Garmin and Percassi inaugurate a new store dedicated to the entire ecosystem of the American brand in Bologna, in Via Rizzoli 7c
The direct experience of data, performance and technology on the wrist finds a new physical home under the Emilian arcades. With the opening of its third single-brand store on the Peninsula, Garmin chooses the beating heart of Bologna, inaugurating a space entirely dedicated to the outdoors and innovation in via Rizzoli 7c. More than a simple shop, the Emilian boutique was born as an experiential presence for the US giant: a showcase that brings together the entire ecosystem of the brand, offering running, cycling, fitness and golf enthusiasts the opportunity to touch precision tools and metrics designed to overcome every athletic limit.
Management is entrusted to Percassi, a group that develops and administers retail commercial networks in Italy and Europe and which already coordinates the two Garmin stores in Milan, one in Via Statuto and the other in Via San Paolo.
Garmin’s strategic choice
Bologna is not just any stop. In fact, over time the Emilian capital has built a solid relationship with sport and outdoor movement: runners who walk along the arcades at dawn, cyclists who go out towards the hills, enthusiasts who experience physical activity as an integral part of their routine. It is in this context that Garmin and Percassi have decided to invest, identifying the city as one of the most active sporting communities in the country.
«We strongly believe in the value of direct contact with the end consumer», he declared Stefano ViganòCEO of Garmin Italia. «Having spaces entirely dedicated to our brand allows us not only to present the breadth of our offer, but above all to accompany people in discovering the solutions best suited to their passions and objectives».
A retail model that focuses on relationships
The new space is designed to go beyond simple sales. The staff is trained to offer in-depth advice on Garmin technologies, with practical demonstrations of the products and a person-oriented rather than catalog-oriented approach. The shop is open seven days a week with extended hours.
The partnership between Garmin and Percassi has existed since 2020 and accompanied the entry and development of the brand in Italian retail. «The opening of Bologna is the result of a solid collaboration», he explained Vera Bortolatogeneral manager of Percassi Retail, «and further confirmation of the winning strategy that we have consolidated together over the years, sharing the desire to bring Garmin innovation and technology ever closer to people».
The products on display: from the fēnix 9 to the CIRQA Smart Band
Among the new products available in store is the «fēnix 9», the latest evolution of Garmin’s family of premium multisport smartwatches. The device integrates advanced performance monitoring, navigation and wellness analysis features, and is aimed at those who practice intense sport and are looking for tools that match their goals.
Alongside performance-oriented products, the store also hosts the CIRQA Smart Band, designed for a different audience: those who want to monitor their health in a discreet and continuous way, without however giving up an essential design. It is a concrete response to the growing demand for accessible wearable technology, which does not require an athlete profile to be used to its fullest.
The two devices best represent the breadth of Garmin’s offering and its overall vision: on the one hand technical precision for those who compete or train regularly, on the other simplicity for those who simply want to better understand their body.
With Bologna, Garmin consolidates a retail presence that looks to the territory as a strategic lever. Three stores in Italy, all in urban centers with an extremely recognizable sporting identity. The direction, therefore, seems clear: to be physically where the people who are looking for these products are.
