Two big players are joining forces in the sports, outdoor, and lifestyle industries: ISPO Munich has secured JOOR, the world’s largest digital wholesale provider, as a partner.
This partnership holds enormous potential. The digital wholesale platform, JOOR, will enter into a long-term partnership with ISPO, benefiting both brands and retailers. The shared objective is to nurture the relationships between brands and retailers that emerge at ISPO Munich. Starting in 2023, JOOR will offer all its services to exhibitors and retailers at ISPO Munich. Additionally, ISPO and JOOR will expand their offerings and tailor the selling experience specifically for ISPO clients in the sports, outdoor, and lifestyle sectors. This strategic partnership will be accompanied by communication efforts from both sides and will be presented in detail during the ISPO Munich trade show. Plans include a physical presentation at a booth and various content on the Future Lab stages during the expo in November.
“In its role as an ecosystem for the sports industry, the ISPO Group seeks strategic partnerships in relevant areas to generate added value for our customers. We thoroughly analyzed the market in the field of digitally extending physical trade shows, and with JOOR, we found someone who will bring significant business value to our community while providing the network, expertise, and necessary technology to align our two platforms even more seamlessly for ISPO customers,” expresses Lena Haushofer, Exhibition Director of ISPO Munich and OutDoor by ISPO, about the new global partner. She further adds, “Our primary goal is always to develop relevant products and services for ISPO customers. The partnership with JOOR, in particular, allows our customers to intensify their relationships with retailers after the trade show and simplify the ordering process. They can enter into new retail relationships and generate numerous additional touchpoints with retailers.”
The collaboration between ISPO Munich and JOOR introduces an important new communication channel with numerous benefits. Through the JOOR platform, the sports and outdoor industry can establish direct connections with the fashion and lifestyle retail sector. This channel also seamlessly operates in the opposite direction, providing JOOR customers with information on products, innovations, and trends in the sports and outdoor realm. This new digital 360-degree channel generates additional B2B reach and aligns with the core principles of ISPO as a global innovation and inspiration platform. ISPO Munich aims to offer its customers an additional forward-thinking service through the JOOR platform, providing them with the option to explore digital buying and selling opportunities.
Since its establishment in 2010, JOOR has perfected a hybrid approach to digital wholesale, with an iPad app used to facilitate in-person appointments and a desktop platform to support virtual selling 24/7 from anywhere in the world. What used to be manual ordering processes at trade shows can now be conducted entirely digitally. From presenting the collection, building assortments, and placing orders to complete payment processing services and virtual trade show appearances that extend a brand’s reach, JOOR enables all aspects of the wholesale buying and selling process necessary for a comprehensive 360-degree distribution.
The New York-based company’s innovative technology appeals to both brands and retailers. The platform’s offering is centered on the goal of centralizing and optimizing order management and, consequently, the entire sales process. In short, with JOOR, brands and retailers can buy and sell from anywhere. “We are thrilled to partner with ISPO to bring our industry-leading digital fashion wholesale ecosystem to their esteemed trade fair this fall. With JOOR’s advanced hybrid selling experience, we aim to empower participating brands with the tools they need to succeed in today’s competitive market”, describes Chris Akrimi, CRO at JOOR, emphasizing the partnership’s direction.
JOOR can substantiate its successes with impressive figures. In addition to renowned clients such as Saint Laurent and Giorgio Armani, more than 14,000 brands and over 600,000 buyers in luxury, fashion, footwear, accessories, sports, home, and bridal industries rely on JOOR’s services. The digital platform is currently utilized in 150 countries, with payments accepted in 135 different currencies. In the sports sector, apparel manufacturers like Descente and Umbro are among those leveraging JOOR’s services.
