Have you ever looked closely at a nature shuttlecock, weighting less than five grams, but enduring the strongest stroke , you can find in sport ? That is handcrafted art !
It was Victor’s nature shuttlecock „Champion“,
who gave fame to the world brand VICTOR and is probably still today the best
ball in the world.
Company “VICTOR Industrial Racket
Cooperation“ was registered by Den Li Chen, the company’s president, in 1958
and the brand name was patented.
Within a short time Den Li Chen was able to built
up a factory in Taipei, which has been one of the biggest factories for shuttles
and rackets up to day in the Far East.
In these countries people play
badminton with similar enthusiasm as they play football here. In most Eastern
Asian countries, VICTOR has always been No.1 while competitor „Yonex“ was
only years later on the market and others did not count a lot.
In the 70´s Den Li Chen, meanwhile leader of several
production areas, spread brand- and distribution rights world wide. In Germany
Guido Schmidt founded company “Victor-Sport Vertriebs GmbH” with the brand
rights in 1978 and started to build up a distribution organisation.
VICTOR-SPORT Vertriebs GmbH in Germany as well
developed positively under the support of the Far East mother company. Step
by step the German company emancipated from the Far East mother and started
to built up additional buying sources, harmonizing products with the Western
taste. One big success of Victor Germany was the cooperation with company
ASHAWAY-USA 20 years ago, the No.1 string producer worldwide. This 175 years
old company (one of the oldest family companies in USA) produces the best
Badminton-, Squash- (and partly Tennis-) strings world wide. Victor Germany
has the sales rights for nearly whole Europe today.
Guido Schmidt, founder of Victor Germany, died
in 1991. Burkard Born, long time managing director, left the company. „VICTOR
SPORT“ then was sold by the inheritance to the external manager: Jan Beutler,
who has long termed Fareast experience and knowledge of directing companies
as executive director. Rolf Aurin being in the company for many years could
be gained as partner and head of the sales, being also well known in the Badminton
scene, player in the national team and with good contacts to the customers
in the indoor sport scene. This new constellation of insider knowledge and
management, but also the clear structure of the company shares, has leaded
to a better rating from credit institutes, suppliers and customers.
The economical own company capital is always exceeding
50% now.
The whole company was reconstructed with a refreshed
„Corporate Identity“ and „Corporate Design and a new young and ambitious team
was built up.
The change in new, own real estate in 2000 brought
again more independence and the space potential gave room for a real expansion.
After 20 years of excessive growth, the situation got more difficult by a
decreasing sport- and badminton market as well as a worsening national economic
situation and a changed competition structure (in contrast to the 80´s and
90´s there were now up to 30 competitors trying to bring out badminton assortment
expansively). Furthermore VICTOR Germany had to cope with the investigations
of new-structuring and new market rights and real estate. Nevertheless VICTOR
was able to increase turn-over year by year. This was only possible by being
consistent market leader.
In 2001/2002 an important „coup“ could be managed through buying nearly all European market rights with exception of a very few countries. From Russia to Spain the expansion of the market leader in Badminton and indoor could now go ahead. All over Fareast V VICTOR (VICTOR –Rackets Ltd) also could hold leading position.
Now company VICTOR-SPORT was able to establish in Squash and even Tennis segment. Besides we have started an expanded product line for textile and other items like VICFUN (sep. department). More than 100 top players all over Europe are sponsored by VICTOR. VICTOR has the biggest indoor catalogue with the widest program in German/ English and in this branch nearly the most volumed Internet presentation with „B to B“ and „B to C“ with more than 1000 visits weekly, are telling more about leading position of VICTOR.
The VIC FUN department with own catalogue presentation
for beach, garden, and freetime games developed after a big effort to a successful
new pillar.
Company VICTOR-SPORT cooperates with nearly all
bigger consumer companies and sales associations, like Intersport, Sport 2000,
Karstadt, Metro etc.. VICTOR sales are done by representatives, who serve
all five categories of customers:
Ø
center
Ø
allround- sport traders
Ø
specialists
Ø
concerns
Ø
mail order companies
VICTOR-SPORT works with the widest assortment in
the indoor segment, especially with the NOS – Never Out of Stock – System,
in this way that every volume, every quantity could be delivered at any time.
In future we will further on emphasize our „Unique Selling Position“, our
identity in sport competence, our customer orientation, the service and NOS
system to succeed against our competitors and to gain market shares Clear
marketing, conservative decisions and the confession to intermediate traders
will always be our priority.