Sole Technology is planning to set up a network of partner stores under the name of its star brand, Etnies, all over Europe after the relative success of a test store opened in March at Kingston upon Thames, in the U.K. Several retailers in the Netherlands, Spain and other countries have shown interest in the project.
Peter Ottenvanger, who was formally appointed European director of Sole Technology earlier this month, also wants to see more shop-in-shops and more selling over the internet. The company already has more than 50 shop-in-shops in Europe. Fantastic results have been reported at a temporary such shop that opened in the Citadium superstore in Paris a couple of weeks ago.
Ottenvanger, 54, is taking the place of Jan van Leeuwen, who is leaving Sole Technology Europe's office in Amsterdam after three years. His next station has not yet been announced. Ottenvanger had been deeply involved in retail at Levi's and O'Neill after working for Mexx. Three years ago he set up his own consultancy, working for Sole Technology and others including Carhartt, after spending four years as manager of retail operations at O'Neill Europe.
Ottenvanger will report directly to Etnies' 46-year-old founder, the French Pierre-André Senizergues, who founded the skate shoe brand in the U.S. in 1988. Etnies is by far the biggest revenue generator for Sole Technology, whose total sales are said to be stable at around $200 million annually. The U.S. and Europe each represent around 40 percent of the total.
There are no plans to change the distribution in Europe. The company operates directly in the Netherlands, German, the U.K., Spain and Denmark.
