INTERSPORT's Operational Structure

The Division Products & Purchasing (P&P) at INTERSPORT International Corporation (IIC) focuses on product, setting the standard of product development and product purchasing. The tasks of the division are as follows:

• Development of Exclusive Brands and its products
• Exclusive Brand Management
• Realisation of Strategic Brand Deals (Frame Deals, Central Purchase Deals)
• Serve its customers (National Organisation) in all aspects of Products & Purchasing
  

Business Unit Textiles:

The business unit textiles focuses on functional and innovative products in all sport activities such as outdoor, ski, running, tennis, fitness, swim and team sport.  The textile business unit is dealing directly with designing and producing exclusive brands.  Additionally, a main focus is the strategic buying of leading independent sport brands.

Business Unit Footwear:

The Business Unit Footwear focuses on creating products in three major areas of the athletics: authentic sports, outdoor and leisure/lifestyle.  One of the main goals is determining and purchasing industry dominant sports brands.  Working directly with product design and technology, the IIC footwear business unit develops for all activities from football to running and tennis to lifestyle.

Business Unit Hardware I:

The Business Unit Hardware I contains a strong mix of winter and summer hardware products. Each product is created and based on the newest technologies and innovations, and therefore leads the development of the best product assortment.  The business unit Hardware I focuses on selecting a range of exclusively branded and leading strategic sport products for all National Organisations.

Business Unit Hardware II:

The Business Unit Hardware II develops and offers products of the following activities: outdoor, bike, funwheel sports, ice and fitness. All of our exclusive developments offer the newest technology. Furthermore attractive offers are negotiated with the leading sports brands.

The Division Marketing and Retail, License and New business at INTERSPORT International Corporation (IIC) communicates our expertise in strategic, operational and retail marketing for all levels of the INTERSPORT Group. The tasks of the division are as follows:

• Sponsoring programs
• Market research and analyses
• Business development
• Investor relations
  

Marketing and Retail:

The marketing and retail department is responsible for increasing and maintaining INTERSPORT corporate branding and identity awareness and identity from campaign development through to execution at national level. This is done through International cooperative marketing campaigns, market research and retail benchmarking and analysis.  Implementation of consumer commitment procedures, international shop formula and merchandising manuals are of utmost importance to the division.

License and New Business:

The license and new business department is responsible for ensuring that all licensees conform to the INTERSPORT guidelines and regulations; setting up and initiating expansion strategies and finding new partner in new markets. In addition, the license department is responsible for any legal action related to trademark and property rights. The main goals are to analyse potential markets, proactively search for investors, coordinate introduction programmes of new licensees and monitor the INTERSPORT trademarks.

The Division Services provides the following directly to the National INTERSPORT Organisations and to INTERSPORT International Corporation (IIC) internally. The tasks of the division are as follows:

• Finance, Accounting & Controlling
• Order Processing
• International Information Technology and Logistics
• IIC Information Technology
• Human Resources
• Other management services (e.g. project work, corporate responsibility)

Finance, Accounting & Controlling:

The department takes care of all aspects of IIC's finance, accounting and controlling. For the national INTERSPORT Organisations service and advice is provided concerning business management, legal tax matters, financial reporting, international statistics and benchmarking.

Order Processing:

The department takes care of product orders after they have been placed by the national INTERSPORT Organisations (delivery consolidation and control) and is the Group's competence centre in order processing (especially import and export, customs tariffs/handling). Furthermore the department supports the Division Product and Purchase in their daily work.

International Information Technology and Logistics:

The department is responsible for the co-ordination of international IT and logistics projects with the aim to optimise the supply chain as well as the information flow, which is created by the logistics process. The department aims to improve the synergies in the Group, to harmonise processes, and consequently, safe costs. To reach these goals international communication (EDI) and classification rules are established and maintained.

IIC Information Technology:

Based on the SAP platform and Microsoft working tools, the IT department provides all services linked to information technology at IIC. The department is also responsible for the proficient order placing of the national INTERSPORT Organisations by “classic EDI” (based on EDIFACT messages) and Web EDI (web based technology).

Human Resources:

The HR department is responsible for managing staff administration at IIC and establishing tools and guidelines.  A permanent goal is the constant improvement of education and staff development at IIC. Also, handing the recruiting process for the multinational IIC team consisting of almost 20 nationalities is an important task.