A Partnership Built Over Time: Thank You, Paul Gulon
In our business, there are moments that go beyond products, projects, and timelines. Moments that remind us what truly matters. Recently, our Strategic Sports team experienced one of those moments.
Our longtime partner and friend, Paul Gulon from Decathlon, visited Strategic Sports to say goodbye as he prepares for retirement. It marked the end of a chapter that has been closely tied to our own journey.
“Our relationship with Decathlon began many years ago,” said Strategic Sports Managing Director Norman Cheng. “Paul first came into our booth at Summer ISPO in 1999. He was new in his role as helmet buyer for Decathlon. At that time, Decathlon was mostly a European retailer, and Strategic was still a young company trying to find our place.”
From that first meeting with Paul, a partnership began to take shape, built on trust, consistency, and shared commitment over time. Over the next 25 years, Decathlon would grow to be the world’s largest sporting goods retailer, and one of Strategic’s most important global partners. And throughout that journey, Paul has been a constant presence.
“Over the years, we worked together through many changes, and faced many challenges together,” Cheng shared. “But more importantly, we built a friendship.”
Paul was also part of Strategic Sports’ recent 30th anniversary celebration, contributing to our factory video and reflecting on the years we’ve shared. His final visit to Strategic was more than just a routine trip; it was a chance to reconnect, to remember, and to say thank you.
“Today we hugged. We remembered. We cried,” said Cheng. “And above all, we were grateful.”
At Strategic Sports, we build helmets, and along the way, we build partnerships and friendships that transcend business transactions. These relationships are built over time, shaped by people who show up, contribute, and grow together.
Paul has been one of those people.
“As he begins this next chapter, we want to thank him for his trust, his support and friendship over the years, and taking this journey with us. Thank you, Paul,” Cheng said, “You will be missed!”
