Aggressive investment strategy in China spearheaded by the Group’s Luxury Business Unit.

Jebsen Group, a leading marketing and distribution organisation for premium products with a unique presence in the Greater China region, recently ramped up its investments in the Mainland China luxury market. As the marketing, distribution and brand strategy agent for some of the world’s most prestigious brands, Jebsen’s Luxury Business Unit will entrench and expand the presence of its principals in this market in 2009.

Jebsen Marine has been aggressively promoting six principals it serves in Mainland China – Archambault , Atlantis , Grand Soleil , Hanse, Maritimo and  Riva. In Apr 2009, it greatly raised market awareness by showcasing the elegant appearance and fine quality of these brands at the Shanghai Yacht Exhibition. In addition to the major steps taken by Jebsen Marine in Greater China, Jebsen Group has signed an agent contract with Xiamen C&D (建发集团) in Fujian Province, and in order to bring its excellent service to more top level clients, Jebsen Group will invest in a new 3,000 sq ft Marine Service Centre in Hong Kong this year.

 Jebsen Watch, an important part of the Jebsen luxury strategy, will also accomplish a great deal in 2009. In addition to continuously promoting the Raymond Weil brand, Jebsen Watch will also introduce many more high-end luxury watch brands, including NOMOS from Glashutte, Germany, Paul Picot, and Cuervo y Sobrinos. Jebsen Watch will also soon be announcing two new brands that it will acquire and bring to China, building a whole new image as a professional watch agent that features crystal clear branding and a more comprehensive product line.

It has been eight years since Porsche was first introduced in Mainland China in 2001. With strong support from Jebsen Group, Porsche launched its newest model, the Panamera, at the Shanghai Auto Show on April 19, which will go a long ways toward satisfying the great demand for Porsche luxury cars in the China market. In the past four years, Porsche total sales in China have increased by 2000%, a great success that Jebsen Group was honoured to have played a role in.

Jebsen Motors has facilitated Porsche’s growth in China by establishing a total of five sales and after-sales service centres in the mainland. In 2009, Jebsen will expand the size of these centres to drive the brand’s sales in the country and to maintain China as Porsche’s second-largest overseas market:

• May:  Porsche Centre Beijing Central will open a new after-sales facility in the city.
• June:  Porsche Centre Guangzhou will relocate to a new 4S (sales, service, survey and spare parts) centre.
• Aug: Porsche Centre Beijing Central will open a new, enlarged and fully refurbished showroom. 
• Sept: Porsche Centre Hangzhou will also open an enlarged and refurbished showroom.
• By the first quarter of 2010 both Porsche Centre Shanghai and Porsche Centre Hangzhou will each relocate to new and enlarged purpose-built after-sales facilities.

Jebsen has also made large scale investments in the luxury retail market and Porsche’s brand awareness in China with the opening of the Porsche Design shop in Shanghai this year.

"Despite the economic downturn, Jebsen, taking this as an opportunity, is confident in the potential of the luxury market in China,” said Mark Bishop, Group Director. “We are, therefore, aggressively moving forward with investments in this sector to help our principals build on their existing success and capture new business opportunities in this important market. We will draw on our more than a century of experience as a bridge between China and the rest of the world to achieve optimum results for our principals.”