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Features

Bait-Tech: true British success

Sunday, 05 September 2010 19:44
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TTW caught up with the man behind the successful Bait-Tech operation, Pete Clapperton, to find out more about the company and its exciting plans for the future…

Pete Clapperton on… Bait-Tech

LAUNCHED back in 2006, Bait-Tech, a bait company specialising in groundbaits developed specifically for the UK, has shown phenomenal growth.

TTW is talking with the boss, Pete Clapperton. The man has over 30 years of experience in the UK market and really made his name launching the hugely successful Van den Eynde range of baits into the UK.

“We launched the company back in 2006,” explains Pete. “It was October to be precise, at the Tackle & Guns Trade Show, but our first year of trading was really 2007.

“In our three trading years the growth has been very exciting to watch – and we literally gone from zero to a £1,000,000.”

But the question has to be raised… why go to the trouble of setting up an entirely new company when you have made such a great name for yourself distributing another bait brand?

Pete Clapperton on… why?

Pete continued: “There has always been a hole in the UK market; we needed baits that were designed primarily for carp – and that’s something Van Den Eynde didn’t do.

“And so Bait-Tech was born – alongside our corporate motto: ‘Great product. Great price. Great design’ – and that’s exactly what we’re about.”

So it looks like the UK is covered then Pete, so what’s next?

“Well I wouldn’t say that we are anywhere near finished in the UK but, of course, clearly the way ahead for us is to start exporting.

Pete Clapperton on… how?

“We actually started on that back in 2008 when we dipped our toe into European market by attending the Tackle Trade World Fair in Amsterdam.

“We have a strong team of consultants – some of the biggest names in international fishing in fact – and because of this we instantly had respect at the show, despite being relatively unheard of.

“We picked up two very good distributors at the event – one for the Dutch market and one for the German market.”

More recently Bait-Tech has secured the services of Milo to distribute its products in Italy.

“Milo will do very well for us. The Italian market is going carp mad and he has a great setup.”

Of course it’s not just in these three countries that Bait-Tech has set up.

“We are in a lot of European countries,” continued Pete. “But we do not have an exclusivity deal with them.”

Pete Clapperton on… copying

So the question has to be asked… in a world of me-too products, are your products any good?

“I don’t blame you for asking that question – the world is me-too products, and really I should clarify…

“Quite simply, there are no groundbaits like ours. We don’t use traditional ingredients. We put our groundbaits through special processes, and you can’t copy what we do. It might be a market full of copied products, but you can’t copy our baits. They are unique.

“And I will go further… I challenge any of our competitors to show that they have tested and researched and trialled baits like us.

“We have a burning desire to get it right, and I believe we have done exactly that!”

Pete Clapperton on… pellets

“The trouble with pellets,” says Pete, “is that it’s virtually impossible to have uniqueness with them. There is no USP (unique selling point).

“There are two main suppliers and they will sell to anyone. So you end up selling what’s already on the market. Yes we sell pellets, but they are not our mainstay. Groundbaits are what Bait-Tech is about – it’s what gives us our own USP.”


Pete Clapperton on… Europe

Bait-Tech is constantly evolving – and for a company that lives or dies on what people catch, that means its products have to be spot on!

“We are launching five new groundbaits for 2010 and I have to say that I am really proud of them.

“You have got to strive to do your very best. Any less and you simply will not survive. This is a tough industry.

“So what makes these essentially British groundbaits right for Europe?

“Well, nothing ever stays the same. Look at how fishing has developed in the past 30 years. It’s now unrecognisable. Thirty years ago we all used plain breadcrumb.

“But Europe is grasping England’s styles of fishing. They are using the same methods to catch more and bigger fish. So are these baits right for Europe? You are damn right they are!”

Pete Clapperton on… Innovation

Pete is well versed with the international market – but has ultimate respect for the English ways.

“I think the English bait fishing market is the most innovative in the world – and it’s something that European anglers do recognise.