“At JOOR, we give brands and retailers in all sectors – from luxury fashion to activewear to sports – the ability to digitize their ordering process, fostering efficient and streamlined wholesale transactions. Through our partnership with ISPO, we are excited to leverage our expertise and bring it to the sports and outdoor industry”, explains Chris Akrimi, highlighting the company’s expansion in sports and outdoors. The experienced sales professional emphasizes the importance of JOOR’s hybrid approach. “As the consumer shopping landscape evolves, it is crucial for brick-and-mortar retail businesses to diversify their distribution channels and embrace digital transformation. We believe that by leveraging platforms like JOOR, brick-and-mortar retail can not only survive but thrive in the digital age.” Akrimi stresses that JOOR is committed to providing brands and retailers in the sports and outdoor industry with the technology and resources they need for future success.
Interested in learning how JOOR can transform your wholesale business?
eSports are in vogue, which means that eSports betting is also becoming more and more important. However, many questions about rules, legality and providers are still unclear to the masses. iGaming has therefore made it its goal to channel interest in eSports and the new forms of betting, to educate and to provide information to reputable betting providers betting providers. How did they manage to do that? Through Future Reach from ISPO.com.
After only two months, we were able to deliver on ISPO.com Future Reach's SEO promise. The high ranking on page 1 in Google brought high reach and conversion.
After we agreed on the keyword "esports betting", we kept our promise to bring the article to the first Google results page - on time. The article clarifies and brings the topic of betting out of the "dirty corner".
The best of all worlds: With the Keyword Partnership + Future Reach you get all the benefits of Native Advertising and a separate SEO optimization with reach building. We guarantee systematic and long-term SEO traffic. Through SEO optimizations we reach German Google page 1 after 6 months at the latest and high findability in English-language search as well.
Content:
from 7.000 Euro net
The large editorial promotion article is created together with our experts. A keyword is developed on the basis of which the editorial team implements a large editorial promotion article. After 6 months you will reach Google page 1 (German language).
Suitable for: Sell In and Sell Out support, i.e. publication for Sell In and high Google visibility for Sell Out.
Find here an example.
My name is Florian von Stuckrad and I am responsible for marketing ISPO.com. My goal is to find the perfect advertising solution together with you and your brand. Contact me now and let's write history(s) together.
We offer you numerous possibilities to present your brand in the best possible way and to reach your target group. Discover more promotion options now:
This remarkable performance shirt marks a significant stride in HUGO BOSS’s commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its products in the long term. Crafted with the revolutionary cellulose filament yarn HeiQ AeoniQ™, this seamless polo shirt replaces a staggering 87% polyester with a bio-based, circular, closed-loop yarn.
The concept behind the BOSS x HeiQ AeoniQ™ Polo Shirt is to address the challenges posed by synthetic fibers, which contribute significantly to microplastic pollution. With the global demand for textiles on the rise, this innovative polo shirt aims to limit and ultimately phase out polyester while maintaining performance functionalities for sports and lifestyle garments, all the while lowering environmental impact.
Marco Falcioni, SVP Creative Direction of HUGO BOSS, explains: “At HUGO BOSS, we continually review our strategic approach to materials to increase the proportion of more sustainable materials in our collections and drive positive change within the fashion industry. By opting for HeiQ AeoniQ™, we are consciously reducing the environmental footprint of our products, while maintaining the performance attributes associated with polyester and nylon fibers.”
The manufacturing process of the Polo Shirt is designed to minimize waste generation throughout the supply chain. By valorizing cellulose waste streams instead of extracting and depleting resources, this shirt exemplifies a closed-loop approach to sustainability. The HeiQ AeoniQ™ yarn is produced in the HeiQ AeoniQ™ GmbH pilot plant in Austria, with the garment manufacturing taking place in Portugal at IMPETUS. This emphasizes HUGO BOSS’s commitment to sustainability.
HeiQ AeoniQ™ is the world's first sustainable, circular, closed-loop cellulose yarn with exceptional tensile strength and abrasion resistance, rivaling conventional materials like polyester and nylon.
The new material boasts an array of functional aspects. It is highly breathable, biodegradable within 12 weeks at the end of its lifecycle, offers excellent abrasion resistance and has natural odor control properties. Moreover, this material contributes to the reduction of environmental pollution.
