As part of its ongoing effort to streamline European operations, Hi-Tec is closing down more subsidiaries to replace them with distribution agreements. While Hi-Tec’s Italian subsidiary was already shuttered last year, the Benelux and German operations followed suit this year, and the closure of the company’s Danish trading subsidiary is underway.
In the Benelux, the Hi-Tec golf range will be handled by Golfers World, a strongly-established distributor with such brands as Ben Sayers, Adams Golf, Polo Ralph Lauren Golf and Glenmuir. Hi-Tec is about to conclude another distribution deal in the Benelux for its other lines, sold under the Hi-Tec and Magnum brands.
In Germany, the distribution of all footwear ranges has been assigned to wb compagnie, which sells a dollop of sports and lifestyle apparel and accessories. Golf ranges will be sold by a separate unit in the same company.
Meanwhile, Hi-Tec is dismantling its subsidiary in Copenhagen, which used to cover Denmark and Sweden, to take care of the two markets with separate distribution deals. One of them has already been signed with Professional Back Up, a specialist distributor for the appetizing Swedish golf market, which already deals with the likes of Adams Golf and Burton Golf. Hi-Tec will stick with Boreson & Boreson as its Swedish distributor for its court sports products and with MP Sec for its Magnum range, but it is still looking for a Swedish outdoor distributor, as well as for new partners in Denmark. Finnish and Norwegian distributors were already in place.
As previously reported, the Italian distribution deal for all Hi-Tec ranges went to Pio Canin’s Sports Trade, which sells such brands as Rockport, Chervo, Haglöfs and Ziener. The changes are meant to penetrate European markets more efficiently, through more focused distribution deals. In Europe, the company retains subsidiaries in France, Spain, the UK and the Czech Republic, which serves as a regional hub for several East European countries. There are no plans to dismantle any of these remaining subsidiaries.
Separately, Hi-Tec has teamed up with the UK’s National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and its Scottish equivalent, Children 1st. The company will donate 10 pence on the sale of every single pair of its children’s footwear in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to the NSPCC. The same amount will go to Children 1st on every children’s pair sold in Scotland. The objective is to raise at least £25,000 (€36,900-$50,200) for the two charities.
