A few days ago, we talked about the projects, challenges and objectives of the Spanish Commission for the Paddle Industry ... Now, its current President tells us more details of a project born to guarantee the promotion of those activities or actions in benefit of the competitiveness of this industry, as well as to defend their interests.
Padel World Press .- With the presence and participation of manufacturers, distributors, installation companies of tracks and equipment manufacturers for these facilities, and emerged within AFYDAD (Spanish Association of Manufacturers and Distributors of Sporting Goods), this institution has not stopped taking big steps since its foundation.
Jesús Ballvé, current President of CEIP, spoke with Padel World Press and told us many of the secrets of a Commission for which the promotion of actions for the internationalization of the paddle industry is of great importance.
How were the origins, how was the idea of starting this Commission and what were the steps that were taken to make what was a project become a reality?
For a long time, we talked a lot about the importance of having an association that works for the good of our sector, increasingly saturated with brands and that was already reaching a degree of maturity that jeopardized the viability of many of the companies . The proposals that were before of a possible Association did not come to fruition until, about a year ago, Xavi Berneda, President of the Sports Employer (AFYDAD), and Andrés de la Dehesa, his Vice President, proposed me to lead this project. After giving it a lot of thought and trying to find a common goal that could convince all of us that this union of brands of the sector was necessary, we started to shape it from within AFYDAD. We are clear that the main objective of the CEIP has to be to widen the doors of this market that clearly begins to be saturated. The paddle has all the necessary characteristics so that other countries adopt it as a very practiced sport discipline. We will address other problems also in the form of a commission, such as the elaboration of a code of conduct for CEIP members when commercializing the products and carrying out a thorough market study every six months.
After starting your journey in March of this year, how would you rate the first months of life of the CEIP?
The response from the brands is satisfactory. The fact of being an Association makes us take the slowest steps than anyone in our own companies would do ... But the most important thing is to start and, above all, do it with a good foundation and without any setbacks.
How many brands are part of it and what are they?
At this time, there are already 15 registered brands and we expect the entry of other 15 signatures in September. At the end of the month, the forms will be sent to many companies in the sector to join this initiative. Since here, I take the opportunity to appeal to all of them so that they do not delay the registration and, if any have not received the form, do not hesitate to contact the CEIP email: [email protected] . The companies that are already part of are: Aguirre y Cia (Bullpadel), All For Padel (Adidas), Babolat Spain, Drop Shot, Dunlop, HEAD Spain, Jim Sports, JJ Ballve Sports SL (NOX), Oho SL (Mystica), Oteador SL (Star Vie), Sport NB, Red Integral SL (Red Sport), Agorasport, Mondo Ibérica and Joma.
What are the fundamental pillars and values that mark the identity of this Commission?
We will work for and for the growth of the paddle industry so that Spanish firms have a better future. We want to expand the markets by selling PÁDEL with capital letters, initially, so that brands can later export. We will work on commissions from 6 to 8 people, representatives of the firms, and it will be done in a totally transparent manner.
What requirements are necessary to be part of the CEIP?
First of all, be a company with a Spanish CIF… You will have to be a manufacturer or distributor of articles with a place within the world of paddle tennis and, therefore, be aware of your obligations with the State and become a member of AFYDAD.
What are the most serious and urgent problems that you have encountered when analyzing the national paddle market?
At the moment, we have not started with the national market. Our main objective is to make our sport grow in other countries. We have already analyzed 140 countries and, in the next meeting, this analysis will be presented to make decisions about which of them we are going to start according to the ordering criteria that we have given to MADISON, the agency that is leading the strategy and communication of this project .
Active and always looking for the good of this sport, what projects do you have in place at the moment?
In September, the first meetings of three subcommittees will be held at which 6-7 representatives of the companies will be present.
1 Internationalization of the paddle.
2 Ordination of the national market.
3 Realization of the semi-annual Market study.
Ambitious and with very clear ideas, what challenges and objectives that you have set yourself to achieve by the end of the year?
We have a clear objective, but it is five years old. We intend that the padel is played in 75 possible locations in 5 different countries. This season we want to join all the possible signatures that meet the requirements and, at the same time, have a solid base of the Commissions with the right people who wish to be involved with decision in the projects.
How is your relationship with both the Spanish Federation and the FIP?
The CEIP is a Commission of work of companies and not of Federations. Spanish companies finance this project, so that the Federations we create can complement. At the moment, we have held a meeting with Mr. Miguel Medina, President of the Spanish Federation, and he is willing to join even in the Work Commissions. We believe, among other competencies, that the FEP should lead the training part of international technicians to send them to countries that are demanding technicians.
With your mind set on the international expansion of this sport, how is your relationship with the ICEX (Foreign Trade Institute) and what actions will you undertake jointly?
In September, we will have the official presentation of our project in the ICEX, where we will approach the Strategic Plan and we will see to what level of help we can contribute. It is clear that the Spanish Paddle Industry has an interesting contribution to the National GDP, so we need your help to maintain the employment and billing figures through export. Spain can lead, for the first time, the industry of a sport in the world and the Institute of Foreign Trade must be the organism that helps in this regard. ICEX not only can help in economic subsidies but also has many commercial offices abroad, where we will support ourselves to reach potential padel investors.
Sport always involved in controversy, how do you think from the CEIP that the future of this sector should be?
From the CEIP we look forward. We believe that the strong union on such an important common goal, such as the internationalization of this sport, will make small previous quarrels forget and that the brands that bet on internationalization will be more and more numerous. Small businesses that to survive today have no choice but to sell their products outside of stores will tend to disappear.
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