Double Deck Snowboards 2024/25 Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Snowboards FW24/25 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Double Deck
Interviewee: Andreas Kramer, CEO

Would you describe the current state of the snowboard market? What big developments, changes, challenges, and/or opportunities are you seeing and how is your brand navigating them?

The snowboard market is currently still in decline, but seems to be open to new products and innovations. With our new snowboard technology we have the feeling that the market will accept exactly that. We also have the feeling that with this product we can potentially make the snowboard market grow again. DOUBLEDECK® Snowboards is built on innovation. Our technology will revolutionize the whole industry. With different bow designs, our motherboard can be used in different areas such as powder, freeride, pipe. Beginners also have a great advantage from our products, because with our boards it is easier for beginners to learn snowboarding, because you simply do not fall so easily. In addition DOUBLEDECK® Snowboards has developed a special return policy for rental stations. At the end of the season the rental stations return our boards and we recycle the material and make new boards out of it.

Following overall price increase, any positive developments with regards to manufacturing, sourcing, or logistics and the changes you’ve made? Are there any examples you can share of how your business pivoted effectively? What developments are you seeing with regards to product pricing?

DOUBLEDECK® Snowboards is a new brand, we are in the market for the first time this season. Therefore, we do not have to make any changes or have any surplus. However, we will not oversell the market in the first year, we will only supply a limited amount of boards worldwide for the upcoming season – even though we have more requests for our products.

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Is e-commerce sales still strong since most brands have been put a lot of effort in physical retail?
Stationary sales is the most important way for us to sell snowboards. Snowboard hardgoods and especially our new technology need the stationary trade to explain the product, so we don’t see e-commerce as relevant for our products, but of course there will be some online offers on the market.

Past last winter and the lack of snow in Europe, what’s your overall sales and production/inventory strategy for 24/25?
Due to Doubledeck being new to the market we do not have overstock at all. We will be serving the market for upcoming season below demand. Thus we will not run the danger of overstock. Plus we will try to incite retail to keep RRPs fixed and not reduce prices during the season because of Double decks innovation level there is no need to reduce price as the demand is higher than the availability of the product for upcoming season.

SNOWBOARD SPECIFIC
What trends or developments are you seeing with regards to board construction, shapes, and general innovation? How is this shaping your 24/25 range?
Thanks to its unique and patented technology, DOUBLEDECK® is a innovation itselfs. The patented DOUBLEDECK® technology prevents tilting and the risk of dangerous falls. Initiating turns is significantly simplified by the patented technology, requiring no additional effort. Not only designed for novice snowboarders, but also catering to experienced riders and professionals, DOUBLEDECK® offers a completely fresh experience and sensation

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Anything new concerning sustainability and related product or construction you would like to highlight?As mentioned earlier DOUBLEDECK® Snowboards has developed a special return policy for rental stations. At the end of the season the rental stations return our boards and we recycle the material and make new boards out of it.

Are you using any new materials in your hardware for 24/25?
If so, what and why? We’re interested in anything new in inserts / edges / cores / sidewalls / glue / resin/ wood types / base material / top sheet / etc. here. We have developed certain construction of our boards. This enables us to recycle up to 75% of the used materials after a board is maximum used and we can produce new boards from that recycled material. This helps the environment a lot.

Any new design or pattern approaches in your 24/25 gear? Any collabs on the line?
We are currently working with Terje Håkonsen on a special line.

Are you planning to focus on a special product range or type of customers? What’s your newest range?
Since the Doubledeck boards are just new to the market, we focus mainly on boards. But the future certainly holds some surprises with additional product innovation besides snowboards.

What is your top product marketing story for next season?
Try before you buy: DOUBLEDECK® let to Rent Program DOUBLEDECK® is not only launching with a technological revolution, it has also pioneered an entirely new approach to utilizing winter equipment sustainably through its ingenious ‘Let to Rent’ option. Under this program, all DOUBLEDECK® snowboards are available for rental under attractive terms. This allows individuals to use a snowboard throughout the winter season, then easily return it at the end of the rental period, have it refurbished and put back into circulation – complete with a new design. Moreover, discarded boards are recycled, with approximately 75% of their components being reused. Because there is no planet b!

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