Popular sunglasses brand looks to capitalise growth in Saudi Arabia market
Dubai, UAE - 11th April 2012 - Maui Jim - the world's fastest growing manufacturer of premium polarized sunglasses - is turning up the heat on its Hawaiian sunglasses brand as it continues to outperform in both domestic and travel retail markets. Behind the fun, casual 'aloha' spirit of the brand lies an ambitious company with over 700 employees worldwide, and a brand that just keeps expanding! Alongside 12 Hawaiian-inspired subsidiaries across the globe, Maui Jim's Dubai outpost has reported exceptional growth, witnessing a 20 percent year-on-year sales increase since 2007.
Since its launch in the Middle East five years ago, Maui Jim has established a network of key retailers including Magrabi, Al Jaber and Rivoli, and is present across 500 regional outlets - with plans to reach 1,000 by the end of 2012. A brand renowned for its friendly Hawaiian culture, impeccable customer service and ability to educate its customers, Maui Jim continues to build its success on its patented PolarizedPlus2 technology - offering wearers glare-and squint-free vision in the sun. All Maui Jim lenses are 99.9 percent polarized with an anti-reflective coating to enhance its optics, setting the brand apart from the crowded sunglasses' sector within the Middle East region.
"Following our introduction in 2007, we have witnessed a phenomenal 20 percent year-on-year sales increase in the Middle East alone - increasing market share and building brand loyalty", said Martine Larroque, Maui Jim Managing Director Middle East & North Africa. "In today's market consumers are seeking sunglasses that can deliver on performance - this is why we continue to educate our customers, getting them to try our sunglasses on and letting them look and see the difference".
Further asserting Maui Jim's commitment to expand across the region, the company has recently launched in Saudi Arabia, which Larroque explains will represent 50 percent of turnover, while providing our sales representatives with the ability to offer superior customer service across the Kingdom.
Moreover, another growing part of Mau Jim's business is prescription lenses - a service that started five years ago and now generates 20 percent of the company's turnover. "An objective for 2012 is to continue to increase our sales figures for prescription lens across the Middle East and North Africa", continued Larroque. "Maui Jim has invested heavily in new technology to offer our consumers light, comfortable lenses, and with our unique Maui Passport prescription technology, we can provide the best protection for extended periods exposed in the sun".
Overall, Maui Jim has reported a sales increase of 56 percent across its domestic and travel retail markets, currently generating some 60 percent of its turnover in the US and 40 percent internationally.
About Maui Jim, Inc.®
Maui Jim began as one man selling sunglasses on the beaches of Maui, Hawaii, back in the early 1980s. As local demand grew for sunglasses that provided advanced protection from the severe glare and UV rays of the Hawaiian sun - without distorting the beautiful colors of the Islands - the company developed proprietary technology - PolarizedPlus®, which was later patented and subsequently enhanced to create the company's newest technology, PolarizedPlus®2.
Maui Jim was "born" with an original line of seven sunglass styles. Up to 1991, the sunglasses were exclusively sold in Maui, Hawaii. In 1991, the company was purchased by Hester Enterprises, and in 1994, Hester enlisted RLI Vision Corporation of Peoria, Illinois, to be the mainland distributor of Maui Jim Sunglasses for the ophthalmic market. Maui Jim, Inc. was established in December 1996, when Maui Jim Sunglasses acquired RLI Vision. Today, the company sells more than 88 styles and 200 SKUs and is the fastest growing polarized sunglass maker in the world. Maui Jim was voted favorite sunglasses company and best sunglasses for women by optical retailers and readers of Vision Monday, 20/20 Magazine and Eye Care Products magazine in 2011. For more information on Maui Jim, visit MauiJim.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter at @OfficialMauiJim.
© Press Release 2012
