Methven Readies for Export Push Into US

20 March 2006

Methven Readies for Export Push into United States

The first shipment of Methven designed and made showerware is on its way to the United States for an April sales launch into the premium American market with New York the initial target.

“The United States is a huge consumer market ideal for our Satinjet ‘kissed by water’ showers,” Methven CEO, Rick Fala said. “The US push has been a long time in the planning. We’ve done our homework and our market research suggests that US consumers, particularly early adopters and women, will respond very positively to our brand of shower experience.
We are in a healthy position and ready to move forward.”

A U.S. based subsidiary has been established with a small office in New York and agency distribution agreements covering five territories from Chicago to the east coast. Stuart Gray, formerly the New Zealand National Sales and Marketing Manager, has relocated to New York to manage the American operations which will focus first on high end specialty bathroomware retailers.

“We’ll start off small, budgeting modest export revenues in our first year, with U.S. sales expected to at least double by our third year of operation in this key market,” Mr Fala said. ”We expect to be profitable by the middle of the second year of operations.”

The timing of the US thrust comes soon after Methven’s unique Satinjet showers won a prestigious American GOOD DESIGN™ award in one of the world’s oldest and most important design competitions, run by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.

“US consumers know and respect the GOOD DESIGN™ awards as an endorsement of genuine excellence,” Mr Fala said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media