By Michael Schmidt

How SUP Garage Chose Eisbach Riders: A Retailer Case Study

Every SUP shop owner hits the same moment: a supplier rep is in front of you, the accessories wall has a gap, and you have to decide which...

Every SUP shop owner hits the same moment: a supplier rep is in front of you, the accessories wall has a gap, and you have to decide which brand actually deserves the shelf space. That's the decision SUP Garage, a SUP specialist retailer in Simmelsdorf, Germany, made when it added Eisbach Riders fins to its lineup.

SUP Garage isn't a generalist outdoor store bolting on a paddleboard section — it's a dedicated stand-up paddling retailer, which means every product on the shelf has to earn its place with paddlers who already know what they're comparing it against.

"We have given a lot of thought to which brands we will include in our shop and have come across the products of Eisbach Riders. The innovative and sustainable products of Eisbach Riders convince us completely. The constantly growing range of accessories and top service at all times always inspires us."

— Markus, Owner, SUP Garage

What retailers actually evaluate before stocking a fin brand

When a specialist shop like SUP Garage vets a new supplier, the questions aren't about the pitch — they're about what happens after the sale. Does the product perform well enough that customers come back? Does the range keep expanding, or does it stall after the first few SKUs? Is support actually there when a reorder or a question comes up, not just at onboarding?

For SUP Garage, the combination that closed the decision was straightforward: sustainable, well-engineered fins, a growing accessories range they could keep building the shelf around, and support that didn't disappear after the first order.

Discover Our SUP Fins

Why this matters if you're evaluating suppliers too

If you're a retailer, a rental operation, or a tour business weighing up who to stock or equip your fleet with, the same questions apply. Product quality gets you the first order. What keeps a retailer buying — and keeps a rental fleet or tour operator coming back season after season — is consistent supply, a range that keeps growing, and support that's still there after the sale.

Related: Curious what standardizing your fleet on one fin system actually costs over a season? → FCS vs Futures for Rental Fleets

Become a wholesale partner

Whether you're running a specialist shop like SUP Garage, equipping a SUP rental fleet, or outfitting a guided tour business, Eisbach Riders' wholesale program is built around the same things: sustainable, durable products, and support that continues after the first order.

Apply for a Wholesale Account →

Michael Schmidt

Eisbach Riders is a Munich-based surf and SUP brand, born at the Eisbach wave in the English Garden. We design fins, accessories, and gear for river surfers, SUP tourers, and anyone who paddles moving water — tested locally, built to last.