PPE Global’s first GCC stock consignment has arrived in Qatar.
The UK-headquartered protective equipment brand told PMV that everything is now in place for its official regional launch at Project Qatar.
The firm, which supplies a broad range of worksite apparel, will exhibit the Doha trade show next week in conjunction with its authorised Qatari distributor, Adastra.
“We’ve just shipped our first container of goods to Qatar,” explained Paul Jones, managing director of PPE Global.
“The consignment landed the weekend before last. The stock is now there, so we intend to push on and get PPE Global products into the Qatari marketplace. Project Qatar 2015 will provide the launch pad,” he revealed.
This will be PPE Global’s second appearance at Project Qatar. Indeed, it was during the firm’s 2014 debut in that it began negotiations with Adastra.
“Last year was our first time at the show, and we were looking for distributors,” said Jones. “We already have an extensive distribution network throughout West Africa, so the Middle East – and Qatar in particular – represents our next venture.
“We met with Adastra at Project Qatar 2014, and we signed a distribution deal with them during the first quarter of 2015. At this year’s show, both PPE Global and Adastra will have stands at Project Qatar; it’s going to be a two-pronged attack,” he explained.
Jones added that last year’s event offered an opportunity for his company to “test the waters” in Qatar. This year, however, PPE Global and its authorised distributor are fully stocked and looking to do business.
“There is strong demand for personal protection equipment in Qatar; particularly when it comes to high-quality products,” Jones commented. “We offer protective footwear, high-vis clothing, hard hats – the full range. What’s more, all of our products are manufactured to European standards.
“Obviously, we want to raise awareness about our brand, but we’re also hoping to shift kit. When we exhibited at Project Qatar 2014, visitors were asking us for the name of our distributor. They wanted to know whether we had stock, and if we had, they were willing to buy it there and then. They wanted quality products.
“Obviously, for us, last year was about dipping our toe in the water. The feedback we received was very encouraging, so this year, we’re coming back to the show with a fully-stocked distributor,” he concluded.
