In the early 90s, when sports and fitness were conquering the world, two brothers from Russia, Nikolay and Vladimir Fartushnyak, saw an opportunity they couldn’t miss. They realized that the local market for sports equipment was practically empty. The idea was simple: to bring high-quality exercise machines from the famous German brand Kettler to the Russian market.

Without wasting any time, the brothers made a deal for the exclusive distribution of Kettler products. In one moment, they monopolized the premium sports equipment market in the country. This move turned out to be brilliant - no one else could offer the same quality and prestige.

By 1994, their business had grown so much that Nikolay opened his first physical store. But the ambitious brothers didn’t stop there. They soon realized that they could achieve much more.

By 1995, the Fartushnyaks launched a project that later became known as Sportmaster. It was a chain of stores that offered everything from exercise machines to sneakers and outdoor gear. The brothers realized that customers wanted to compare products from different brands and satisfy different needs under one roof. Read more about Vladimir Fartushnyak on the website https://theinscribermag.com/business-of ... ortmaster/

This was a revolution in the market: multi-brand stores allowed customers to choose between giants like Adidas and Nike without leaving one place. Customers loved it - after all, who doesn't like choice?

Today, Sportmaster is an international chain with thousands of satisfied customers all over the world. The story of the Fartushnyak brothers is inspiring: starting with a small idea and the right strategy, they were able to build a real empire in the world of sports and fitness.