Slinger Bag announced its launch into the Chinese market via a five-year distribution partnership with Shanghai and Xiamen-based Powerway Sports (PWS). Under the terms of the deal, PWS will be the exclusive distributor for Slinger of the Slinger Bag ball launcher and for related Slinger branded accessories.
PWS was founded in 1999 and is a leader in the Chinese tennis and sports markets working with brands including Dunlop, Wilson and Slazenger. In 2020 it was a “leading supplier of tennis balls across the Chinese market.” PWS is also the exclusive distribution partner for Bridgestone Golf and Asics footwear.
Consumer sales of the Slinger Bag in China will begin in September through a launch campaign across multiple e-commerce platforms.
Approximately “8 million people in China play tennis regularly (up from 1 million in 1988), with over 25,000 tennis courts across China,” said Slinger Bag. The Chinese tennis market is estimated to be worth in excess of U.S.$2 billion annually (PWS Management Estimates). And enthusiasm for the game in China has been fueled by successful Chinese tennis players including Peng Shuai and Li Na, who became China’s first Grand Slam Champion in 2011. The men’s and women’s China tour swing now includes 4 ATP events and 8 WTA events.
“We are delighted to be joining the Slinger Bag success story at such an exciting time both for tennis in China and for Slinger as a new brand in global tennis. We are anticipating a very high demand for the Slinger Bag ball launcher in the Chinese market,” said Peter Chang, owner, PWS. “An extensive, multi-dimensional launch marketing program is planned with significant grassroots activities. We believe that when players and coaches try the Slinger Bag they will quickly appreciate the game-changing potential of this incredible product. With our extensive history within the China tennis industry and our many existing partnerships with leading Chinese tennis coaches, academies and particularly with the China Tennis Association, our aim is to introduce all avid tennis players to the Slinger brand and the Slinger Bag launcher as quickly as we can starting in September this year.”
Slinger Bag is now represented in over 60 markets globally across six continents.
“China is a massive and growing tennis market and, as a new tennis brand, we are thrilled to have found such a strong and experienced partner in Powerway Sports,” said Mike Ballardie, CEO, Slinger Bag. “Their market experience as a distributor is unequaled, and they share our enthusiasm and belief in the market potential of Slinger in China. We look forward to working closely with the team at PWS for the launch of Slinger through an extensive investment program incorporating marketing, promotion and local social media activities with the objective to put the Slinger Bag in front of all core tennis players across the country.”
Photo courtesy Slinger Bag