“You only have to look at the methods we fish. Take pole fishing… we picked up the method from mainland Europe, turned it onto its head and exported it back. We have innovated everything, and that’s why we drive market. Obviously I am only talking about bait fishing here… we are not world leaders in lure fishing!”

Pete Clapperton on… The Future

“Ultimately, if I had my wish, I would like to see Bait-Tech product in every single fishing-tackle shop in Europe.”

“We are turning over about £1 million a year now, which we hope to grow by about 25 per cent in 2010.

“If I’m honest, we could probably double what we do now – but then we’d have to look at changing the infrastructure, bigger premises, a new logistics model. I guess what I am saying is that this could be as big as I want it to be, but steady double digit growth is the immediate goal.”


 

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The Topsy world of bait farming

Sunday, 05 September 2010 19:44
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Sea fishing requires the toughest equipment around. It also requires the finest and freshest bait – and that’s where Dutch firm Topsy Baits believes it can help your customers.

 

TOPSY BAITS is a lot more than you would expect from a sea-bait farm. For a start, the company owns a staggeringly large 17-acre plot of land. On this land, there are no less than 96 ponds in which the company carries out the tricky task of growing quality worms to use in sea fishing. But just how tricky can it be? Topsy’s Toon Bastiaanse explains: “When you produce bait, you want it to be of a very high standard, and this is a lot more difficult than you might think.

“You must consider the amount of light on the ponds and the temperatures and PH levels of the water. If any of these things are wrong then we can’t produce the best bait.”

Based in the west of the Netherlands, Topsy Baits supplies ragworms, harbour worms, and lugworms to sea anglers across the country. The company also exports to the UK, Denmark and several other European countries. In fact, Topsy is the largest bait farm in the whole of Europe.

The business has grown remarkably in the 25 years it has been in operation – it started off with a mere 12 ponds.

Toon joined the company as a youngster and has been there for 13 years. He says: “My father supplied bait to local anglers when I was a child, so I have always been involved in the bait business.

“We had a shop at that time and one of our suppliers was Topsy Baits. Eventually I went to work for them after helping out there in my spare time. I have now been here for 13 years and have watched the company grow.”

Toon’s passion for his business is easy to see as he gives a tour of the enormous plot of land that Topsy Baits operates from. Every pond is carefully attended to and checked at regular intervals to ensure the worms are feeding and breeding well. Once a batch of worms is ready to be harvested, the worms are filtered through a spinning funnel.

Toon continues: “For recirculation, we designed and built a specially adapted brushpump. Our aerators are designed to work in the shallow ponds and are highly efficient. Once the worms are ready, the automated machines work their way through the ponds, harvesting the worms gently to make sure that the quality doesn’t suffer. The packaging machine designed by Topsy allows us to send the worms alive all over the world.”

When the worms are collected they’re moved to a building where they can be stored in oxygenated water or frozen ready for delivery.

At every step the worms are monitored for quality and health reasons as Topsy prides itself on providing retailers with bait that will not only catch fish but will also be good for the fish and the environment.

Toon shows off another exciting part of the Topsy plant: an observation tank. He says: “We use this to monitor how different worms react to different PH levels, oxygen levels, temperatures and the like. It’s a useful tool and helps us to determine the best way to grow healthy worms that are appetising to whatever species of fish you’re trying to catch.”

During its time in the business, Topsy has clearly become an expert in its field. It has invested in the right machinery and has the knowledge to supply quality sea bait. Its success has been no accident. If sea angling is your business, you would certainly benefit from speaking with Topsy.

 

Contact: Topsy Baits

T: +31 113 250 403

F: +31 113 250 503

E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

W: www.topsybaits.com

 

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Okuma builds on strength

Sunday, 05 September 2010 19:44
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TODAY the Okuma reel factory stands as one of the very top players in the market. It's built on a foundation of comprehensive knowledge, flair for building networks and a capacity for innovation. Okuma is a reel tower of strength!

