The partnership between HEXING DISPLAY and Decathlon France represents a masterclass in aligning manufacturing philosophy with a retailer's foundational mission. Decathlon's core tenets—democratizing sport through professional, durable, high-value products, with growing emphasis on sustainability and inclusive design—demanded more than a mannequin supplier. It required an industrial partner capable of high-volume, standardized production that perfectly balanced cost-efficiency with rugged performance. This collaboration, supplying hundreds of stores across France, successfully delivered a comprehensive range of ultra-durable sports mannequins, athletic mannequin displays, and inclusive Child mannequins, Female mannequin, and Male mannequin forms, all engineered to withstand the daily rigors of a bustling sports megastore.
The Decathlon Blueprint: Industrial Pragmatism Meets Democratic Ideals
Decathlon's procurement strategy was a reflection of its business model: highly standardized, focused on lifetime cost, and built for scale. Their requirements were clear:
Extreme Durability & Standardization: Every mannequin, from a climbing-focused athletic mannequin to a generic Male mannequin for casual wear, had to be built from industrial-grade, impact-resistant materials for long-term use across hundreds of identical store formats. Ease of assembly and repair were key.
Neutral & Inclusive Design Ethos: Aligning with their move towards inclusivity, traditional gendered distinctions in Female mannequin and Male mannequin lines needed softening. Designs required a more neutral, athletic universalism, focusing on function over form.
Sustainable & Cost-Effective Lifecycle: Materials and processes needed to support Decathlon's environmental commitments without compromising the ruthless cost-efficiency required to serve "the widest majority."
Our Engineered Response: Precision Manufacturing for Mass Sport
HEXING DISPLAY responded with a solution mirroring Decathlon's own operational excellence.
Material Science for the Long Run: We co-developed a proprietary, reinforced polymer composite that offered exceptional drop-resistance and UV stability at a controlled cost. This material became the standard for all sports mannequins and general forms, ensuring consistency and durability. We provided accelerated lifecycle testing data to prove longevity.
Designing for Inclusivity & Function: We re-engineered our standard Female mannequin and Male mannequin templates toward a more neutral, athletic "body-in-motion" archetype. The focus shifted to poses that demonstrated sport-specific functionality (e.g., a cycling stance, a running gait) rather than gendered aesthetics. Our Child mannequins were designed with the same durable, neutral principles.
Industrial Process Integration: We presented a fully scalable, modular production system. Mannequins were designed with interchangeable parts to simplify Decathlon's in-store maintenance and inventory. Our factory's lean manufacturing and quality control systems demonstrated the capacity for flawless, high-volume output that met strict delivery windows for nationwide rollouts.
Decathlon France's decision was a strategic one. They selected HEXING DISPLAY as a partner who fundamentally understood their mission-driven, industrial-scale needs. The mannequins delivered—from the hyper-functional athletic mannequin displays in specialty sections to the robust and neutral forms throughout the store—performed flawlessly, enduring high traffic while maintaining a cohesive, active brand image. This partnership transcended a single purchase, establishing a reliable, value-aligned supply chain pillar for Decathlon's vast retail network.
The Decathlon France case is a definitive example of B2B partnership at an industrial scale. It proves that HEXING DISPLAY's strength lies not only in crafting premium sports mannequins but in engineering pragmatic, cost-effective, and durable display solutions for volume retailers with a clear social mission. By meeting Decathlon's trifecta of durability, inclusivity, and value with precision manufacturing and thoughtful design, we demonstrated our role as an essential enabler for brands dedicated to making sport—and its visual presentation—accessible to all.
