Tiwal delivers its 3000th inflatable sailboat
by Tiwal 23 Jul 2024 12:00 EST
Tiwal 3R on the water © Christiane Le Port
Founded in 2012, Tiwal designs, produces, and markets
inflatable dinghies. The origin? It was the idea of Marion
Excoffon, Designer and Co-Founder.
Her father refused to lend
her his sailboat, so she set out to design and build her own. Her
challenge? To fit a 3.2-meter-long and 5-meter-high sailboat
into two bags and send it to sail on all the seas of the world.
Twelve years later, the team consists of 11 people and ships
Tiwal dinghies to over 50 countries. This week, the company
celebrates its 3,000th sailing dinghy.
+45% IN THE AMERICAN MARKET IN 2023
Since its launch in 2012, Tiwal has focused on international
markets. "From the beginning, we structured our business
for export." The company generates 80% of its revenue
internationally, with its primary market being the United States.
It's also the market with the most significant growth: +45% in
2023. Most of these sales are made online through the e-commerce site. Emmanuel Bertrand, Co-
Founder of Tiwal, says, "The challenge of successfully selling €6,000 boats online was not a given. We are
pleased, in the current period, to have invested in our e-commerce infrastructure over several years. We are
reaping the benefits today. It's a complex mechanism to implement effectively."
WHAT'S NEXT?
Tiwal offers four models of inflatable sailing dinghies, from family boats to solo sport sailboats. The
company aims to diversify its markets by focusing on Asia, where sailing is beginning to develop. Marion's
goal: "A Tiwal in every port."
ABOUT TIWAL
A family-run business, Tiwal designs and manufactures inflatable
and super inflated boats! These high-end products allow you to sail
either at sea and or a mountain lake.
At the origin of Tiwal there is the tenacious character of Marion
Excoffon, industrial designer.
Her determination and
desire to make the pleasure of sailing accessible to all have given
birth to a range of new generation inflatable sailing dinghies that
can be assembled in 10 to 20 minutes, can be transported in small
cars or on board cruising boats. They are stowed in 2 bags and can
be enjoyed by kids as well as grown-ups.
Sailing a Tiwal is about more than just a day on the water: it's an
expedition! This is the pleasure of fun and sporty sailing; it is also
about moments to be shared with family or friends.
INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS
Tiwal has sold over 3,000 boats which are sailing in 50 countries, from Lake Titicaca in Peru to San Francisco
Bay, from the coasts of New Zealand to the Comoros, from the Namib Desert to Hong Kong, and of course
everywhere in Europe. Tiwal sells two-thirds of its boats for export.
The Tiwal 3 has received numerous prestigious awards: in the USA (Boat of the Year), Germany (Best Design
Award for Best of the Red Dot Award), Japan (Good Design Award) and in France (Business creator award
from the BFM Academy).
The Tiwal 2 and Tiwal 3R were awarded the prestigious Boat of the Year title from Sailing World, and Best Boat
from Sail - the top two sailing magazines in the United States.
tiwal.com