HEAD partners with 3point5 for online training programs

Norwalk, CT (Jan. 28, 2007) – Moving to address specialty retailer needs, HEAD has partnered with retail training company 3point5.com to connect suppliers, retailers, front-line employees and Head Professionals.

The result: a fast-paced, multi-faceted program that gets discounted gear in the hands of Pros and sales staffers while keeping retailers in the loop – saving time while providing accountability and generating excitement.

Here’s how it works:
• Retail salespeople get 24/7 access to free online training that covers HEAD brand, technology and products (updated seasonally)
• Staffers earn discounts on products they sell by passing 3point5.com “Edu-Games”
��€¢ Retailers distribute “Pro Cards” to Pros, allowing online access to specific, discounted HEAD products
• Pros and staffers buy discounted gear online through 3point5.com
• Gear is shipped directly to the retail shop
• Retailers gain access to 3point5 data on who’s training on what
• Retailers avoid the hassle of handling employee purchases
• Retailers build personal relationships with pros

This multi-pronged approach allows HEAD retailers to ramp up employee training, gain control of the employee purchase program and involve themselves in pro purchases – a long-held goal of many retailers, said Mike Bisner, HEAD VP of Sales.

“Working with 3point5.com has allowed HEAD to create an online community that revolves around our brand,” Bisner said. “It’s saving everybody time, increasing the quality of our salesfloor conversations and increasing accountability by providing retailers access to information about who’s ordering what.â€��

“3point5.com has worked hard to put itself in position to provide manufacturer and retailer support, but not at the expense of existing business relationships,” said CEO Duncan Robins.

“Our training campus doesn’t replace sales reps, retail managers or Pros – it’s designed to support them,” Robins said. “As a result, manufacturers sell more gear to “brand ambassadors” who represent the product, while retailers gain crucial control over training and employee purchases.”

“This multi-pronged approach is helping 3point5.com fulfill its goal of being the Internet product information portal for the specialty retail community,” Robins said.

“We get all the important stakeholders to the table, all working for the retailer and the supplier to spread the word on what’s hot and why consumers needs it now,” he said.

For more information on 3point5.com services, including their online “Pro-Partner Program” please contact: 1-866-3POINT5.


About HEAD –
HEAD NV is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of premium sports equipment. Its shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“HED”) and the Vienna Stock Exchange (“HEAD”). The business is organized into four divisions: Winter Sports, Racquet Sports, Diving and Licensing. The Company’s products are sold under the following brands: Head (tennis equipment, squash and racquetball racquets, badminton equipment, alpine skis, boots and bindings, snowboards, bindings and boots), Penn (tennis and racquetball balls), Tyrolia (ski bindings), and Mares/Dacor (diving equipment). HEAD N.V. is a market leader in all these product markets. Its products are officially endorsed by some of the world’s top athletes, including André Agassi, Andrew Murray, Richard Gasquet, Marat Safin, Ivan Ljubicic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Patty Schnyder, Amelie Mauresmo, Bode Miller, Hermann Maier, Johann Grugger, Marco Büchel and Maria Riesch.


About 3point5.com
3point5.com is an online campus that represents over 60,000 registered pros and sales professionals, 250 manufacturers, over 7,500 retailers in an increasing number industries, including Outdoor, Snow, Bike, Action Sports, Golf, Tennis and Hunt/Fish. 3point5.com offers a fun and secure place for retail sales professionals to train, access information and interact within their industry. To-date, more than 1,350,000 “Edu-Games” have been taken by sales staff across the country. Edu-Games are 3point5.com’s unique, interactive testing programs that reward participants with product discounts and incentive programs for completed training.