ENDVR is the all-in-one wholesale enablement platform that brings the trackability and precision of digital advertising to in-store sales. Running Insight recently sat down with ENDVR CEO Steve Gendron to better-understand the brand and the technology behind it.
First, please provide an “elevator pitch” on what ENDVR does for retailers as 2025 begins to take shape.
We help brands turn their wholesale channel into a scalable, measurable, high-performing sales engine.
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And how is this accomplished?
We do this by making it easy for them to connect directly with sales associates on the ENDVR app at every retailer selling they work with, and reward them with instant cash, pro-deals, free products and prizes for learning, providing insight from the store floor, and selling more every shift.
What is your focus in 2025 for running specialty?
What makes ENDVR unique in your space in running specialty?
ENDVR is unique in the run specialty space because we bring together all key stakeholders, brands, retailers and retail associates – and now consumers – into one connected ecosystem. Unlike other solutions that focus on just one piece of the puzzle, ENDVR creates a seamless, measurable way for brands to activate their wholesale channels, retailers to drive in-store sales and associates to stay engaged and incentivized.
What is the benefit for running brands?
For brands, we offer trackable, ROI-driven tools to drive product education, in-store advocacy and now consumer cashback campaigns, ensuring that every dollar they invest in retail marketing is measurable and impactful.
And for run specialty retailers?
For retailers, we help empower store associates with the right knowledge and incentives, creating a more engaged sales force that leads to better customer experiences and higher sell-through. And for those associates, we provide a platform that rewards them for their expertise and impact, bridging the gap between product knowledge and real-world sales.
Finally, how about the consumer aspect?
And now, with our new consumer cashback offering, we’re closing the loop, giving brands a way to directly engage and incentivize customers while still driving value through their wholesale partners.
So the bottom line is …
By uniting brands, retailers, associates and consumers, ENDVR isn’t just another sales enablement tool. It’s a holistic retail growth platform that helps the running specialty industry compete, evolve and win in an increasingly digital world.
Why should running specialty retailers turn to ENDVR for their in-store technology?
Running specialty retailers should turn to ENDVR because it provides a data-driven platform that helps drive sales, employee engagement and brand partnerships, all without adding complexity to their operations.
So here’s how ENDVR’s technology benefits running specialty retailers:
- Empowers Store Associates – Our platform delivers on-demand product education and sales incentives directly to associates, helping them sell with confidence and drive higher in-store conversion rates.
- Drives Brand Investment - With ENDVR, retailers can unlock additional marketing dollars from brands, enabling them to fund sales incentives, training and now consumer cashback promotions — all designed to move more product through their stores.
- Increases Sell-Through with Measurable Impact - Unlike traditional marketing efforts, ENDVR provides real-time performance tracking, allowing retailers and brands to see exactly which incentives and educational programs are driving sales.
- Seamless and Easy to Implement - There’s no hardware required, no complex setup and no disruption to daily operations. Retailers can onboard quickly and start benefiting from brand-driven incentives and training right away.
Tell us more about how the technology benefits the brands in the stores as well?
ENDVR delivers clear, measurable ROI for brands by ensuring that every dollar spent on wholesale marketing, training and incentives directly impacts in-store sales.
• Higher Sell-Through = More Revenue – By educating and incentivizing store associates, ENDVR increases product recommendations and conversions, leading to faster sell-through and higher revenue from retail partners.
• Performance-Based Spending = No Wasted Budget – Unlike traditional wholesale marketing spend, ENDVR allows brands to pay only for actual engagement and sales — whether through associate incentives or consumer cashback, ensuring every dollar is tied to results.
• Real-Time Sales and Engagement Data = Smarter Decisions – ENDVR provides live reporting on sales impact, allowing brands to adjust their investments in real time, optimize campaigns and focus resources where they drive the most revenue.
• Lower Cost Per Sale versus Traditional Marketing – With ENDVR, brands see a higher return on investment compared to generic advertising, as dollars go directly to motivating sales at the point of purchase, where buying decisions are made.
• Consumer Cashback = Brand-Funded Growth Without Margin Cuts – Our brand-funded consumer cashback model enables brands to drive more in-store purchases while keeping retailers profitable, ensuring long-term wholesale partnerships.
So, again, the bottom line for brands …
With ENDVR, brands aren’t guessing where their wholesale marketing dollars go, they see exactly how their investment turns into sales, store by store, product by product.
What other product categories do you serve and how do they relate to run specialty?
ENDVR operates in any retail environment where customers make considered purchases - where they’ve chosen to visit a store because they want expert advice on the best product for their needs. Beyond run specialty, we currently work with brands and retailers in:
Outdoor & Sporting Goods – Similar to running, outdoor gear (hiking, cycling, skiing) requires in-depth knowledge. Customers rely on in-store experts to guide them toward the right products based on fit, function, and performance.
Footwear and Apparel – Specialty footwear retailers, like running stores, provide expert fitting and personalized recommendations, making associate engagement and product education critical for sales success.
Eyewear and Optics – Whether it's performance sunglasses for runners or prescription eyewear, customers look for expertise on lens technology, fit, and protection, making this another category where associate knowledge drives purchasing decisions.
What ties all of these categories together?
It is the value of in-store expertise. ENDVR helps brands empower retailers and their associates to drive in-store sales by ensuring they have the right knowledge, incentives and tools to engage customers, just like in run specialty.
What type of investment in time and resources does it take to incorporate the ENDVR technology into a retail store?
Getting started with ENDVR couldn’t be easier. For brands, they can claim their brand for free on the ENDVR platform and connect with in-store staff across their network instantly by adding their dealer network and uploading a video to introduce their brand. Once they’re ready to launch a campaign, it takes minutes to build and launch, with flexible pricing, including Pay-As-You-Go and Annual Plan options.
And for retailers and their associates?
Retailers can be up and running in minutes. Since ENDVR is a mobile-first platform, their associates can sign up and start engaging with brand incentives and training right away, no need for IT setup or in-store installations. We do offer a completely free version for retailers for those that do want to actively participate and track how their teams are engaging with brand sponsored incentives. For in-store sales associates, they can simply download the app for free to start earning rewards from the brands they already sell.
Finally, what does the rest of 2025 have in store for ENDVR and how are you going to achieve that?
As we move through 2025, ENDVR is focused on growing our network of brands, retailers and sales associates and refining our platform to provide even greater value to all stakeholders. With new features on the horizon – including Consumer Cash Back, which will allow brands to close the attribution gap between online discovery and in-store purchases – and an ever-growing network, we’re set to redefine in-store wholesale enablement and continue driving measurable success for our partners.
