Decathlon to open 9 stores in Ireland

Alun

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/french-sports-retailer-decathlon-to-open-up-to-nine-shops-in-ireland-1.3379797

sparrowcar

Long overdue, great gear at a good price.
I've had some quicha clothing for 10 years still going strong.

I personally welcome the news.

Alun

Me too, some great bargains to be had, and decent quality too. Hopefully the Dublin one will be south of the M50 toll

seanin4711

constantly on to them on twitter to open a store in Ireland.
fuppin delighted.
always visit their stores when in France and have ordered online but thats a dismal offering in comparison to the uk website.
happy days
lets hope the government don't tax the bejaysis out of them and nullify any savings in comparison to the value you get in France.;)

BillyBobBS

Very happy with this. Have a pair of their black trainers iv'e worn for the last two years to work and they are spot on. I paid a massive 13 euro for them. Their stuff even their cheap stuff is quality.

Masala

Whoohoo..... coolest store I ever saw!! The Sales Assistants in the Berlin store moved along the store on Skateboards... what a job!!

4Ad

Masala wrote: »

Whoohoo..... coolest store I ever saw!! The Sales Assistants in the Berlin store moved along the store on Skateboards... what a job!!

I was in there, some choice...
A great store..

Losty Dublin

Their stuff; are we talking Crivit in Aldi and Lidl prices and Craghoppers or North Face quality?

ted1

It’s top quality , I’ve ran marathons in their gear ( their anti chaffing cream is excellent)

I’ve used their rashvests fir surfing , excellent.

I’ve put up a couple of thousand km in their cycling gear. Excellent

The kids have had their backpacks for years still in excellent condition.

Their micro towels work great.

ted1

The great outdoors should worry
O Neil’s and mycro should worry

Lifestyle sports and other places that primarily sell jerseys are safe.

Elverys who probably have the best sports range will be safe if they move to ficus in jerseys and branded gear

iwillhtfu

ted1 wrote: »

It’s top quality.

I wouldn't get to carried away there. The quality is ok in so far as it's budget brand outdoor gear. Probably a step above aldi etc and a mix of mid level outdoor gear. There fitness clothing is a similar mix of low to mid end gear.

They do have a higher end also but the price goes up accordingly. I'm regularly in the one in Belfast but typically only buy a few cheap fleece.

A good store to browse around though I'm sure they'll do well down here

seanin4711

i think the main reason i am excited for these stores to open down here is because the plethora of choice of sports equipmentthat they can carry/have access to.
can only be a good thing for the consumer.
lets hope they don't get acclimatised with the whole "irish pricing" vs european pricing.
single market and all that!

BarryD2

ted1 wrote: »

The great outdoors should worry
O Neil’s and mycro should worry

This maybe the issue. We have a number of mostly small, often owner run, outdoor shops in the Republic. The market isn't that big, so these will likely be squeezed out of business by the much bigger purchasing power of a large multiple like Decathlon.

Is that what people want?

As a publisher of maps, I find it harder and harder to get retail stockists as many smaller bookshops close. The bigger bookshops and newsagents run on franchises etc. don't want local publications. All they're focused on are the latest chick lit novels that they think will shift quickly.

I've had same experience with some of the larger leisure outlets - simply not interested in stocking things like maps and books. Too much trouble for them it seems.

Be careful what you wish for

seanin4711

Can't wait,decent sports gear at decent prices,no down side for me

unkel

BarryD2 wrote: »

Be careful what you wish for

I understand where you are coming from, Barry. But the days where local B&M shops can make a huge margin are nearly gone.

If I want something that costs €30 to manufacture, I have not much difficulty buying it off Amazon for €100 (including all taxes), but I refuse to pay the €200 Irish shops are charging for it

If I were you, I wouldn't bother with retailers anymore. Your products have a unique selling point and are of high quality (in a niche market). Just sell online only for a price a little bit lower than what they are retailed for now. Would increase your margin and free up a lot of your time and lessen your worries

Freeing you up to do what you like doing

How about west Wicklow mountains in 1:25000 for starters? I'll buy it as soon as it's out...

BarryD2

unkel wrote: »

How about west Wicklow mountains in 1:25000 for starters? I'll buy it as soon as it's out...

In time, hopefully.

But you'd be surprised at the split in online sales v retail shops. We still sell most of our maps through other retailers. There are a number of people who are interested in buying new maps etc., but you couldn't make up the costs on these alone, welcome as they are. You need the more casual buyer, who is browsing in a shop etc.

Macy0161

BarryD2 wrote: »

This maybe the issue. We have a number of mostly small, often owner run, outdoor shops in the Republic. The market isn't that big, so these will likely be squeezed out of business by the much bigger purchasing power of a large multiple like Decathlon.

Is that what people want?

I'm not sure they're the one's that will be squeezed to be honest. It'll be more the online side, so the likes of sportsdirect. Anecdotally, decathlon.ie is already taking business that would have otherwise gone to sportsdirect and other what you might say are "discount" online retailers. It will probably hit the aldi and lidl specials too - it's really that market rather than people wanting specialist stores imo.

BarryD2

Macy0161 wrote: »

I'm not sure they're the one's that will be squeezed to be honest. It'll be more the online side, so the likes of sportsdirect. Anecdotally, decathlon.ie is already taking business that would have otherwise gone to sportsdirect and other what you might say are "discount" online retailers. It will probably hit the aldi and lidl specials too - it's really that market rather than people wanting specialist stores imo.

Maybe. I suppose it depends on location and how far people are willing to go out of their way to hit a superstore. But it's the buying power of a large operation like this that can do the damage. They can put the squeeze on suppliers, sell cheaper, build a monopoly and then squeeze their suppliers further. Happens in the grocery trade as well documented.

ED E

Anyone used their Irish site (fulfilled via AP from the UK?) recently? How was dispatch/delivery?

Grassey

Yeah ordered a scooter for the missus and some bicycle bits for me. Shipped 3 days after order and arrived 2 days after that, back in July.

ted1

ED E wrote: »

Anyone used their Irish site (fulfilled via AP from the UK?) recently? How was dispatch/delivery?

I found delivery slower than you would expect in 2018 from a shop with only an online presence.

They charged for delivery when it should have been free. Their online support removed the charge

Macy0161

I was actually the opposite, in that they under promised, over delivered on the delivery time. My opinion on anything online is that delivery experience really comes down to the delivery company, and then the (often sub contract) area delivery driver.

ED E

Dispatch is slow enough anyways.

seanin4711

in both quimper (better) and morlaix stores.
hard not to drop a couple of hundred each time!(must stay away!).
love their running equipment.