The number one brand in fun climbing is reinforcing its UK office and production site and moving its New Zealand-based activity to a central Clip ’n Climb hub in the UK.
Plymouth facility
It all began in Christchurch, New Zealand, where Clip ‘n Climb was invented in 2005, leading the way in the ‘fun climbing’ industry and quickly becoming the international market leader. In 2015 Clip ‘n Climb became part of Entre-Prises when the French company took a strategic stake in the business. Itself a pioneer in the climbing-wall industry, Entre-Prises designs, manufactures and installs bespoke sport climbing solutions around the world.
Clip ‘n Climb’s fastest-growing market has been the UK, now its most successful country with over 80 centres in operation. The Plymouth flagship facility opened in July 2017 is a superb illustration of Clip ‘n Climb’s successful approach to centre management in the UK. It showcases all the latest products and technology, including every Challenge available, and is run by the same experienced team that ran the former flagship facility in Exeter. In August 2020 alone, despite running at only 50% capacity due to Covid-19 restrictions, Clip ‘n Climb Plymouth welcomed over 3,080 climbers and generated turnover of £42,000.
Vicky Coupe, Sales Manager at Clip ‘n Climb UK and Owner of Clip ‘n Climb Preston
Clip ‘n Climb UK’s dedicated sales team is another key driver for growth in the country. Their belief in and commitment to the product was demonstrated when one of the UK Sales Managers opened her own Clip ‘n Climb centre in Preston in February 2017. More recently, as Clip ’n Climb’s most successful country, the UK was the obvious choice to launch the Clip ’n Climb franchise programme. With contracts already signed and openings planned for 2021, this new business model will further reinforce the company’s UK presence.
Given the company’s very strong UK presence, creating a main Clip ’n Climb hub in the UK as part of a strategy to strengthen the brand’s expansion and development was a logical step: as of 1 April 2021, operations will be centralised to our UK production centre and the New Zealand site will close. Product development and innovation will be handled from the facility in Kelbrook with the support of mother company Entre-Prises (France). Benoit Beylier, MD of Sportainmentand Climbing Division, cites the move as a positive step towards Clip ‘n Climb’s expansion plans and the company’s commitment to the forecasted growth of the sector.
In other regions, products are now also promoted by Clip ’n Climb’s sister company Fun Spot, opening up new possibilities for climbing centres, multi-activity centres and malls.
