Head 21/22 Snow Helmets Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Snow Helmets 21/22 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Head
Interviewee: Katharina Acham, Jr. Marketing Manager

What are the main trends in the helmet market for snowboarding in FW21/22 and how do you address them with your products?
Comfort is key – also in regards to safety! The patented Sphere Fit and Sphere Fit Auto systems wrap around the customers head like a beanie, creating a snug and comfortable fit for maximum safety when going big in the park, pipe, slope or in the backcountry.

It’s all about the look! The all-new C-series with its modern and slim profile is the perfect companion for riders who are craving for a slim and integrated helmet look besides to comfort and safety.

Perfect helmet and goggle match HEAD helmets and goggles are developed in close cooperation to create optimal integration and optical unity.

Visor helmets are still booming. Having our award-winning, fully integrated visor helmet RADAR / RACHEL (WMN) in our helmet line since season 2019/20, well accepted by prescription glasses wearer as well as from people who usually don’t wear visor helmets.

What were your biggest sellers In FW20/21?
R-series: RADAR/RACHEL & REV/RITA V-series: VICO/VALERY

Do you have any innovations in terms of design or materials for FW21/22?
We don’t only use new materials: We are even introducing a completely new platform designed from scratch. The C-series with the models COMPACT PRO/ COMPACT and a rental version named CHARTER is focusing on the essentials of winter sports helmet: Great look, perfect fit and, most importantly, supreme protection. Below the main features:
Slim Profile: The outline of this helmet line is optimized to create a neat integrated look. At the same time, the hardshell construction offers extraordinary durability.
Highest comfort: From size adjustment to the helmet lining – this helmet line offers supreme comfort. The beanie liner inside the helmet is equipped with cozy microfur, which wicks off moisture and is washable.
Perfect fit: The patented Sphere Fit system wraps around the head like a beanie. The system is adjusted in all three dimensions, creating a snug and comfortable fit without applying any pressure.
Thermal ventilation: Thermal Ventilation is our automatic ventilation system which leads warm air away from the head to the outside without allowing any cold air to come inside.

Compact PRO

Are you offering any accessories to your helmets?
Some of our top-of-the-line helmets come with a helmet pouch in the box, for comfortable and safe transportation and to avoid damages and scratches on the product.

Are your products targeted to specific customers / rider types?
No.

What is the general consumer’s attitude towards wearing snow helmets? Has this changed in recent years?
We perceive a more open attitude towards wearing snow helmets. Because helmets not only fulfill the safety aspect, but are now also super comfortable, warm and stylish. We are experiencing increasing sales in this segment and are continuously developing new products in close cooperation with our professional athletes to meet the demands of every winter sports enthusiast.

Where do you expect the biggest growth in helmets for FW21/22?
All-mountain helmets, rental and visor helmets.

Do you have any interesting POS materials for retailers? Are you offering any other kind of retailer support for this category?
We mainly provide our retailers high quality product videos, including info about features, technologies, fit and use helping them to present and sell HEAD helmets to their customers. But nothing beats putting the helmet in the hands of the customer and let them try themselves to feel the outstanding fit off our helmets on their own head. Because the fit is the strongest sales argument when it comes too helmets.

Did the early spring lockdown affect the sell-through of FW20/21 helmets? If so, how are you addressing this issue?
The lockdown earlier this year forced people to stay home and some of our business partners had to carry quite a bit of inventory into the upcoming winter. We had to consider that when building the new product line and decided to offer more carry-over products compared to the seasons before.
In general, we introduce one highlight product in the helmets segment every season and except for the carry-over products, all our helmets get new artworks each season – perfectly matching to the goggles and other hardware within this season.
This is a policy we have been working with over the past years which has been well accepted by our business partners. For the coming season, we do a few more carry-over items for the ones that need to fill up their inventories but we also offer new products including a completely new helmet series to the ones that had a good season in the last winter.

Compact W

Please talk us through your 2-3 keys models for FW21/22.
COMPACT PRO/ COMPACT PRO W
The new COMPACT helmet line is focusing on the essentials of a winter sports helmet: Great look, perfect fit and, most importantly, supreme protection. The COMPACT PRO is a super light
helmet with slim profile in a timeless design, fitting perfectly to any head shape thanks to our patented Sphere Fit system with BOA Fit System. A comfortable helmet climate is guaranteed by the vent channel system with seven ventilation outlets.

COMPACT/ COMPACT W
The new COMPACT helmet line is focusing on the essentials of a winter sports helmet: great look, perfect fit and – most importantly, supreme protection. The COMPACT is a super light helmet with slim profile in a timeless design, supported by a durable ear pad frame. This helmet fits automatically to any head shape thanks to our patented Sphere Fit Auto system, which can also be size adjusted if needed. A comfortable helmet climate is guaranteed by the vent channel system with seven ventilation outlets.

REV/RITA
This innovative helmet sets a new standard in comfort and fit: Sphere Fit. This patented fit system wraps around the wearers head like an adjustable beanie, offering a homogenous, snug, and comfortable fit when adjusting the size. After all, this increased comfort and fit also adds to the extraordinary impact performance and safety of this helmet. The adjustable ventilation assures the perfect helmet climate in all conditions, which rounds off the many features of this
modern, sporty helmet.