Mont Blanc Under the Spotlight
Think of roof systems and the name Mont Blanc inevitably comes to mind.
Since its foundation in 1947 the Swedish company has developed into a leading player in the roof system and leisure market and has grown alongside the expanding market.
Within the UK, Mont Blanc came to the fore back in 1995 when they acquired the Paddy Hopkirk company which was already an established roof bar and rack supplier. A rebranding exercise began in 1998 replacing the Hopkirk name with that of Mont Blanc and the company became Mont Blanc Industri UK in 2004.
Over the last 15 years the company has gone from strength to strength. They are now one of the top two players in Europe and the UK, Much of the UK growth has come from the independent retail sector in which it is the acknowledged brand-leader
Man At The Top
Overseeing the British operation is UK Managing Director Ian Graham who is also Chief Commercial Officer for Mont Blanc Industri AB. Many members will have met Ian at CAAR shows as well as other trade shows over the years. Ian joined Mont Blanc as Commercial Director in 1998, becoming UK managing Director two months later. With a background in accessories that includes spells at MA Brands, Mason Accessories and Summit, Ian already had plenty of experience within the aftermarket and, under his guidance, Mont Blanc has become a dominant force.
So what changes has Ian noticed in the market over his 12 year tenure?
“Well probably the greatest change has been the explosion in fittings required to cover the market”, says Ian. “Back in 1998 we had 4 bars and 20 kits giving excellent coverage. Today we still have four basic bars but now it takes over 300 kits to maintain 93% vehicle coverage.”
Continuing the theme, Ian tells us that back in 1995 guttered roof bars covered 80 per cent of the market whilst today it’s less than two per cent!
Made In The UK
You may think that, like so many products in the market, much of the range would be manufactured in the far east and shipped into the UK. Well if you do, then you’re wrong because adjoining the companies offices in Leighton Buzzard is a massive production facility which carries out, in Ian’s words, “good old-fashioned metal bashing”!
The company either produces or assembles all of its products in-house with components being made here for other plants within the group and vice versa.
Over 50 per cent of the workforce has been with the company for over 10 years and the operation is a hive of activity as components are produced and then assembled into the finished article. Investment in machinery includes a state-of-the-art paint plant that allows a colour change within 20 minutes and fits in with the company’s ‘just in time’ manufacturing policy. Instead of making thousands of one item at a time, Mont Blanc operate a system which analyses forthcoming orders and ensures that the right product is available at the right time.
All Mont Blanc items carry a 3 year guarantee which emphasises the quality of the product
Market Trends
Whilst roof bars have always been popular and staple products for retailers, the explosion in the items fitted to them has produced many more profitable sales opportunities than the old roof rack deck ever did. Mont Blanc were pioneers in roof boxes, producing fibreglass models in Sweden back in the 1970’s for the ski market. Today there is a vast range of boxes available from the company in all shapes, sizes and price points. Now made of hi-grade ABS with a UV stable cap to prevent fading, the boxes incorporate features such as dual-side opening, quick-fit systems and multipoint locking systems that don’t allow key removal unless all the points are firmly locked down.
Ian points out that the market in boxes in the UK is still well behind that on the continent but it is growing steadily, “We’ve also seen the roof box become a fashion accessory on top-end models such as the BMW X5 and so we now produce some beautiful high-gloss finishes on some of the boxes”, he says.
Of course many CAAR members stock a wide range of roof boxes and Mont Blanc offer seasonal pricing that ensures continuity of price throughout the year.
And There’s More
Ski-holders, bike carriers (roof and rear mount), surf board holders and a whole host of other accessories are available to offer even more sales opportunities There is also a fantastic range of commercial vehicle racks and fittings as well as internal van racking which we will feature in a future issue.
The popular Mont Blanc Vista Roof Boxes are available from www.caarbitz.co.uk
Since its foundation in 1947 the Swedish company has developed into a leading player in the roof system and leisure market and has grown alongside the expanding market.
Within the UK, Mont Blanc came to the fore back in 1995 when they acquired the Paddy Hopkirk company which was already an established roof bar and rack supplier. A rebranding exercise began in 1998 replacing the Hopkirk name with that of Mont Blanc and the company became Mont Blanc Industri UK in 2004.
Over the last 15 years the company has gone from strength to strength. They are now one of the top two players in Europe and the UK, Much of the UK growth has come from the independent retail sector in which it is the acknowledged brand-leader
Man At The Top
Overseeing the British operation is UK Managing Director Ian Graham who is also Chief Commercial Officer for Mont Blanc Industri AB. Many members will have met Ian at CAAR shows as well as other trade shows over the years. Ian joined Mont Blanc as Commercial Director in 1998, becoming UK managing Director two months later. With a background in accessories that includes spells at MA Brands, Mason Accessories and Summit, Ian already had plenty of experience within the aftermarket and, under his guidance, Mont Blanc has become a dominant force.
So what changes has Ian noticed in the market over his 12 year tenure?
“Well probably the greatest change has been the explosion in fittings required to cover the market”, says Ian. “Back in 1998 we had 4 bars and 20 kits giving excellent coverage. Today we still have four basic bars but now it takes over 300 kits to maintain 93% vehicle coverage.”
Continuing the theme, Ian tells us that back in 1995 guttered roof bars covered 80 per cent of the market whilst today it’s less than two per cent!
Made In The UK
You may think that, like so many products in the market, much of the range would be manufactured in the far east and shipped into the UK. Well if you do, then you’re wrong because adjoining the companies offices in Leighton Buzzard is a massive production facility which carries out, in Ian’s words, “good old-fashioned metal bashing”!
The company either produces or assembles all of its products in-house with components being made here for other plants within the group and vice versa.
Over 50 per cent of the workforce has been with the company for over 10 years and the operation is a hive of activity as components are produced and then assembled into the finished article. Investment in machinery includes a state-of-the-art paint plant that allows a colour change within 20 minutes and fits in with the company’s ‘just in time’ manufacturing policy. Instead of making thousands of one item at a time, Mont Blanc operate a system which analyses forthcoming orders and ensures that the right product is available at the right time.
All Mont Blanc items carry a 3 year guarantee which emphasises the quality of the product
Market Trends
Whilst roof bars have always been popular and staple products for retailers, the explosion in the items fitted to them has produced many more profitable sales opportunities than the old roof rack deck ever did. Mont Blanc were pioneers in roof boxes, producing fibreglass models in Sweden back in the 1970’s for the ski market. Today there is a vast range of boxes available from the company in all shapes, sizes and price points. Now made of hi-grade ABS with a UV stable cap to prevent fading, the boxes incorporate features such as dual-side opening, quick-fit systems and multipoint locking systems that don’t allow key removal unless all the points are firmly locked down.
Ian points out that the market in boxes in the UK is still well behind that on the continent but it is growing steadily, “We’ve also seen the roof box become a fashion accessory on top-end models such as the BMW X5 and so we now produce some beautiful high-gloss finishes on some of the boxes”, he says.
Of course many CAAR members stock a wide range of roof boxes and Mont Blanc offer seasonal pricing that ensures continuity of price throughout the year.
And There’s More
Ski-holders, bike carriers (roof and rear mount), surf board holders and a whole host of other accessories are available to offer even more sales opportunities There is also a fantastic range of commercial vehicle racks and fittings as well as internal van racking which we will feature in a future issue.
The popular Mont Blanc Vista Roof Boxes are available from www.caarbitz.co.uk
1 Comments:
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