to select the in-store music. Nike store at its Marathon shop on Dublin’s attempts to break the Guinness Book of busy Grafton Street. Already this state of the art Records for high wire walking, sponsorship of Over 300,000 free gifts were given to customers concept shop has broken all targets, which had the National Children’s Junior Gladiators Day in 1999. been set and has hit all the right notes with the and the official Brazilian Soccer Schools training Since opening, Champion Sports sold over 4.1 public.This represents Nike’s biggest investment camp. million shoes, enough to put shoes on every in retail in Ireland to date. In terms of added value for customers, in- man woman, and child in the country.