By choosing HeiQ AeoniQ™, HUGO BOSS is taking an active step towards a smaller environmental footprint, as this yarn is derived from renewable cellulose instead of fossil fuels. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data is available and has been testified by neutral third parties, ensuring the veracity of its sustainability claims.
In terms of design, haptic experience, and overall look and feel, this performance polo showcases a seamless knit structure that reduces cutting waste during production. The combination of various knit variations within one style supports the different sweat zones of the body, ensuring optimal comfort and performance. The soft and lightweight knit material, coupled with a nearly seamless finish, prevents chafing and guarantees exceptional comfort during movement. The polo shirt is designed for aware and modern sports enthusiasts and is suitable for various sports activities, leisure performance/athleisure, and lifestyle purposes.
Seven ISPO Awards in the past three years – things are going well for Merrell. A look behind the scenes of the US manufacturer reveals that the success is not by chance.
Things are going well for Merrell, that’s for sure. With the hiking shoe “Moab Speed 2 Mid GTX” and the trail running shoe “MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx” from the collection for summer 2024, Merrell was able to secure two coveted outdoor industry trophies at the ISPO Awards 2023. The current award successes contribute to a strategic shift by the US manufacturer, where modern, fresh design combines perfectly with performance features. But there are more factors that ultimately account for the surge in popularity of Merrell’s outdoor shoes.
The simple equation of success for the American manufacturer looks like this: Seven out of three. Translated into awards, this means that for Merrell: for three years in a row, the brand has appeared on the winner’s list of the ISPO Awards without interruption, resulting in seven awards. In 2021, the jury awarded the “Thermo Rogue 3 Mid GTX”. This sporty, mid-high hiking shoe filled a gap in the lightweight hiking shoe segment. Merrell continued to expand on this concept. The model “Rogue Hiker” was awarded an ISPO Award the following year in 2022, just like the lightest trail runner that Merrell has ever developed – the “MTL Skyfire 2”. In 2022, two other models of shoes from Merrell received an award: the “Thermo Rogue 4” and “Agility Peak 5” also impressed the jury. 2022 was thus the US manufacturer’s most successful year to date in terms of ISPO Awards. And that’s not all: The streak of success for the performance-oriented brand from Rockford (USA) continued in 2023 with two more awards.
Merrell continues to pursue its path for the summer season 2024 with its two award-winning shoes, the “Moab Speed 2 Mid GTX” and the “MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx.” The retail industry will be pleased as these shoes have gained numerous new fans in recent years. Collaboration with French company Chamatex Group is a clear indicator of this direction. The Ardèche-based company has developed a new high-performance material called Matryx, composed of individual coated polyamides and Kevlar yarn. Merrell has taken advantage of this innovation and incorporated it into the upper material of its latest trail running shoe. Thanks to these features, the “MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx” is exceptionally lightweight yet robust enough to endure ultra-distances.
Both the award-winning “MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx” and the hiking shoe “Moab Speed 2 Mid GTX” exhibit a distinct new design language. This is a result of the changing mindset of active individuals who want to incorporate outdoor products into their daily lives. Numerous manufacturers have increasingly emphasized fashionable appearance, and Merrell is no exception. The principle followed by the US brand is: form follows function. Shaun Bohnsack, Merrell’s Vice President of Product Management, confirms the trend in outdoor shoes, stating, “Style is increasingly more important in the outdoor space. Consumers want to look good as they participate in activities outside. At the same time, function drives the form of the product. Oftentimes, material choices are made for performance and can then be designed to be both functional and appealing.”
Merrell is a global leader in the hiking sports industry, and it aims to maintain this market position. For this reason, the brand wants to continue evolving its tradition in hiking while also developing products for the next generation of outdoor consumers. “Consumers are seeking experiences and recreating in the outdoors in new and fresh ways, and we will meet them where they are as we introduce them to the simple power of being outside”, says Shaun Bohnsack. The solution for a successful future, therefore, lies in a dual strategy.