Well, that's the opinion of its European distributor and partner, Svendsen Sport, at least! But it's also a view shared with many dealers and anglers around the globe...

Since Okuma's humble beginnings in 1987, it has focused on building lighter, stronger and more durable products for all types of anglers. Some of the many innovations from Okuma include EOS (Elliptical Oscillation System), Dual Force Drag, the new Blade Body Design and Alumilite Construction. Okuma is one of the world's fastest growing tackle manufacturers, and with consistent innovation and a focus on becoming more efficient, OKUMA stands stronger than ever.

Magnus Gunnarsson, Okuma's European export manager, said: "Svendsen Sport started to distribute Okuma reels in Scandinavia in 1990, and we did so well that we soon became EU and UK distributors. Today, we are very closely linked with Svendsen and the people their almost consider us to be family! We have a very strong relationship."

Okuma doesn't look for inspiration from other manufacturers; instead, inspiration comes from anglers, from the weekend warrior to tournament pros.

Today the Okuma Fishing reel and rod factory holds a unique position, employing more than 2,000 workers and controlling the development process from the idea to the mass production of quality fishing tackle - giving the world's anglers a superb and unparalleled array of reels.

The Chinese factory is packed with hi-tech machines and a hyper-motivated and well-educated staff - this along with Okuma Taiwan's high-precision CNC production and testing facility and the strong German R&D engineering team, makes a solid platform.

It's a system that works well for Svendsen.

"Our ideas go straight to our own German engineering team," explained Magnus. "They then materialise as drawings and plans for the R&D team in Taiwan and China to work on a prototype. Then we receive testing samples and take it from there. It's a very smooth process.

"There are lots of reel manufacturers in the world," continued Magnus, "but nobody can produce reels as good as Okuma for the money. We believe that Okuma reels are as good as reels that cost three times as much - and that's something our customers love."

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Buoyant Baleno strives on

Sunday, 05 September 2010 19:44
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Having just passed its 35th year in business, technical clothing brand Baleno has a lot going on. TTW visited the Belgian-based firm to find out more about where it comes from and where it’s going.

 

BALENO has made a name for itself as a manufacturer of high-quality technical clothing in the fishing and shooting markets over the years. But what you might not know is that the Baleno brand is owned by the massive Sioen company, Europe’s self-proclaimed market leader in industrial protective clothing. Sioen has an enormous portfolio of products and manufactures clothing and technical textiles for some huge organisations such as British Airways and the Grand Lyon, which includes producing clothing for the fire brigade, police and other services in the city of Lyons in France. That’s quite a backing behind Baleno, which has a fairly modest reputation.

One thing the brand prides itself on, and always has, is technical excellence as product and export manager Kasper Tindemans explains: “Sioen produces high-quality clothing that protects the wearer against wind, rain, cold, fire, chemicals and other hazards. Thankfully these high standards of protection translate perfectly into Baleno products.”

An example of Baleno’s commitment to technical clothing is the range of flotation suits it produces. Kasper continues: “Our flotation suits are manufactured with one major attribute in mind: safety. We work very hard to ensure they meet sea fishermen’s safety requirements. The Nordic suit, for example, features a hi-tech floating lining. It also features welded, watertight seams, Flexothane windproof cuffs and fluorescent colouring, so you can be easily spotted if you end up overboard.”

Flexothane is a good example of Baleno’s advanced textiles knowledge. Invented by Sioen the material contains a good amount of stretch and is almost impossible to tear or pierce – another great safety feature.

But while the flotation suits are an impressive part of Baleno’s range, no expense has been spared on other items it manufactures too. For the angler who prefers to fish inland, there’s also a range of coarse fishing clothing available. The range is split into groups depending on the materials used to manufacture them, and they are: Prime Tex, Flexothane, Siopor and Nylide. There are also collections of multilayer clothing and leisurewear.

