The Swiss department store chain Manor wants to expand its range through a partnership with the sporting goods retailer Decathlon Switzerland. On Wednesday, the companies presented their collaboration in digital and stationary business. “The cooperation enables both companies to strengthen their respective positions on the Swiss market,” said a joint statement.
As part of the partnership, Decathlon will now offer sports products on Manor’s online platform. There are now “several thousand new Decathlon items to choose from and the plan is to continuously expand the range to over 100 sports,” announced the company. Both partners expect advantages from the cooperation: Manor is strengthening “the digital offers and the attractiveness in the sports sector” with the expansion of the range, Decathlon is getting “an additional sales channel” with the Manor online marketplace, according to the announcement.
A stationary pilot project will also start on April 1st: Decathlon will then open shop-in-shop areas in the Manor department stores in Friborg, St. Gallen and Zurich Letzipark. Areas of around 260 to 530 square meters are planned. Decathlon wants to make its entire range available there with a Click & Collect service. “It is a test for both companies – if it is successful and if it is well received by the customers, the partnership could be expanded later,” announced the partners.
Manor hopes that the additional offer will increase customer footfall in the branches. For Decathlon there is “the opportunity to test the shop-in-shop concept at three Manor locations with prime locations and to make the brand in Switzerland even more visible and to make the sport accessible to a broader public,” the company announced.