Intersport, what you need to know to open a franchise on sport

The Intersport cooperative group displays performance that leaves you dreamer!In 2017, the brand indeed broke all records and at the same time confirmed its locomotive role in the market for the distribution of sports items.In figures, the group in France has recorded total growth of 10%.Its turnover reached the symbolic bar of 2 billion euros including tax (VS 1.8 billion euros including tax in 2016).This increase allows the brand to nibble on 3% market share (22% in 2017 vs 19% in 2016) to get closer to its competitor firmly anchored on the first step of the podium: Décathlon.

In 2017, the group carried out 33 openings/transfers/enlargements in the plain, (+40,000 m²), 9 mountain openings, 5 openings of black stores dedicated to urban fashion, and 8 openings of The Athlete's storeFoot, a brand dedicated to sneakers.

With its excellent figures, Intersport France confirms its ambition to reach 2.5 billion euros in turnover, 25% market share, 80% of the territory thanks to 800 stores by 2020!Strong ambitions that go through bursts of new points of sale.

Intersport, a big story

The story of the Intersport group began in 1924. That year, the Association of Scouts of France decided to create the hut to facilitate the dissemination of equipment and uniforms linked to scouting activities.In 1946, the La Hut brand went up a gear and created a purchasing group to rationalize its supplies.The association becomes SARL then SA.

At the end of the 1950s, to resist competition, four national groups (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France) created the first European association of sporting articles under the Intersport label.

In 1968, internationalization continued with the creation of International Corporation Intersport bringing together 10 European countries.In the 1970s, the group increased: Finland joined Intersport in 1970, then Canada in 1973, Spain and the United Kingdom in 1974.

In the 1980s, the group launched its first distributor brands: McKinley for the outdoor, Etirel, Tecnopro, Nakamura for the bicycle, Dynatour for golf, Crazy Creek for action sports.

At the end of the 1980s, the group developed 3 first concept-magasins, different depending on the location: Intersport-La Hutte in the city center, Center Intersport on the outskirts and Intersport-La Hut in mountain stations.

In 1992, the group continued the declination of its own brands: Protouch (team sports), Energetics (physical form), and launched Firefly in 1998.

In 1999, to respond to market development and clarify the image of the network, the group launched several brands: Intersport (downtown stores, shopping centers and periphery, more than 800 m2), intersportRelais (stores from 400 to 800 m² located in the city center or in shopping centers), Intersport Mountain (located in the heart of stations or on track front) and expert sport (local stores, located in the city center or shopping centers).

In the 2000s, new brands will be created (Shooz and Leader sport), while the group celebrated its 35th birthday.In 2007, the intersport concept magas experienced a overhaul, then in 2012, the group acquired the Black Store and The Athlete's Foot brands.In 2013, the Cycleurope bicycle factory in Loire-Atlantique was also bought.

Today, Intersport is the world leader in the distribution of sports items with a total turnover of € 11.4 billion and is present in 66 countries with 5,500 stores.The French branch, which has more than 650 stores, has continued to progress: in 8 years, turnover increased from 1.1 billion euros including tax in 2010, to 2 billion euros in 2017.

In 2018, around twenty stores should be opened or agreed, around 40,000 m2 additional.This year, Intersport also plans to deploy its new concept of point of sale leaving more room for digital.

The assets of a large brand

Recognized for its creativity, innovation and constant deployment of new brands (Shooz, Sport Leader Blackstore, The Athlete's Foot) and new clean brands (McKinley, Etirel, Technopro, Nakamura, Dynatour, Crazy Creek, Protouch, Energetics, Firefly)The Intersport group has many advantages to assert to attract new entrepreneurs:

Open an Intersport store

To join the Intersport group, the candidate must have a personal contribution of € 350,000 (entry fee 0 €, overall investment outside the door step of door 300,000 €).The average surface of an intersport store fluctuates between 1,200 and 1,500 m².The brand's stores settle in priority on the outskirts, in the commercial areas justifying a catchment area of 50,000 inhabitants minimum.Mountain stores are generally smaller areas.

On average, Plaine's intersport units generate turnover of around 4 million euros per year.

By joining the ranks of Intersport France entrepreneurs, the new member immediately accesses all the advantages of the service center.