Besides tennis hotels and camp organizers, I'm always interested in the people who work in these hotels or camps, or who are involved in the vast and diverse world of tennis in various ways. I always find it incredibly fascinating to hear how they got their businesses, what motivates them, and where they want to go! So, to be honest, I was really looking forward to my interview with Boris Krumm . Boris is a tennis legend and is even called a "tennis rocker" by some. In our interview, Boris gives us a glimpse behind the scenes and sheds some light on the "mystery": who is actually behind Bidi Badu, Toolz, Balls Unlimited , and other well-known brands? All these brands belong to Spodeco GmbH , where Boris is the managing director and owner. In the interview, which you can follow in both text and video formats, he also reveals, for example, what the collaboration with the retail giant Tennis-Point looks like and where he himself prefers to play. It's an extremely relaxed and enjoyable conversation that you'll certainly find entertaining!
And a generous, exclusive TennisTraveller discount of 22 percent awaits all those who want to order something colorful and cool from the Bidi Badu shop.
Boris, please briefly introduce yourself and your role at SPODECO
My name is Boris Krumm, I am 52 years old and have been working in the tennis business since 1992. Within the company, I am responsible for purchasing and sales, both nationally and internationally.
For those who don't know SPODECO: what is SPODECO, and how long has the company been around?
Spodeco GmbH has existed since 2016; previously it was Topspin GmbH. The reason for the name change was the various brands we manage within the company. We wanted a single umbrella company for the individual brands.
Which brands are under the SPODECO umbrella and what products do these brands include?
We currently have five product lines operating under the Spodeco brand. BIDI BADU, established in 2016; Topspin, which has been around since 1987; and TOOLZ, founded in 2014. We also distribute Topspin products and court accessories. BIDI BADU manufactures textiles for tennis and padel. We're also at home in almost every other sport. Our strengths lie in our distinctive designs and our extensive product range for teams. Topspin offers tennis strings made in Germany, while TOOLZ has everything related to fitness, including essential products for tennis players to prevent injuries, actively build muscle, and improve agility on the court. Balls Unlimited specializes exclusively in tennis balls. And we're happy to offer our court accessories to our customers and clubs.
How many employees do you currently have?
We are currently a team of 18 people.
How do you manage to compete with the big yellow market leader, Tennis-Point?
We have been working with Tennis-Point for a very long time; all our products are available there. We see ourselves as partners of specialist retailers and clubs. We want to cooperate with everyone.
What do you see as your strengths? What makes you stand out?
We are a team of tennis players who know what our customers want and need. That's where we see our strengths: a well-stocked warehouse, fast deliveries, and many years of experience.
Where do you want the company to go? What are your plans?
We currently operate in approximately 30 countries with partners, but in the near future we plan to focus more on the German market, specifically targeting clubs. We offer a wide range of team apparel with collections that run for three years and can be reordered repeatedly. Outfits for children and adults in matching colors and cool designs should appeal to any club.
And a few more personal questions to conclude:
Do you still play tennis regularly yourself?
Yes, I still play tennis, though not quite as much as when I was a junior or a senior player. I enjoy using the contacts here to exchange information with players about products, requests, etc.
And where did you spend your best tennis vacation?
I used to go to Rovinj when I was younger, but now I'm looking more at facilities where you can play tennis and padel, as my family prefers to play padel.
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