Uvex Sports Group (USPG), the parent of the Uvex and Alpina brands, announced that it will be introducing a selective distribution system in Europe from January 2024. Through the new partner program, only certified dealers will have access to the product range.
According to an in-depth analysis by the USPG, consumers expect high-quality product presentation with competent advice, services and transparent information on product availability, in-store and online, from qualified specialist retailers. “The sale of products that meet the strict legal requirements for personal protective equipment requires high-quality distribution that is geared to the needs of customers,” commented Patrick Hebling, Director Brand & Sales at Alpina, emphasizing the importance of qualified specialist retailers.
USPG’s primary goal is to meet these needs of consumers and provide a high-quality shopping experience, the company said. As it is important for an increasingly converging European retail landscape to apply a uniform distribution system with the same criteria for all European retail partners, criteria for the certification of European specialty retailers along these consumer needs were defined. “Our specialist and wholesale partners very much welcomed the Europe-wide standardized partner program and the associated standardization of European sales during the presentation at the Eurobike,” commented Nicolas Wiesenthal, International Sales Manager. “Despite the current difficult market environment in the bicycle industry, the response to the current pre-ordering process has been consistently positive.”
