Location/Region: Ontario, CAN
Industry: Equestrian Safety Equipment
Apps implemented: Sales, Accounting, Inventory, Website, Purchase
Software
Replaced: Spire
Company size: 5
Hosting type: Odoo online
When a company specializes in safety, precision matters, and that’s what Phoenix Performance found in Odoo. With a lean, remote team focused on delivering equestrian helmets and vests worldwide, the company needed more than just basic accounting software. They needed a flexible, integrated system that could grow with them, and Odoo delivered.
Founded over 35 years ago, Phoenix Performance began its journey designing protective padding for hockey. When the company's owner, a thoroughbred horse breeder, took over the business, he saw an opportunity to serve a niche market: equestrian safety. From there, the company transitioned into designing and distributing helmets and safety vests for horseback riding and rodeo events. Today, Phoenix Performance is one of the only brands worldwide dedicated exclusively to these two product lines.
In addition to product development and distribution, Phoenix Performance is active in international safety committees that set the standards for equestrian protective gear. This involvement ensures their products meet the highest safety requirements. Their commitment to this niche has made them stand out in a market where many competitors diversify into apparel, footwear, or horse equipment. Phoenix Performance has instead remained laser-focused on rider protection.
“We’re one of the only brands in the world that only makes helmets and vests. Most others also make apparel or horse gear, but we’ve stuck to what we do best.”
Hitting a wall with legacy software
Before adopting Odoo, Phoenix Performance relied on a Canadian software system called Spire. While Spire was sufficient for accounting, it lacked the functionality needed to support real-time e-commerce or modern logistics operations. For example, building a website with live inventory would have required expensive custom-built solutions, upwards of $25,000 for each integration or feature.
Qusen also recalled that every new capability, from integrating with 3PL providers to improve warehouse efficiency, required a substantial investment. The rigidity of Spire and the high cost prompted Phoenix Performance to search for a better option. During this research phase, Qusen reached out to a former colleague whose company had just completed a similar evaluation. The recommendation was clear: try Odoo.
"Anything we wanted to do to bring the company up to speed with modern e-commerce was going to cost a fortune with our old system. That’s when we knew we had to look for something else."
A Smarter Way to Scale
The company started with Odoo’s core apps, including Accounting, Inventory, Sales, Purchase, and Website, and these continue to be the backbone of their operations.
Odoo’s Inventory and Sales modules, in particular, have helped Phoenix Performance stay lean while handling a global distribution business. With just five employees plus the owner, the company is able to efficiently manage orders, stock, and customer interactions without adding headcount.
While Payroll is still managed outside the platform due to limitations in Canadian payroll support, other areas of the business have seen tangible improvement. Qusen pointed out the potential of Odoo’s Facebook Marketplace integration to expand their reach. Despite some challenges, she values Odoo’s modularity and sees room to expand usage further.
Moreover, having real-time visibility into inventory and sales has reduced errors and improved coordination between departments. The remote team, headquartered via a mailing address in Woodbridge, Ontario, works entirely from home, making Odoo’s centralized and accessible platform essential for day-to-day operations.
“We’re not IT experts, but Odoo has made it possible, for a small team like ours, to run a business that punches above its weight."
What’s Next for Phoenix Performance?
While the company currently sells globally, its primary focus has been on North America. However, they plan to strengthen their presence in Europe in the coming years. Also, product development is ongoing, with new offerings regularly introduced and outdated ones phased out as part of the natural product life cycle. Additionally, due to tariff considerations, the company is expanding its manufacturing footprint by sourcing products from countries it hasn’t previously worked with.
For any small-to-midsize business navigating e-commerce logistics, inventory management, and real-time operations, Phoenix Performance’s journey with Odoo offers a compelling case. Looking to modernize without blowing your budget? Odoo may be the solution you didn’t know you needed. Whether you're in manufacturing, retail, or distribution, the tools are there, you just need to put them to work, like Phoenix Performance did.