Ocean Skills joins forces with Décathlon Tribord
The young boating training platform Ocean Skills has just signed a key agreement for its development with the Tribord brand of Décathlon. The site, which was launched commercially in March 2020, has 1100 subscribers after one year of existence who use the available videos to perfect their knowledge of sailing and motorized water sports. It will now benefit from Tribord's support and reputation to expand its audience by providing them with educational content. "This is a shared visibility agreement for 3 years. We will be visible on the Decathlon website and will be the exclusive official learning partner on the Tribord blog. For about fifty products that we will choose, the site will display "Les Conseils de Maël". This will not be a commentary on the product, but rather advice on how to use it, while remaining true to our positioning of learning to sail. Finally, this summer 2021, 3 pilot physical stores, starting with Les Sables d'Olonne, will be equipped with terminals to allow Decathlon customers to see our videos and subscribe to Ocean Skills. A reflection is going on about the presence in the physical stores. We will also have a permanent presence in the Sailing Lab of Tribord which will be inaugurated this summer in La Rochelle," explains Franck Tami, founder of the site.
Reaching customers through marinas
The second channel used by Ocean Skills to attract boaters looking for training concerns marinas. "We are in discussion with several marinas in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. This happens at 3 levels. The manager can propose the Ocean Skills license to his customers who own boats with their ring. They can also propose it in the package of optional services they offer to their customers. Finally, the ports are interested in specific videos on their facilities such as the entrance to the port, day or night, the waste management or the good use of the slipway, the quay, etc..." illustrates Ocean Skills.
Contracts have also been signed with a dozen boat schools and sailing schools. "Our idea is that theory + practice = competence squared. They take care of the practice and we bring theory" summarizes Franck Tami. A test contract also links Ocean Skills with the Bénéteau Boat Club in Vendée before a potential extension to its entire network.
Future developments
Ocean Skills wants to continue this development dynamic. An English language version will be available at the end of 2021 to tackle the international market. New videos will regularly enrich the platform. A marketing director will join the team in June 2021 to continue the structuring of the start-up.
