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PIKO Spielwaren GmbH
Press Information Toys Fair 2008
For the model railway industry, the year 2007 was remembered for a backdrop of difficulties in the market. While some manufacturers were busying themselves with restructuring measures, a multitude of dealers complained about obvious restrained spending in the model railway sector.
Although we were able to deliver most new items for PIKO in 2007, due to a high demand for product in the run up to Christmas some new items were delayed until 2008. Good Christmas business in 2007 ensured that PIKO last year (2007) were able to gain altogether a good one-digit plus sales increase and also correspondingly positive profits.
The export business was especially successful and reached a high two-digit plus increase here for the second year in a row. Consequently, export now accounts for more than 40% of the total revenue.
To underline this, France became our largest export market and we sell a wide range of PIKO model railway product through our importer. Holland, Austria and the East European markets also developed well.
In the German specialist shops, a small increase was achieved. With extensive Marketing we are trying to become better known in the broader markets and make the PIKO brand more visible.
Next to the always strong (and still growing) PIKO hobby assortment with attractive Starter Sets at an unrivalled good price/benefit ratio, similarly economical locomotives, vehicle and various accessories materials continue to succeed. The most successful PIKO products in 2007 were the ICE 3 in TT scale as well as the second G Scale locomotive from PIKO, the BR 218 Diesel Locomotive.
Ein Meilenstein beim weiteren Ausbau der Spurgröße G bei PIKO war die Markteinführung unseres PIKO G-Gleis im Spätsommer 2007.
Alongside the HO assortment, with which PIKO has represented for some time as a complete railway system supplier on the model train market, is now G scale with the PIKO G track for PIKO next to the existing G building assortment and the locomotives and new rolling stock also here now to provide a full assortment of G scale railway modelling.
For the year 2008, PIKO begin with a clear revenue increase of 12%. Along with the good start in export, further growth in the German specialist shops is planned.
For this, a multitude of attractive new items are planned for 2008
Appearing in HO scale are three completely new Hobby Locos as new items with the BR 101 Electric Loco as well as both Diesel Locos SU42 (of the PKP) and BB66000 (of the SNCF). Within the Hobby Range the local commuter coach "Silverfish" of the DB as well as the 120 M3 pressure gas tank wagon in the Classic range with other suitable rolling stock is offered as a new item. Further attractive locomotives, coaches, wagons and accessories round off the extensive new items programme in the HO range.
A long time wish from many PIKO fans has been a track plan book and that wish has come true with the introduction of the book „As One Railroads“ It offers beginners and professionals a wide variety of plans, from simple to advanced, certain to capture the imagination of model railway enthusiasts.
For our friends, the garden railway modellers, PIKO’s railbus, the VT98/VS98 is an absolute highlight of the G scale new items. There are also new liveries for the BR 218 diesel locomotive as well as reliveried Tauruses, a box wagon and a tarpaulion wagon. The PIKO G track offers lots of new possibilities with it’s simple and versatile geometry.
In TT scale, PIKO will again introduce a new locomotive to the range and will expand this successful range with delivered Tauruses, the Hercules diesel loco, ICE3 train pack and the modern BR 1 51 electric loco.
Since these new items were announced, we have had a very good response to them. Orders are 20% up when compared with the corresponding incoming orders for 2007.
For the international toy fair that runs between 7th and 12th of February in Nuremberg, PIKO promises itself a continuation of the successful start to 2008.
24. Januar 2008
Jens Beyer
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