To stay on the path of success, Merrell collaborates with an athlete team called the Merrell Trail Lab (MTL). Their feedback is compared with the experiences of the design team, providing valuable insights into the functionality and quality of the latest innovations. The newest developments in hiking and trail running are rigorously tested under the most challenging conditions. Merrell demonstrates ambition in the trail running segment. “We will continue to disrupt the trail run category”, asserts Shaun Bohnsack confidently. “Being newer to the trail run marketplace, we believe we can add newfound, innovative value to the consumer through tools like the Merrell Test Lab (MTL). We use MTL to help build the best product for pinnacle trail runners as well as everyday athletes.” Merrell aims to offer an alternative to the traditional German hiking market with its shoe models.
In addition to the important exchange between the design and athlete teams, Merrell is embracing new production methods and material developments. The company is investing in digital resources to integrate upgrades more quickly through product development, digital design tools, 3D printing, and rapid prototyping. “This allows us to reach a proof of concept faster and better. We’ve built out our design team, adding new talent to our team based in Michigan (USA)”, explains Shaun Bohnsack about their approach. “We also continue to evolve material capabilities and adapt key learnings into new products.” The demand for increased comfort is also taken into account in the development of new shoe models. “We’ve built in even more cushioning underfoot with our customized FloatPro Foam™, as seen in the ISPO Award-winning Moab Speed 2 Mid GTX. These exclusive solutions bring a whole new comfort level, providing the consumer with the best cushioning for their outdoor activities”, says Shaun Bohnsack.
When asked about future plans of the US company, Shaun Bohnsack states: “Merrell is moving on a future-oriented path. We will continue to lead hike, set the pace in trail run, and expand into the lifestyle category. We’re currently learning about new thermal insulation technologies with a goal of providing lightweight temperature management for winter hiking and casual end uses – which is very exciting. At Merrell, we want to equip more people to enjoy the outdoors more often and are committed to building the best products to help people get out there.” Whether new award winners will emerge from the Merrell laboratories in the future remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain – quality and degree of innovation will remain high.
The BACH reLAY 3R Split is a sleeping pad that offers a comfortable, inflatable sleeping option with an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. A detachable part of the mummy shaped pad can be taken off easily and offers a durable seating option on the trail.
With a width of 58 cm and a wide mummy shape, the BACH reLAY 3R Split sleeping pad allows you to sleep comfortably while minimizing weight and pack size. »It was obvious to us not to follow what other brands do to save weight and offer a wider pad of 58 cm. 52 cm is too narrow to sleep comfortably according to our standard,« says BACH sleep systems product manager Julien Gautier. »We also like to say that the reLAY 3R Split air mat brings comfort at night but also during the day, thanks to the comfy detachable sit pad.«
Its main idea is to offer a lightweight two-in-one solution when camping or back-packing: In one piece, the BACH reLAY 3R Split is a comfortable, inflatable sleeping pad with an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. »We opted for a horizontal tube construction. This is for us the most comfortable construction, if you lay on it, you barely feel the tubes.« The sleeping pad can be split to get a comfortable inflatable sitting pad with a robust bottom fabric, which is also highlighted in a different color.
»We designed the reLAY 3R Split for those who always hesitate between carrying a sit pad for added comfort or going without it to save weight and hope to find the right rock as a replacement,« Gautier explains. For pretty much no added weight or volume, this is perfect for those who always hesitate to bring a seat on the trails. For weight-conscious travelers with kids, the smaller pad could also be left at home for the time they are still small and added when they need a full-size sleeping pad.
To inflate the pad is easy and quickly done using the included pump-sack. The smart design of the valve allows you to micro-adjust the pressure of the pad and to deflate quickly when you are packing.
The fabric is made of 100% recycled 30D brushed ripstop polyester and has been selected for its soft-to-touch, anti-static, anti-slip, and anti-noise properties. It is also 3rd party certified recycled. »And to make sure your sit pad is robust enough, we used a 75D at the bottom made out 100% recycled polyester,« adds product manager Julien Gautier. The BACH reLAY3R Split is great in balancing versatility, durability, comfort and weight-reduction whilst using eco-friendly materials.