Sportswear Retail Store. Trouble finding Suppliers.

[Laurence T]

Hi,
I'm in the very early stages of drawing up a business plan for a proposed Sports Wear Retailer store.
I've identified my location, found a potential store etc, but am having terrible trouble locating Wholesalers. The idea is to appeal to serious Runners, Walkers, Gym Users etc and to carry 3-4 well known brands such as Adidas, Under Armour and such like. I have trawled their company websites but can find no contact details for becoming a Retailer.
Any help or advice would be much appreciated.
Many thanks.

 

[Mr D]

You could try their uk distributor or EU distributor.
The best bet is email or call the brand owner and find out who to contact.

 

[TotalWebSolutions]

Have you tried the eSources website? https://www.esources.co.uk/

 

[cholland]

Surly it's a case of simply ringing the number on each brands website and asking for the relevant contact department or person?

I have under armours rep details for my area, when I used to deal with them a few years ago. Don't remember them being hard to find.

Wholesaler websites like the above you run the risk of them not being genuine.

 

[lesliedocherty]

Adidas want you to be open and trading with 3 years worth of accounts before looking at you, also they want you to have brands like Nike, Asics, Saucony already on board before they talk to you.

Under Armour want you to be trading for over a year unless you have some amazing concept and deep pockets.

Normally, you start with 'B' list brands and then when you have them, you can then approach the 'A' listers like Adidas, Nike & New Balance etc

 

[Mister B]

As a starting point try using STAG-a buying group specifically for the sports business. That should give you a good starting point.

Mister B

 

[Chris Ashdown]

You have gone a strange way of making a business plan by starting at the wrong end, normally you find the products and prices to be able to start your projections long before you consider a shop etc
I would suggest you talk to your local enterprise office where you can get free help in planning etc, normally by contacting your local town hall

 

[Laurence T]

Thanks for the replies.
Have managed to get contact details for a couple of the brands I had in mind. Still trying to research the missing ones.
Speaking to UA, I explained that the business would be a start-up, so it was suggested that I include a copy of my business plan along with the initial application. I'll submit that, and see what happens.
Adidas is one I'm also very keen on, so hearing that I'll need to show a proven track record, although not surprising, is a little disappointing. I have sent an initial enquiry off to them now, I'll just have to see if there is a way I can move forward should the opportunity arise.

Have looked at a few of the sites suggested, but cant really see any of the type of goods I'm really keen on. The idea is to supply the upper end of the market, and the products I've seen so far wouldn't be ideal.

Just looking into Stag-A now. Hopefully that will provide some better quality, and more of a choice, of merchandise.

Thanks again.

 

[Laurence T]

Hi Chris,
Not committed to a premises at all at the moment. Its just that there's one in the locality that would suit very well. As I say, its very early days yet and I'm not about to commit to taking on anywhere until I know I can stock it with the goods I have in mind. I'm still very much in the research stage.

 

[billmccallum1957]

https://www.cimac.net/

 

[Chris Ashdown]

It should be stock it with sales of goods that will sale,the higher the price the harder to buy and the lower the number of people who will buy

Its easy to spend £50,000 to fit out and stock a quite basic shop that takes a long time to get sales

 

[Mr D]

What if what you want to sell is not what local people want to buy in sufficient quantities?
Find out what sells and try that first.

Then add on riskier items over time slowly.