Skiset, the French company that has already created the largest network of rental stations for ski and snowboard products in Europe, has signed a partnership with Christy Sports, an American chain of ski shops that has a similar network in North America. Together, they are setting up a centralized online reservation system, with nearly 800 affiliated stores and with call centers on both continents, where they are going to handle reservations in their respective continents.
Their combined ski rental network will be the biggest in the world. In addition to 350 affiliated stores in France and a similar number in other European countries, Skiset has 56 affiliated stores in the U.S. and Canada. For its part, Christy Sports has a network of 76 sales and rental points in the U.S., including its own 43 stores in the states of Colorado and Utah.
The U.S. company will take over the management of Skiset's U.S. network, forming an enlarged Christy Sports Rental Network of 120 stores, which is expected to grow to 200 points of sale within three years. Christy will benefit from Skiset's experience in renting snow sports equipment and from its purchasing power, which will be augmented through this deal. The two partners are planning to set up a joint purchasing organization, but the dates and the modalities have not yet been finalized.
Together, Christy and Skiset will be purchasing some 100,000 pairs of skis for sale and rental in 800 stores each year, becoming a major client for the ski companies. For Skiset, the next big step should be its entry into the Japanese or the Russian market. Besides France, its European network covers for the moment the countries of Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Andorra and Bulgaria.
