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NEWS
Patriot cracks US market
Ambitious Queensland camper manufacturer expands footprint with first American outletAfter grabbing a decent slice of the Australian-built, off-road camper trailer market in four short years, Queensland’s Patriot Campers is having a serious crack at the US market.
The Gold Coast-based manufacturer recently announced its first American distributor, Exploration Outfitters in Oklahoma, where it will offer its hardcore X1/X2 camper trailers to American owners of Jeep and other popular 4WD tow vehicles.
The export trailers are manufactured in Australia with minor revisions to suit the US market, and with US prices of between $25,000-42,000, retail for around 20 per cent less than Australian versions when converted to Aussie dollars.
The US deal is the culmination of a number of trips to the US to promote its high-quality, lightweight bush campers, including appearances at SEMA and Overland West shows.
“After visiting SEMA last year I was still unsure just how big the overlanding market would be in the USA,” said Patriot boss Justin Montesalvo. “It wasn't until we attended the Overland West show that we realised that an Australian designed and manufactured product would really suit that region.”
“At this stage (Exploration Outfitters have) committed to enough orders that makes me think we've made the right decision,” he said.
Patriot joins a select group of Aussie RV manufacturers including Kimberley and Gidget to sell its products on the crowded US market, but is keeping quiet at the moment on any further plans for overseas expansion.
“We've got customers all over the world wanting to buy a Patriot Camper,” Montesalvo said. “Whenever we get enough enquiry from a certain region we always make an effort to put in the right representation. The USA is no different.”
Patriot Campers has also worked hard to raise its profile locally through entering and winning magazine awards, creating big buck show-stoppers and creating a TV series for Channel Nine.
Justin and his wife Sarah are also currently featuring in a national advertising campaign for NAB promoting its small business loans.
Meanwhile, in the US Patriot is preparing to exhibit for the second time at the 2017 SEMA show in Las Vegas, where its black modified LandCruiser will take on America's finest show trucks in the Battle of the Builders competition.
“The launch of SEMA is aired nationally across America and is great exposure for an Aussie manufacturer like Patriot Campers,” he said.
While the company also builds toy haulers for the Australian market and has dabbled in slide-on campers, plans of any future models are firmly under wraps.
“We're not ready to announce any new models, but I'm not about to sit on my hands anymore. Watch this space,” Montesalvo said.
The company now employs around 80 staff to cope with increasing demand for its range of campers and unique off-road vehicles.
“Our staff is also growing rapidly and we're putting in the correct infrastructure to sustain the numbers that we're trying to achieve,” he said. “We've struggled with lengthy lead times and overcoming this, whilst maintaining quality, is our 100 percent focus.”
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Written byChris Fincham
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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