German-based, outdoor-equipment retailer Globetrotter has six large national stores, mail order catalogues, an online sales service and operates its own television channel - having recorded sales of 205 million ($NZ450.5 million) last year.
Silkbody's managing director and designer, Emily Cooper, said yesterday that landing the Globetrotter deal was a "big coup" for Silkbody as the German retailer was the most prominent in the European marketplace.
"The sales potential is huge because of their credibility across Europe," Ms Cooper said.
Seven-year-old Silkbody, a business partnership with Ms Cooper and father David, has garments manufactured in several Chinese factories, then imported to New Zealand and distributed overseas.
Ms Cooper said predictions late last year of a more than 30% increase in production were still on course, with a conservative budget forecast of $1.5 million turnover for 2009-10.
"At Globetrotter, Silkbody will line up alongside some of the biggest brands in the outdoor retail world," Ms Cooper said.
Globetrotter's Cologne branch alone was 7000sq m and its facilities for travellers included a cold chamber for testing sleeping bags, a climbing tunnel, diving pool and travel clinic, she said.
"We've reached the point, in terms of European distribution channels, that we've been working towards for three years," she said.
The new Globetrotter shops join 13 other German outlets selling Silkbody, plus 90 stores in New Zealand and Australia, and 32 in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with distribution arranged in 15 countries, including Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Chile, Ireland and Iceland.
"We're very excited about what this means for the future of Silkbody in Europe," Ms Cooper said.
Silkbody, which initially targeted performance sports and travel markets, but has a following in fashion markets, recently had its SilkFleece product awarded an OutDoor Industry Award in Germany for high-performance technology.
Germany formally joined New Zealand in recession last November. Ms Cooper said that while Silkbody sales this year had been "steady", anticipated growth had slowed due to the recessionary environment.
