Zitra takes on European lead for sports item giant 361°
Multichannel fashion provider Zitra takes on exclusive rights for pan-European expansion efforts of second largest Chinese sports item manufacturer. The full service solution will include sales and fulfilment services in addition to a comprehensive marketing management.
Hamburg, November 25, 2014 – 361 Degrees International Limited –361° for short – founded in Jianjing, China in 2003, is to date the second largest sports brand in China offering high-tech sports items. The sportswear brand is represented in the Chinese market with over 7,800 shops, generating an annual turnover of over 1 billion euro. The manufacturer’s product range includes performance and lifestyle clothing in addition to running, training, basketball as well as casual shoes for indoor and outdoor use. 361° has been on an expansion course with the ultimate goal of becoming a global player in the sports segment. Following their market entry in the US and Brazil markets, the manufacturer has now set his sights on the pan-European market segment. The sports item manufacturer has developed a collection specifically for the international market – including proprietary technology in the running shoe segment.
Other than for the North and South American markets, the European rollout strategy of 361° will corporate with Zitra as an effective service model instead. Zitra will as of now handle the planning and implementation of 361°'s European market entry phase, as well as the development of the sales and logistics processes as the exclusive service provider.
"Our business model will facilitate 361°'s pan-European expansion without any need for additional, cost-intensive organisational structures, or having to concede control in any shape or form", explains Morten Severon, Managing Director at Zitra. It's in-depth knowledge of market conditions and the fragmented retail structures in Europe will allow a targeted approach to the relevant country-specific requirements. "The solutions we offer all across Europe are not only scalable and offer minimal risk for brands, but are also a lot more cost-effective than going at it alone – a definite advantage in the crowded European competitive environment", adds Severon. In combination with multichannel sales structures, marketing activities, fulfilment and local adaptations of processes and measures, Zitra offers a one-stop industry solution that is entirely unique in the pan-European context.
The rollout for 361° will be launched to the B2B and B2C markets across Europe for the spring/summer 2015 season.
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Press Contact
Catherine Lensing
PR & Marketing Manager
Zitra GmbH
Phone +49 40 200 03 99 8648
E-Mail catherine.lensing@zitra.com
www.zitra.com
About Zitra
Zitra, a member of the Otto Group, is Europe's largest fashion agency offering full service for international fashion brands. The multichannel service provider with headquarters in Hamburg, Germany, was founded in 2011 by Hermes-OTTO International with the goal of digitalising order processes in the fashion sector. True to their motto "We scale up brands", Zitra now offers all services along the order-to-cash process for fashion brands, from management and technology to fulfilment. At www.zitra.com, retailers will find not only a viable marketplace, but also support services for an ideal order environment centred around international fashion purchasing and distribution. Retailers can order products comfortably online, while brand providers can use the portal for efficient business expansion. Zitra supports both with logistics, processing, and payment processes. As a subsidiary of the Otto Group, the service provider has access to comprehensive fashion expertise combined with the unique logistics competence of Hermes Fulfilment.
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