Running shoe firm sprints to record turnover

An online running shoe retailer backed by an Olympic gold medallist has sprinted to record turnover.

SportsShoes.com saw income rise four per cent to £93.3 million in the year to February 28.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation increased 13.3 per cent to £6 million, as the Shipley-based company picked up more than 672,000 new customers.

Bosses say the firm – which counts Paris Olympic Games 800-metre gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson among its ambassador portfolio – was catalysed by a new sales app that accounts for 12 per cent of revenues and its participation in more than 100 events, including international marathons, which helped the firm physically reach seven million consumers.

They add it also benefited from a number of running shoe launches alongside heavyweight brands including New Balance, Nike, Hoka and Adidas, and a partnership with health and life insurer Vitality.

Brett Bannister, managing director at the business, which also counts partnerships with Paris Olympics silver medallist triathlete Hayden Wilde and relay silver medallist sprinter Imani-Lara Lansiquot through a Nike tie-up, said it had made good progress.

He added: “Our vision is to be unrivalled in running, a disrupter of the outdoor category and Europe’s number one performance destination.

“A guiding principle is ‘do it first and be remembered’.

“By always applying this to our thinking, the result is continuous innovation and improvement.

“Our partnerships, athlete ambassadors and sponsorships have been hugely successful, and we are continuing to seek new ones.

“Additionally, our Vitality partnership demonstrates our ability to play a role in helping everyone achieve their goals.”

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