In an open letter to Assosport’s president, the chief sales officer of the Oberalp Group, Stefan Rainer, recently called for a postponement of winter sales from their usual early January start to the beginning of Feb. 2021 or later, in consideration of the special conditions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. This measure would give retailers some more time to sell products at their suggested retail price (SRP). In the letter, Rainer asked Assosport, which is the Italian association of sporting goods manufacturers, and the Italian Outdoor Group (IOG), part of Assosport, to promote the initiative at national institutions. Shortly after that letter, the Oberalp Group announced that winter sales at its 58 stores in Europe and its brands’ e-commerce stores will indeed begin on Jan. 30, 2021, or even later if decisions by local authorities will make it possible. On the heel of the letter, the IOG has announced its support for the proposal and reiterated that a delay would be beneficial to retailers, who are being severely affected by long-standing administrative closures and the fact that resorts will not be able to open their ski area for the holiday season in most countries.
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