FOCUS ON OUR CUSTOMERS
NEW RETAIL CONTRACT
SPORTSCHECK
PERFECTLY INTEGRATED INTO GENERAL CARGO
The collaboration with SportScheck shows what standard logistics processes can achieve. Geis supplies the sporting goods retailer’s stores throughout Germany every day – reliably, quickly, and flexibly enough for short-term changes.
“We quickly established a foundation of trust with SportScheck.”
MARCUS BACH
Sales Manager at the Geis location in Ohrdruf, Thuringia
When Geis received the request for proposal from SportScheck in the summer of 2025, it initially sounded like standard business: The sporting goods retailer was looking for a logistics partner to supply its stores throughout Germany. The scope of services requested: daily pickup of goods from the central warehouse in Apfelstädt, Thuringia, near Erfurt; delivery to the 25 stores within a maximum of 24 hours; returns and returnable container management; and transportation between SportScheck stores.
Ball caught, point scored
“SportScheck didn’t want a custom solution, but rather a deliberate integration into our standard general cargo processes,” says Marcus Bach, Sales Manager at the Geis location in Ohrdruf, Thuringia, just a few kilometers from Apfelstädt. However, responding to a standard request for proposals with a standard offer isn’t Geis’s style. Working together with the Business Development team, a solution was developed over the following weeks and months that was perfectly tailored to SportScheck’s requirements.
For example, the sporting goods retailer required proof of reliable delivery to city centers. Access restrictions are not uncommon there, and special permits are often required. In addition, SportScheck stores – such as the one in Erfurt – are located in pedestrian zones, requiring drivers to exercise the utmost caution when arriving and departing. Geis was able to convince SportScheck with its years of experience, including deliveries to numerous drugstores.
Negotiations on Equal Footing
“We quickly established a relationship of trust with SportScheck,” says Marcus Bach. During the negotiations, there was open communication about what was feasible – and what wasn’t – regarding pickup and delivery times, for example. Marcus Bach’s team was also available to SportScheck at all times during the contract award phase around the turn of the year. Finally, in early 2026, Geis was awarded the contract. The Geis team then defined all processes and set up the IT infrastructure, always in close coordination with SportScheck.
The thorough groundwork paid off; deliveries to the stores have been underway since March 2026. Every day at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m., Geis now picks up merchandise from the warehouse in Apfelstädt – ranging from swim trunks to skis. It is delivered to the stores on time, while returns and empty roll containers are sent back to the warehouse in Apfelstädt. Geis is also responsible for exchanging merchandise between stores. If important items are missing, Geis delivers them via express shipping, and it flexibly adjusts its routes for special promotions or short-term spikes in demand.
Strong Team Performance
Deliveries run smoothly – but no one at Geis is resting on their laurels. “We regularly review even well-established processes and optimize them as needed. That, too, is standard practice at Geis,” says Marcus Bach. He is proud of what all his colleagues have accomplished over the past few months. “Our team at the Ohrdruf location, the Business Development department, and headquarters – everyone worked together exceptionally well during the bidding process.” The foundation has been laid for a long-term partnership – a partnership that was simply special from day one.