The Running Industry Alliance, a trade association for the running industry, has confirmed a strategic partnership with Sport 2000 Group International, a group of sports retail experts.

The aim of the new partnership is… “The aim is to expand knowledge of retail expertise in international markets and to promote further growth opportunities within and for the running industry through cooperation.”

Through its Running Experts and Absolute Run concepts and its strong community connections, Sport 2000 is a leading international sports retail group and service organization for running retailers in Europe.

According to the Running Industry Alliance (RIA) … “This collaboration represents a significant step forward to support and empower RIA members from the retail and brand sectors with insights from Europe.”

Sport 2000 will participate in the Running Conference presented by haku (8-10 December 2024, Loughborough University, UK). Further details of its activities at the conference will be announced in due course.

“We are delighted about the equal partnership with the Running Industry Alliance UK & Ireland. We bring our retail and brand expertise with access to Europe and thus create concrete advantages and benefits for the RIA members,” said Jörg Seifert, Head of the Center of Excellence Running at Sport 2000.

“Our goal is to support RIA’s retail and brand members with insights from international markets while encouraging more retailers and brands to join the Running Industry Alliance.

“We are convinced that by joining forces we can drive positive developments in the market that will benefit everyone involved. At the same time, our shared market expertise will enable us to create a concerted approach and greater reach.”

A press release from RIA outlined the key components of the partnership:

• Joined approach: A collaborative approach to create access and opportunities and share insights for growth opportunities through comprehensive knowledge of both parties from a retail and brand perspective.
• Exclusive trade fairs: Sport 2000 hosts international trade fairs every two years that are open to all RIA members to showcase Sport 2000’s global network. These trade fairs offer the opportunity to explore potential collaborations and future business models.
• Retail Benchmarking Programs: Leveraging Sport 2000’s ‘Running Experts’ and ‘Absolute Run’ retail concepts, the partnership will introduce benchmarking opportunities for individual retailers. These programs will be presented at RIA conferences and provide insights and strategies to enhance RIAs’ knowledge and experience of retail from a European perspective.
• Participation in the Sport 2000 RSP Program: RIA members gain access to Sport 2000 Running Specialty Products (RSP), which provide margin opportunities paired with high-quality content to engage and activate consumers. This initiative aims to increase retail performance and customer loyalty within the RIA network.
• Sport 2000 attends RIA member events and RIA attends Sport 2000 events: creating further connections and access to international industry leaders and innovators at the events where insights can be shared and applied through experience and knowledge of the European market. A member of the RIA team will be present at the Sport 2000 shows to help RIA members maximize their opportunities through introductions and quick connections.

Rebecca Richardson, co-founder of the Running Industry Alliance, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sport 2000 as a Global Alliance Partner. After an initial meeting at ISPO, we have worked hard together to create this unique opportunity for all, with a ground-breaking approach for RIA members gaining access to a portal of European knowledge and experience from international success.

“Sport 2000’s deep understanding of the international retail landscape and commitment to the running industry align perfectly with RIA’s mission to support and grow our members’ businesses. Together, we will create new opportunities and enhance the retail and brand experience for everyone involved on this exciting journey.”

www.runningindustryalliance.com
www.sport2000international.com

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