PERTH motor scooter business Vmoto has launched a dedicated retail outlet for its range of merchandise and scooters.
PERTH motor scooter business Vmoto has launched a dedicated retail outlet for its range of merchandise and scooters.
And it’s the first of many more stores planned to open across Australia in the coming years.
Based in Joondalup, the Vmoto shop sells merchandise ranging from sunglasses to backpacks and t-shirts.
According to Vmoto managing director Bill Ali, the new Perth store, while a smaller version of the planned Australia-wide Vmoto retail outlets, is an indication of things to come.
“This is the first stand-alone store but it’s not the whole retail concept we have planned, which includes a coffee shop,” Mr Ali told WA Business News.
“The guys who run Joondalup for us wanted to start small but it is our first stand-alone store in WA.”
He said that, while Vmoto scooters would continue to be sold through selected car dealerships, the new stores offered the potential to develop a young, funky brand through a range of merchandise.
The Vmoto shop at Joondalup is owned by property developer Darryl Flaherty, who said there were synergies between the scooter shop and his other business interests.
“My friend runs the Swiss agency for Vmoto and he said it was a great business and I had to get into this,” he said.
“I develop a lot of student-style accommodation so I’m looking to use contacts that I have in the universities to target university students.
“We’ve only been open two weeks and already the response has been overwhelming.
“Students in particular realise the value. The scooter costs a little more than $2,000 and less than $5 to fill the tank.
“It doesn’t need to be refilled for about 150 kilometres, so it makes a lot of sense for them.”
Mr Ali said Vmoto stores would soon open in Victoria.
“We’ve got a dealership that will be distributing Vmotos to 16 sites,” he said.
“Two of those will be stand-alone stores.
“We’ve also just secured distributorship through Barbagallo’s and Vmotos will be on display at their Audi showroom.”
According to Mr Ali, recent sales figures show that, Australia-wide, Vmoto accounted for 26 per cent of all scooter sales. Its nearest competitors, Honda and Bolwell, have 17 per cent of the market, he said.
Vmoto is even stronger in Western Australia.
“In WA it’s 54 per cent. Number two is Honda with 15 per cent,” Mr Ali told WA Business News.
