‘The good old days are behind us,’ warns European Outdoor Group president
20/01/2015
“Weather dependency, competition from sports and fashion brands and retailers, ‘discount’ mentality - these factors are all real, but our influence on them is pretty limited, so let's focus on what we can do,” he said.
Firstly, he said: “Accept that our industry has changed and that this process will continue. The old days, while great, have gone and we face a new reality and harsh challenges at all levels of business. We are a €10 billion industry, and big data, market research, stakeholder engagement and supply chain control are all inevitable and necessary consequences.
“Secondly,” he said, “work with and towards the consumer. Technology and consumer choice are the ultimate determinators of routes to market and the purchasing power of the consumer will define us. We should use our energy to satisfy our consumer and where appropriate, we should cooperate and work on this together.
Finally, he suggested “increasing enthusiasm”. “Our industry has a unique passion for sports and activity; let's use it and find ways of driving even more interest and participation.”
The EOG will be present at ISPO Munich, February 5 to 8.
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