Wearables distie folds after being cut out by vendor

A long-term distributor is being forced to close its doors after its one and only client decided to go direct to market.

Adelaide firm Pursuit Performance revealed that it will wind up its business after heart rate monitor maker Polar Revolution opted not to renew its contract.

“After 30 years of being the sole distributor of Polar heart rate monitors within Australia, it is with great sadness that we advise that Pursuit Performance will be ceasing its business operations in the coming months,” the company announced.

The distributor is currently running a closing-down sale across activity monitors and heart-rate monitors.

Pursuit Performance general manager Sally Nunan told CRN that US-based Polar would open an Australian branch.

“Polar is establishing their own subsidiary in Australia. Polar globally either have independent distributors like us that they contract to distribute Polar or they set up their own subsidiary,” she said.

Polar has 26 subsidiaries globally and manages a distribution network supplying more than 35,000 retail outlets in more than 80 countries, according to the vendor’s website.

Nunan said although Pursuit Performance was sad about its fate, it had recognised the weakness of a one-client strategy and that the Polar contract could never be taken for granted.

“What we considered to be one of the strengths of our business is that we were 100 percent Polar-oriented, rather than an agency with a lot of different brands,” she said.

“Polar customers are extremely loyal and it’s been very enjoyable working with that business and industry. Hopefully when they come here themselves they’re able to continue with that.”

Pursuit Performance is not alone in lsoing out as its vendor opted to go direct; last month, smart home vendor Control4 revealed it was parting ways with local distributor Advanced Audio Australia to sell direct to resellers.