Dunlop International Europe Ltd. has today announced an unprecedented, multi-year distribution agreement with the new innovative sports brand, Slinger Bag. The strategic partnership will see the two companies working closely to maximise the potential of Slinger Bag across the core European tennis markets of Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France.
Slinger Bag shares Dunlop’s drive and passion for innovation. It is focused on innovating game improvement equipment for all ball sports with an initial focus on the global tennis market. Its flagship product, Slinger® Tennis Ball Launcher, is the most portable, affordable tennis ball launcher, ever. Slinger Bag allows you to simply and easily control the launch speed , the launch frequency and the elevation of the balls using customizable dials, as well as the ability to store all your tennis gear inside the bag, transport up to 72 balls and even charge your mobile phone!.
The partnership will see Dunlop leveraging its comprehensive tennis ball market share and brand presence across Europe to drive sales of the Slinger Bag brand. Dunlop will oversee sales and marketing operations, including affiliate marketing programs, major tennis tournaments and events, local federations and organization partnerships and in market tennis coaching networks. Dunlop is in the process of establishing its own e-commerce platform (to be launched Q1 2021) to compliment direct to consumer sales currently made via www.slingerbag.com. Dunlop International Europe Ltd. will start with first drops to the market from mid-November 2020. Pre-subscription for consumer interest can be facilitated now via SlingerBag@dunlopsports.com.
Frans Swinkels, Managing Director, Dunlop International Europe Ltd commented:
“Following the highly successful launch of Slinger Bag in the USA and intensive product testing by our sales and marketing teams, we are delighted to leverage Dunlop’s network across the largest tennis markets in Europe.
Our premium status as the number one ball on the ATP Tour and official ball of the Australian Open, coupled with Slinger Bag’s dynamic and high performance ball launcher is an exciting proposition for the market. The partnership further enhances Dunlop’s complete offering in the tennis ball market as a complete equipment supplier.”
Mike Ballardie, CEO of Slinger Bag commented:
“There is no bigger endorsement of how far Slinger Bag has come in a short space of time than this new commercial association with Dunlop, a global giant in tennis with an unequalled market reach and a reputation to match. We have the utmost confidence in the sales and marketing strategy provided by the Dunlop team to rapidly build Slinger Bag brand awareness in the core markets covered by this deal and to activate this partnership through a multitude of traditional grassroots marketing activities allied with aggressive online marketing to European tennis consumers. Without a doubt this is a landmark deal for us and a real vindication of our faith in the long term global growth potential of Slinger Bag.”