Roger Federer is a partner of the company – here with Caspar Coppetti.Image: keystone
Caspar Coppetti, co-founder of sporting goods giant On, talks about the high profit margin and the future of the company.
The former start-up On has developed into an international sporting goods giant. Caspar Coppetti is one of the three founders of the sporting goods company On. 20 minutes met him for an interview.
When asked how much of the start-up spirit there is in the company with 3,000 employees, Caspar Coppetti goes into more detail. He believes that a lot of things are romanticized when it comes to start-ups. It is primarily a struggle for survival. An important moment was 2014, when the company was in the black for the first time. However, a lot has changed since 2014. They are no longer a start-up, but a listed company. In addition to ongoing professionalization, the larger number of employees also means more division of labor. Another challenge is maintaining the innovative power.
When asked why the company is listed in the USA, Coppetti replied that On was the only sporting goods manufacturer listed on the Swiss stock exchange. In the USA, however, there are at least 20 other companies. He compares the situation to the Champions League.
«Do you want to play in the Regional League or the Champions League?»
Caspar Coppetti
However, the Champions League of sporting goods manufacturers belongs to a less sustainable industry. Coppetti is asked what On is doing for sustainability. He replies that due to the global production and supply chains, it is difficult to ensure sustainability and circularity in its own products. Numerous collaborations and the participation of consumers are needed. He adds: “It is a long road and requires a lot of energy and patience.”
Coppetti defends high profit margin
Things get interesting when it comes to the question of the profit margin and whether it isn’t too high. Caspar Coppetti thinks: “No.” On products are premium products and buyers are prepared to invest more so that the money can be used for innovation. Things get even more interesting when it comes to the question of whether the products could become more expensive in the future. Coppetti answers: “It could go in that direction, but you have to watch the trend closely.” You also have to pay twice as much for On products as for Nike products. However, the significantly smaller quantities mean that they remain something special.
“On average, On products are about twice as expensive as Nike products”
Caspar Coppetti
Caspar Coppetti also has to comment on the cliché of the “old men’s brand”. He says that the company only has this label in Switzerland. In the USA, for example, On is seen as a status symbol by young people and is growing more through lifestyle than through sport. Coppetti adds: “We want to counteract this with the diversity of our products, and we are currently observing how On’s coolness is being imported back into Switzerland from abroad.”
Coppetti has several visions for the future of On. The partnerships with Swiss-Ski and Swiss Olympic are important in order to be able to support young talent. A new flagship store will also open in Zurich in the spring – in the premises of Musik Hug. (kek)
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2003: Federer s. Philippoussis 7:6 (7:5), 6:2, 7:6 (7:3)
On the way to the final, Roger Federer only loses one set. In the semi-final, he clearly beats favorite Andy Roddick. The Swiss player experiences difficult moments before the round of 16 against Feliciano Lopez, when he has to be treated for lumbago: “For me, it’s a miracle that I was able to win with all this pain.” Federer wins clearly against the unseeded Philippoussis. He sinks to his knees, tears flowing. “Magical, hard to believe,” says Federer. … Read more
source: ap / anja niedringhaus
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