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Retailer Profile
Greaves Sports opts for
INTERSPORT
A single store in a typical small town
Greaves Sports, one of Scotland’s oldest established
and best-known family-run retailers has joined the
like Minehead in Somerset can turn
INTERSPORT Buying Group. into an empire. Don’t believe me? The
proof is there in Tony Pryce Sports.
From that single site in 1978, the
company has grown to a total of 30
stores today spread across four
different brands
A
drian Giblett, the current managing director of the business,
tells, in some ways, a classic story of a family business. Tony
Pryce (who formerly was a butcher in the mid-Wales town of
Welshpool) moved to Minehead and opened his first store. But he
wasn’t just a retailer, he was an entrepreneur. A year later he had
opened a second store in Tiverton, followed a few years later by
“We feel we have signed up to a renewed, revitalized and re-invigorated one in Taunton. Adrian Giblett joined the business in 1985 to
INTERSPORT,” Sandy Greaves, Managing Director of Greaves Sports, manage the Minehead store – he’s married to one of Tony Pryce’s
commented on the new association. three daughters and Pryce’s two other sons-in-law are also involved
He continued: “We have had a close relationship with INTERSPORT in in the business.
the past and chose to renew the link when we visited one of the shows. So far, so much the family business as seen up and down the country.
It was an impressive event and just to experience the buzz that was so Although Tony Pryce retired in 1991 the business continued to grow. It
evident there prompted us to join. It was a pleasure to talk to so many now comprises ten sports shops – the latest in Cardiff with the others
like-minded suppliers and retailers.” Sandy continued: “We are a family spread across the South West. In addition there are now thirteen Animal
business with family values and we joined not primarily for the discounts stores – the part of the business which has seen the fastest rate of
or the deals which are available but to network freely and be part of the expansion. There are also four multibrand surf stores trading under the
wider sports retail community where we feel so at home.” brand Wipeout and two Edge shops selling high street fashion brands.
In reply, Barry Mellis, INTERSPORT’s General Manager, said: “We are Finally, the company runs the Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club’s shop and has just
naturally delighted to welcome Greaves Sports as a member. I believe agreed a deal to do the same for Exeter City football club.
we both share the same philosophy of the pre-eminence in market of This looks like an object lesson in flexible thinking: applying their retail
the independent retailer, their position at the heart of High Street skills in general and their specific sports retailing knowhow to whatever
retailing, and the specialized, custom-made service they offer to the
consumer sets them as an important hub of the local community."
Barry concluded: “INTERSPORT is embarked on an ambitious strategy
for planned and sustainable growth. We have a strong appetite for
expansion and have taken up
the challenges thrown down by
a testing economic environment
and a demanding and
competitive market place as we
concentrate our resources in
lifting the profile of the Buying
Group and enhancing its
reputation as powerful and
distinguished brand within our
industry."
10 SGB SPORTS MAY 2009
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