Hervis, which has a 12-store network in Romania, plans to gain market share from competitors, open at least one new store and improve the product range, Pozdarie added.
“The year started off rather slow. We didn’t have last year’s winter when it snowed a lot. If I were to compare this year and the last I’d say I was more optimistic back then.”
Sporting goods, as well as fashion and footwear retail is a business that fluctuates with the weather. The lack of snow or the heavy rainfall during summer can influence sales of sporting goods.
“It is too early for an estimate of the entire year because of the many factors that can influence the business. We budgeted two-digit growth, as we did last year.”
The revenue of Hervis, the sporting goods retail unit of Spar Austria group, in Romania went up 12.5% to 68.1 million (EUR15.6 million) last year. The growth was lower than budgeted at the beginning of 2012, even though the year started well, because in the second half customers were more reluctant to spend.
“Last year was one of our best years. Growth was also helped by our opening of a new store in Palas Iasi. We now have 12 stores and want to open at least one more this year.”
The company has already signed a deal to open a store in Promenada mall in Floreasca (an area connecting central to northern Bucharest) and is in talks for more.
“We may open one more store in a shopping center.”
Hervis Romania’s general manager says that the market his company operates on was flat at EUR400 million in 2012.
The major specialist retailers – Decathlon, Hervis and Intersport, compete with retail chains also selling sporting goods and the small retailers in Romania.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)