From ski helmets to bike helmets
After the mountains in winter, the casques #Diezz s’attaquent à la ville des quatre seasons. Avec l’ambition de se faire une place sur le marché porteur de la mobilité douce. A strategy clearly defined by Sandra Arbet. In representing GB Diffusion in 2021, a group known for their expertise in ski helmets, this former general guideline of the Banque Populaire, became an entrepreneur after 29 in finance, avait en tête l’idée de s’attaquer aux casques de vélo. Avec a marché du vélo en plein essor where the chiffre d’affaires has dépassé les 3 billion euros d’ici 2021. “Le vélo urbain represents 40% of parts of marché, and is porté par le fort développement du vélo à assistance électrique”, explained cette Albertvilloise “exilée” à Paris.
Il connaissait les chiffres published by l’Observatoire du vélo lorsqu’il s’est installed à Saint-Jorioz, au bord du lac d’Annecy, pour suivre l’aventure GB Diffusion. Avec ce levier de croissance identifié. Il s’engage immédiatement dans la petite entreprise created in 1996 by Serge Benguigui, the prematurely fired fondateur. A discreet, more innovative PME that has a name in the world of protection with its ski helmets à visière intégrée (the first ones on the march), manufactured in Italy and sold in more than 325 ski resorts of all the masses . With a distribution strategy that is visible only to the sports magazines that manage the same leurs achats, and the range of products plus courts. Tout le contraire du “mass market” pour des “produits de qualité à prix équilibré” – casques et équipements de protección individuelle – référencés dans les magasins indépendants, au Vieux Campeur, ou dans les magasins de montagne du Club Med.
D’une stratégie BtoB à un modèle phygital
“The #Diezz brand was created in 1999, it differs by its level of security, comfort and design”, explains Sandra Arbet. Distributeur exclusif de la marque de gants américaine Gordini, GB Diffusion s’est ensuite distingué en développant ses propres visières intégrant la technologie Activlux. “A technology with a photochromic coating integrated with the verre, which renders it more effective and resistant, which our proposals désormais pour la gamme de casques vélo #Diezz City que nous venons de lancer”, sourit Sandra Arbet, who quickly convaincre ses Italian partners to take the strategic turn of the bike.
“I will not stay in BtoB, but switch to a phygital model, even if I want to keep my 700 loyal customers who will offer our bicycle helmets. We have developed an e-commerce site with the company Altimax, based in Annecy “, adds Sandra Arbet. It also wants to offer cyberconsumers the possibility of personalizing their bicycle helmets, which can be used for other forms of soft mobility (scooters, gyrocopters, etc.). “We have a range for children and we are going to develop a range for downhill and mountain.”
Aim for Made in France and international
His goal ? Having sold 15,000 bicycle helmets in two years, “to be at the same level as ski helmets”. Then, reach 80% of bicycle sales. With a French manufacture, where I also intend to progress very quickly”.
He is already planning to launch #Diezz City internationally, focusing first on the Belgian market. “We are going to use digital to make ourselves known. We are targeting Germany, Austria and Italy. And as of this summer, we are going to launch an English version of our website, because we have customers who frequent the stations Tarentaise ski area and who knows our brand. We want to make ourselves known to the general public so that the stores in these countries come to look for us.
GB Broadcast in a nutshell
Activity: manufacture and sale of helmets and protective accessories for skiing and cycling:
Workforce: 10 employees (20 in winter for order preparation).
Location: Saint-Jorioz
Turnover: 2.5 million euros in 2021
Net result: NC
Breakdown of capital: Groupe Arbet family holding company (Sandra Arbet is associated with her husband)
We thank #DauphinéLibéré for giving us the opportunity to talk about our creations and to publicize our work.
https://www.ledauphine.com/economie/2022/06/20/gb-diffusion-des-casques-de-ski-aux-casques-de-velo
Par Isabelle DAVIER