Dutch sports retailer RunX lands in Enschede, Groningen, Haarlem and Tilburg

By

Shomara Roosblad

Published
Oct 3, 2018

Dutch sports retailer RunX has unveiled the first four branches of its new store concept. The shops are located in Enschede, Groningen, Haarlem and Tilburg. Branches in Apeldoorn and Zaandam are scheduled to open in January 2019.

RunX offers sports collections for men and women as well as footwear for children. The chain specializes in running and hiking apparel and also organizes training analysis and advice. Available brands include: Asics, Adidas, Garmin, Polar, New Balance, Falke and Torq.

The newly launched retail concept was initiated by former franchisees of Dutch sports retailer Runnersworld, who parted ways with the chain earlier this year. On 26 June 2018, Dutch newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad reported that 11 of the 24 franchisees were launching their own sports chain.

At the time, the franchisees argued that the Runnersworld formula did not offer them enough freedom and yielded too little in return. In addition, the franchisees said that within the Runnersworld parent company, Euretco, they were not given enough space to distinguish themselves as a sports retailer that specializes in running.

Furthermore, the former franchisees of Runnersworld said that, as a result of the acquisition of Intersport by parent company Euretco, they could only stock footwear that Euretco buys for Intersport. One of the franchisees told Het Financieele Dagblad in June, that his Runnersworld (franchise) branch was required to buy and stock footwear that it did not support.

With the launch of RunX, the franchisees aim to operate a chain that is able to handle directly with larger brands, such as Nike and Adidas, who, as earlier reported by Het Financieele Dagblad, don’t sell to individually operating entrepreneurs.

As RunX is expanding, the retailer is currently accepting applications from franchisees wishing to operate their own RunX store across the Netherlands.