Sports Specialist Sells Equipment Usage Division

In the UK, sponsorship research specialist IFM Sports Marketing Surveys has sold its sports goods business to one of its directors - John Bushell - and the firm's original founder Stephen Proctor. Terms were not disclosed.

Proctor founded Sports Marketing Surveys in 1984, and sold the UK arm to German research consultancy IFM International in 2008, while continuing to run Sports Marketing Surveys as a separate sports goods business in the US. After the sale, he also led the new firm - IFM Sports Marketing Surveys - until he stepped down from the role in 2009.

IFM Sports Marketing Surveys works in the sponsorship, leisure and tourism sectors. Its separate sporting goods division collates information on equipment usage, brand and participation data, and also supplies the equipment census for all European Tour golf events, the Open Championship, and the Wimbledon Tennis Championships.

Director Nigel Geach explained that the decision to divest the sports goods market division had been made to allow his firm to focus on its core sponsorship research services.

Proctor stated: 'When I sold Sports Marketing Surveys to IFM, I was always aware that their focus was on sponsorship research and evaluation, which was a major reason I retained my involvement in the USA. When they approached me some months ago to reacquire the sports equipment business, I recognised this as a great opportunity.'

Bushell has stepped down from his role as Research Director with IFM Sports Marketing Surveys, to take up the post of Managing Director of Sports Marketing Surveys Inc UK, with Proctor serving as Chairman.

The sporting goods division's nine staff will transfer to the new UK firm, and the business will continue to operate from its current location in Wisley, Surrey, but with a different style and brand image.

'The Sports business has always been my passion, and I look forward to my enhanced role and to focusing 100% of my time on this,' Bushell stated. 'I am also delighted that the established team who have been working in this area for many years are coming with the new business.'

IFM Sports Marketing Surveys is online at www.sportsmarketingsurveys.com , while from 1st February 2011, Sports Marketing Surveys Inc will be at: www.sportsmarketingsurveysinc.com .