Austrian umbrella manufacturer Doppler, represented by Hanse Distribution in travel retail, has teamed up with Blueprint to bolster its global presence.
The company has seen its travel retail business grow since it started its distribution partnership with the Hamburg-based company in 2018.
The latest collaboration with progressive business development consultancy Blueprint will see the partnership work on a go-to-market strategy to further expand Doppler’s business.
Doppler Head of Sales René Schwarz commented: “Hanse Distribution has done a fantastic job in getting us into the travel retail sector. Through our collaboration, we have been listed with Lufthansa, Condor, airBaltic as well as Frankfurt and Munich airports since 2018.”
Hanse Distribution Business Development Director Dennis Holst said: “We are taking an educational approach with Doppler to clearly explain some of the outstanding product features.
“In addition to being lightweight, Doppler’s collection is stormproof, offers an impressive range of colours and provides UV protection, which is particularly important in the Asia Pacific region. All of this while maintaining attractive prices for travellers. These aspects make the brand the top choice in the market.”
The two companies are partnering with Blueprint, which specialises in supporting brands, retailers and airports.
Schwarz added: “Hanse’s exceptional sales and distribution capabilities, combined with Blueprint’s unconventional strategic thinking and market accessibility will help Doppler elevate its travel retail business to the next level.”
‘Ultra-robust, very light and attractive pricing’
A winner of the prestigious Red Dot Design 2020 award, Doppler offers an array of products including white-label options and affordable retail price points of €29.99 (US$32) to €39.99 (US$43).
The company has revealed travel retail collections including reflective pocket umbrellas named Doppler Havana Cross, made for children going to school on rainy days.
These umbrellas feature reflective printing on both the canopy and the cover to ensure high visibility whether the aluminium and fibreglasss umbrella is opened or closed. The products come with a three-year warranty.
Doppler will also launch the U.Series pocket umbrellas from Knirps, the latest brand to join its travel retail portfolio. The manual pocket umbrellas, described as the brand’s lightest at only 115g, offer high-level protection in wind speeds of up to 100km/h and are backed by a five-year warranty.
The Knirps Heatshield is another new product from the brand. Made for extra sun protection, this new model features a solid-coloured UV coating on the inside of the canopy that blocks more than 99.95% of UVA rays, equivalent to SPF/UPF 50+.
The Heatshield also reduces temperatures under the umbrella by up to 40%, providing additional comfort, and comes with a five-year guarantee.
Holst said: “These models are thoughtfully engineered, each with specific functionalities. For retailers, they generate additional sales without occupying much space, thanks to clever, attractive and eye-catching point-of-sale display solutions.”
The umbrella displays hold between 12 and 48 pocket umbrellas and are easily positioned next to cash registers or on the shop floor for immediate in-store placement.
Doppler offers repair and spare parts services to prevent waste and contribute to sustainability.
Blueprint Partner Thomas Kaneko Henningsen added: “Hanse Distribution, Doppler and Blueprint form a powerful collaboration. We are effectively merging the best capabilities in innovative product development with global distribution and business development consulting.
“This unconventional 360-degree setup allows us to unlock a broader range of travel retail opportunities worldwide.” ✈
