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It may be a mouthful, but reichelt elektronik GmbH & Co. KG is coming to the UK. As a leading retailer for industrial and consumer electronics, automation and computer accessories in mainland Europe, reichelt is set to bring its German penchant for efficiency and discipline to British customers. Purposefully ignoring the high street, the company will target its products at the business and consumer markets through its new English eCommerce site and delivery service alone.
Aiming to emulate the British success of prominent German retail companies, Lidl and Aldi, reichelt first launched in Germany in 1969 and became a market leader as a result of its competitive pricing and high stock availability. Many of the company’s products can be purchased 20% cheaper than elsewhere in the UK and CEO, Ulf Timmermann, believes it’s this that puts it in a strong position compared to competitors: Maplin, Mouser, RS and CPC-Farnell.
Timmermann says: “I fell in love with reichelt as a nine year-old boy when my parents bought me my first soldering iron from the company’s catalogue. I have no doubt the people of the UK will do the same; ours is a personality-driven company, one that always delivers on its promises. It’s a privilege to head-up reichelt as it enters a new stage of existence; we can’t wait to make tidal waves in the British retail sector.”
With more than 220 employees at its German logistics centre in Sande (Friesland), the company currently generates annual revenue of around 125m Euro per annum. As a result of strong sales and its expansion into new regions, including Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland, the company is also expanding its warehouse facilities to respond to the increasing demand.
“reichelt is a company that appeals to a broad spectrum of audiences,” says Timmermann. “We supply business customers in the electronics and engineering sectors, from laboratories to workshops, education and IT, but we also meet the needs of the consumer audience. There’s a growing ‘makers movement’ in the UK and we are able to serve their needs, as well as businesses’ at prices lower than in Maplin, for instance, but at a higher quality than they might find when importing from other international suppliers.”
You can check out the company’s wares here: www.reichelt.co.uk
