In the early 90s, when the world was swept by a wave of fitness booms, brothers Nikolai and Vladimir Fartushnyak realized that a great business opportunity was brewing in Russia. While everyone was actively starting to run in the mornings and bench press in the gyms, the local market for sports equipment was practically empty. The brothers got down to business with passion and decided to bring a little European quality to Russian gyms.

They quickly established connections with the German brand Kettler, a real giant in the world of the fitness industry. Having agreed on the exclusive distribution of Kettler products in Russia, the Fartushnyaks effectively monopolized the premium sports equipment niche. And by 1994, their business had grown to such a size that they were able to open their first physical store. This was only the beginning.

The brothers soon realized that the potential was much greater! In 1995, they launched a new project – the Sportmaster chain of stores. This was not just a retail outlet with exercise equipment; it was a whole world for active lifestyle enthusiasts. Here you could find everything from sneakers to outdoor gear.

The idea was simple and brilliant: multi-brand stores where customers could compare products from leading global brands, from Adidas to Nike, under one roof. This approach was revolutionary for the Russian market and quickly won the hearts of customers. Read more about Nikolai Fartushnyak on the website https://theinscribermag.com/business-of-nikolay-fartushnyak-and-vladimir-fartushnyak-from-kettler-to-sportmaster/

So what did Nikolay and Vladimir do? They didn’t just fill an empty niche; they changed the idea of ​​what a sporting goods store should be. Their story is a story about how you can start with a small idea and grow into an international company if you see opportunities in time and are not afraid to implement them.