Scooter brand revving up for success

It’s always encouraging to hear about local firms defying the gloomy tales of the recession, and this week, we’ve found a Shropshire firm who is not only beating the odds but have become one of motoring’s best-loved scooter brands.

MASCO, an eight-strong team based in Atcham, near Shrewsbury, are the sole importers in the UK and Ireland for the Taiwanese scooter manufacturer KYMCO.

The team in Atcham handle the nationwide parts distribution and administration for the brand, while the scooters are stored in the south of England – though they can be bought from local stockists Mike’s Bikes in Oswestry and Pete Jones in Shrewsbury.

Although KYMCO also make motorbikes, ATVs and quad bikes, scooters remain their strongest market.

“I used to be into motorbikes, but now it’s all about scooters!” says Managing Director Ian Kidson, who tweets from @KymcoScooters.

“I have several of them – they’re cheaper to buy, run and insure, and much more lightweight than motorbikes.”

Ian says the recession has actually been beneficial to them – the firm have seen a sharp increase in parts enquiries over the past year.

“People are really trying to reduce their transport costs at the moment, so they’re dusting off their old bikes and scooters and getting them back on the road.

“Typically, a normal 125cc model costs £15 a year to tax and gives you around 120 miles to the gallon, so it’s a very cost effective way of getting about.”

Ian says the other great benefit of scooters is that they’re fully automatic and easy to use.

Their most popular range is the Agility range, which comes in a 50cc model which can reach speeds of 45mph, and a 125cc model which can hit 70mph.

“There’s a very distinct differential in the market,” explains Ian.

“The 50cc scooters tend to be favoured by youngsters going to college, whereas the larger engine models are used by everyone from nurses to factory workers to office workers.”

The KYMCO team are getting ready for this year’s NEC Bike Show, where they’ll launch a muscly new street bike called the KR Naked 125.

They have also caught the attention of Channel 5’s ‘The Gadget Show’ and are waiting eagerly to find out whether their scooters will be in Suzi Perry’s ‘Top 5’.

Ian says the internet has become a big part of their brand – as well as redesigning their website, they have been keenly using twitter to engage with customers and dealers, and tweet about their latest launches.

For more information, visit www.kymco.co.uk

By Lara Page