PIKO
Spielwaren GmbH
Press Conference January 29, 2009-08-09
Despite
financial crisis and bad news about the economic situations of many companies
in the Upper Franconia/Thüringen area, the management of Sonneberg-based model
train manufacturer PIKO reported a successful end to 2008.
Already in
the autumn of last year, it appeared that the wheels of PIKO were rolling in
the right direction.Thanks to the hard
work of the PIKO staff, the wishes of many model railway fans were fulfilled.Many PIKO fans were especially pleased that
the new G-Scale railbus was delivered in time for Christmas.But as PIKO Chief Dr. René F. Wilfer shared,
it was not only because of this one new item that the turnover for December
2008 was quite strong.
Altogether,
2008 was a highly satisfactory year for PIKO, with a double-digit increase in
the turnover, a result which not all companies in the model train industry
enjoy at the moment.
Beside the successful
home market business, a double-digit increase in export sales contributed to the
positive year-end closing for the firm.Leading the way was the US market, with sales more than
doubled. In France, 2008 brought yet another year of
increased turnover.In the remaining
export countries, PIKO products were also in great demand.
PIKO was
especially successful with the G-Scale (garden railway) model train
program.In this category, PIKO
developed itself, in a short time, into a full-range supplier, offering to the
G-Scale enthusiast locomotives, cars, complete starter sets and a track system,
as well as the extensive existing assortment of buildings.
The entire
G-Scale garden railway program is manufactured in Sonneberg, where PIKO’s 180
employees have been working at full capacity of late.Items in PIKO’s attractively-priced Hobby
program are mainly produced at PIKO’s own factory in China.The start of manufacturing there in 2008 brought many improvements in
deliveries.
For the
year 2009, a moderate growth in sales is forecast for PIKO.The effects of the recession in Germany may limit growth.The experience of the model train specialists
from Sonneberg is that the consumer doesn’t cut back on his hobby enjoyment
during economic hard times,and he
remains ready to spend money on his pastime.First indicators of this year’s developments will already be seen at the
annual Toy Fair in Nürnberg, which opens its doors February 5th for 6 days,
exclusively to the trade.
At the Toy
Fair, PIKO expects to do particularly good business in model train starter
sets, which PIKO will offer in HO-Scale as well as garden railway G-Scale.As special new items, PIKO will present to
the trade attendees a G-Scale model of a BR V60 diesel locomotive, as well as a
series of passenger cars, which have not been offered to the marketplace before
in this scale.
For the HO
program, PIKO offers fans a true classic – a well known Deutsche Reichsbahn (East Germany) articulated passenger car, which
strikes a chord in the hearts of many enthusiasts. This forms the product highlight for this Jubilee
Year, in which PIKO marks its 60-year company anniversary.By means of an Open House Day in Sonneberg on
June 20th, 2009, PIKO will officially celebrate
this anniversary, together with thousands of model railway friends.
Looking
into the future, PIKO can be optimistic.The path will not be easy, as PIKO Chief Dr. Wilfer has made clear.But the PIKO team is well-prepared to further
improve the firm’s standing in the marketplace.On one hand, PIKO can rely on its group of dedicated employees, who
assure high quality and exciting new products.And on the other hand, despite the current bad situation in the banking
industry, PIKO has the full support of its house banks, providing backing to continue
the pattern of growth.
All in all,
the PIKO team is confident of a good year in 2009 and stands ready to invest
once again in many exciting new products, leading to continued success in the
future.
