Until now, the Norwegian sporting goods industry was represented only by Norspo, an association of 65 suppliers, which has been organizing a national trade show by the same name and producing the eponymous national trade publication. Seven major retail chains including the country’s largest sporting goods retailer, Gresvig, have now formed their own association as well. The suppliers’ and the retailers’ associations have equal shares in a new grouping called Sportsbransjen.no.
Among the immediate objectives of the new joint organization are the institution of a common formal contact point with the authorities and the media, the promotion of sports participation, the organization of fewer and larger national trade shows and the development of a standardized product code that will facilitate electronic data interchange between vendors and retailers.
Gisle Daviknes, general manager of a Norwegian sports chain, Stadion, has been elected chairman of the umbrella association, which will be referred to as Sportsbransjen in marketing contexts. Joining him on Sportsbransjen’s executive committee are Rolf Gullestad, managing director of Gresvig; Åge Skinstad, commercial manager at Adidas in Norway; Ivar Manger, general manager of Ramo and of Norspo; and Henning Cook, a project manager.
Norspo will remain a member of FESI, the European sporting goods industry association based in Brussels. It is bringing all its members and all its employees over to the new association including its current commercial director, Ole Petter Brattle, who will act as secretary general of the new body. A chief executive is to be appointed soon.
