Duell acquires IGM Trading and Grand Canyon GmbH
Finnish distributor Duell Bike-Center Group has acquired the Dutch accessory and apparel company IGM Trading BV and German Grand Canyon GmbH from founders and Managing Directors Ingrid and Arno Gaalman-Weghorst.
Known for its Grand Canyon apparel programme and cruiser accessories, the acquisition will give Duell a new logistics centre (at Hengelo, Netherlands) from which to optimise deliveries in Central Europe and access a German dealer network of over 500 dealers.
Duell offers over 200 brands and 130,000 items, plus three own garment brands - including the Halvarssons and Lindstrands apparel brands it bought from Jofama (Sweden) two years ago. Duell sells to dealers throughout Scandinavia and in Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and parts of Eastern Europe.
The acquisition comes as the Finnish company continues its "strong expansion course into Central and Southern Europe" - a programme that started in 2019. With the takeover, Duell now has another strategically important logistics centre which further optimises fast and efficient delivery to its dealer network outside Scandinavia.
"For the first time, Duell will be entering the German market, one of the largest European markets for motorcycle sport. Duell will add to its Halvarssons and Lindstrands apparel ranges by including the Grand Canyon Bikewear, Premier Helmets and Stylmartin boots brands that were previously managed by IGM.
"The founders and managing directors of IGM will continue to provide Duell with advice and operational support in the years to come. All IGM and Grand Canyon employees will be taken over into the Duell Bike-Center Group.
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| CEO Jarkko Ämmälä |
Jarkko Ämmälä, CEO of the Duell Bike-Center Group, said: "We want the best products at the best prices with the best delivery times for our customers. That is the simple but important business philosophy that is driving our growth - a philosophy that has made us the undisputed number one in Scandinavia in barely 40 years. With the takeover of IGM, we are getting a strategically important logistics location and access to a new trade network in Germany, one of the largest sales markets for motorcycle accessories in Europe and extension of the network in Benelux. I am convinced that we will reach and inspire our new customers with our business philosophy, products and services in the shortest possible time."
The Belgian motorcycle business specialist Erwin Van Hoof, who, as Export and Business Development Manager at Duell Bike-Center Group, has been responsible for the establishment and development of the business outside Scandinavia since 2019, says: "Germany is one of the key markets in Central Europe. In order to be able to guarantee our customers the Duell premium service with numerous branded products and quality parts from day one, we have already twelve months of intensive preparation behind us. Now we not only have another modern logistics centre, but also a professional, motivated and powerful team with five sales managers who are ready to assist and advise our customers."
Arno Gaalman, founder and managing director of former IGM Trading BV, is also pleased with the successful conclusion of the contract: "We are looking forward to cooperate from now on and are proud to be part of this big and successful distribution group. By bundling the Scandinavian strength and the Dutch commercial skills, we will benefit from numerous synergies. The ambitious goals of Duell perfectly suit the goals of the former IGM, and so I am convinced that together we will grow faster than ever expected - for the benefit of our customers, partners and employees in Germany and the Netherlands."
Duell's expansion into Germany will see dealers there having access to the Halvarssons and Lindstrands brands for the first time. Both brands have more than 70 years of tradition, have been tried and tested for decades in a wide variety of weather conditions, but are not yet well known outside of Scandinavia.
Since its acquisition of the brands in 2019, Duell has further developed its in-house design and development centre. "As a premium brand, Halvarssons stands for classic design and the highest quality in leather and textiles and meets the highest safety standards like AAA," says Jarkko Ämmälä.
"Lindstrands enjoys an outstanding reputation as particularly robust, durable and comfortable equipment, especially among demanding high mileage touring and adventure riders. Both brands will expand the choice for German riders and gradually change the motorcycle apparel market there. Dealers will appreciate the perfect match they bring for the garments in the Grand Canyon Bikewear range, and in the coming years they will see our design specialists significantly improve that line too.
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| Left to right: Jarkko Ämmälä, Erwin Van Hoof, Arno Gaalman-Weghorst, Ingrid Gaalman-Weghorst |
"We want to be the one-stop solution for our customers. Instead of wasting valuable time on research, our customers will know that Duell has an answer to all questions. Even in the age of rapid e-communication, we therefore rely on personal contact with our partners - in addition to our easy-to-use B2B platform. This is an essential element of the philosophy with which we want to achieve service leadership," explains Van Hoof.
"Therefore, Duell will remain true to its almost 40-year company philosophy in its expansion project in Central Europe," continued Ämmälä.
"With all the passion for powersports that everyone at Duell has, we are also calculating business people. We understand the challenges ahead of us. It will not be easy to enter the already crowded markets in Central and Southern Europe. That is why we prioritise a healthy, long-term growth instead of a quick, but possibly just short-term success.
"An important part of the Duell business strategy is to build up local logistics centres that can be responsive to dealers' needs and guarantee fast delivery times. This business model includes strategic acquisitions of existing trading companies as well as establishing our own regional subsidiaries."
The news about the IGM acquisition comes just three months after Duell announced that it was to establish its own subsidiary at Coalville in the United Kingdom. Duell reports sales growth from € 25m in 2013 to € 60m in 2020.
www.duell.fi
