Online sportswear retailer ActivInstinct is to push international growth as it aims for overseas sales to overtake domestic revenue within 18 months.

The etailer, which launched its first international site in France in April, will push into Germany, Scandinavia, Spain and Italy within the next year. 

ActivInstinct chief executive Mike Thornhill said: “France has done phenomenally well. Germany is an even bigger opportunity. We expect it to be four times as big as France. Tennis and hockey could be big categories for us overseas.”

Germany will be the retailer’s next launch within six weeks. It is ploughing £600,000 into the debut. Thornhill is eyeing moving into the US and Japan following ActivInstinct’s European drive.

The online retailer grew sales by 33% to £11m in its year ending August 31, with profits up 84%, but it declined to give a value. It is forecasting to increase sales by a further 40% and profits by 70% in its current financial year.

The retailer, which attributes 10% of its turnover to suppling Shop Direct’s sports offer, is also planning to launch own brand clothing and is in talks with manufacturers in China and Pakistan to introduce ranges in the next year.