Sporting goods stores are locked down in France and other countries, but supermarkets are not. While keeping warehouses open to service online orders in France and other countries, Decathlon has joined forces with Franprix, a French grocery store chain, in a test that can help people stay fit at home while the Covid-19 containment measures are being in force. In 70 Franprix stores in Paris and the region around the capital, customers will be able to purchase five flagship products of the sporting goods retailer that they can used while being confined at home, including training mats, dumbbells, elastics, jumping ropes and abdominal wheels. Decathlon has innovated in the past, placing little displays with basic apparel items at gas stations along French highways during the holidays. In the midst of the current retail lockdowns in the U.S., the DSW chain of shoe retail stores is selling shoes in the stores of a Midwestern supermarket chain, but we find Decathlon’s initiative more interesting and likely to translated into actual sales because of the types of items being offered. Fitness equipment products are among the sports products that are triggering the highest customer demand in these difficult times, but they can be sold mostly online.

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