Kasper says: “We have very high-end clothing such as the Prime Tex range, which includes overalls, bib and braces, and jackets – as well as Flexothane products.

“In multilayer clothing range we have numerous undergarments and fleeces designed for warmth and protection from the elements.”

The quality, functionality and performance of Baleno’s products are sure to be of the highest standard thanks to the company’s backing and history as part of the Sioen group. But, like every brand, Baleno is looking at how it can evolve and stay ahead of the game.

Kasper explains the avenues the brand is looking at to expand: “We know that our products perform because we are experts in technical textiles, but we also want to be number one in the fishing-clothing market. We know that we must keep new ideas coming in to be successful. This is why we have started working on a range that carries the same durability and performance while aiming to make the items more stylish and suitable to wear in casual situations.”

At present, the only examples able to be shown are designed for the shooting market, but the premise is easy to see. Many of the jackets in the collection feature all the attributes you’d expect from clothing designed for outdoor sports, but they all have a more casual look about them.

“We wanted the clothes to perform when the wearer is enjoying their hobby and be appropriate to wear in town,” Kasper adds.

“It’s an idea that we really like. We understand that the market is starting to demand clothing that looks stylish and can be worn in more situations.”

While Baleno has a good reach in terms of export there are always opportunities for it to expand. At the end of 2009, the brand appointed British firm Belstane to distribute its products in the UK. Could the next partner it chooses be you?

 

Contact: Baleno

T: +32 51 74 18 00

F: +32 51 74 16 24

E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

W: www.baleno.be

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Molix ethos catches on

Sunday, 05 September 2010 19:44
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Molix

YOUNG Italian lure brand Molix is setting itself apart from its competitors according to its boss.

 

AS a young company you have to set yourself apart from your competitors. Lure brand Molix is hoping to do that by making its products more than just ‘good-looking pieces of plastic’. TTW spoke with international sales manager Paulo Vannini to find out more about a brand with big growth ambitions.

TTW: Hi Paulo – for the benefit of the trade, tell us a little more about the brand Molix.
PV: “We are a brand that focuses a lot on attention to detail. Our products are very strong in both quality and innovation and we have been gaining a lot of success recently in the European market.
“There are a few important details we always consider when we produce a lure: quality, innovation and customer care is where we are most focused here at Molix.”

TTW: That sounds like a good philosophy, but it’s more than just sales jargon for your company, isn’t it?
PV: “Yes, for us building a lure means doing something different from all the others – and doing do it following high quality standards and taking maximum care about our final result. In fact, there is always an idea at the basis of each Molix lure – something that comes from the people involved in its creation, who are all passionate anglers from around the world.”

TTW: So it’s very much about teamwork when it comes to developing products?
PV: "Definitely – teamwork is our motto. We build an idea from the ground up, with a lot of help from our friends and partners who are all real anglers. By doing this, we can ensure that the end result will satisfy the needs of the market. Everyone who has input into our lures is part of the Molix tribe.”

TTW: Apart from this ethos, what else sets Molix lures apart?
PV: “To realise the product from the idea we need some of the best-quality machinery in the business. And that is what we have. After our research and development is completed, we build lures from some of the most innovative and up-to-date moulding machines on the market. You have to invest in your own facilities to be sure you can produce a product that matches up to your ideas and dreams.
“A good idea developed with a detailed mould and poured together with innovative materials is our recipe for successful lures… and the market seems to love them and the spirit of Molix products.”

TTW: What do you believe the future hold for Molix?
PV: “Well we are starting to be noticed a lot more now. I hope that soon names like Brugas, Finder Jerk, Kiku and Trago Vib lures will become much more familiar with anglers across Europe. We also have plans for the US market, which is of course massive when it comes to lures.
“We’re actually planning to open a new facility in the US very soon, so we can develop products specific to its market and its anglers. Last year’s ICAST show gave us the hope and motivation we needed to go after the US market.”

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