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HOW IGUANA YACHTS ADAPTED TO THE COVID?

Like all companies today, the Covid has definitely impacted Iguana Yachts and its team. Some new ways to work were developed with an increased remote work and the creation of smaller production teams. Looking on the bright side, this unprecedented period also allowed the company to evolve and develop new aspects.

AN INCREASED DIGITAL PRESENCE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CANCELLED BOAT SHOWS

Throughout the year, we have sadly learned of the successive cancellation of boat shows including Antigua Charter Yacht Show (December 2020), Boot Dusseldorf (January 2021) or Dubaï Boat Show (March 2021).

We compensated for the boat show cancellations by strengthening our digital presence through social media and the improvement of our website. While we are aware that a technology such as the Iguana Mobility System can only be fully understood and appreciated through a real experience, we are trying to transcribe this experience as well as possible via videos and a better sharing of information about our technology.

Since the situation is slowly getting better, we hope to enjoy the Cannes Yachting Festival and the Monaco Yacht Show in September 2021.

THE SALES TEAM FOCUSED ON THE IGUANA DEALER NETWORK

Since the end of 2020, Iguana Yachts’ sales team has grown with the arrival of Toby Scruby and the very recent arrival of JP Shipman in the last month.

A growing demand around the world as well as a desire to strengthen our presence in the United States, which is proving to be a high potential market for Iguana amphibious boats, led us to decision. However, the particular year we are going through does not facilitate the daily work of this team which needs to come and meet customers, and to organize sea trials around the world. These trips are an integral part of their work, so the team had to adapt and find solutions.

In the end, this period allowed us to focus on a commercial aspect that was already present but whose potential was still under-exploited: the Iguana partner network made of agents and dealers.

CHANGES AT THE SHIPYARD

Like most companies today, we are experiencing operational difficulties due to global supply disruptions. This situation has an impact on the supply of outboard engines for example. However, thanks a well achieved risk analysis work on supply forecasts, we were able to anticipate the situation.

In a non-Covid world, the Iguana Yachts’ shipyard is visited quite regularly by boat enthusiasts, customers, journalists… Unfortunately, these visits had to be restricted to the strict necessary. The owners of the boats in production could continue to visit us while respecting the sanitary rules, but the exchanges with the enthusiasts, the curious and the journalists within the shipyard could not continue. We are aware that the Iguana technology is still quite impressive to see and we are eager for some people to exchange with our teams on its operation and capabilities. So, we hope to be able to reopen the shipyard to a wider audience in the next few months.

Despite the covid crisis, Iguana Yachts have recorded a 25% growth this year and we expect a similar or even stronger growth for the coming year. Health restrictions and new habits have finally highlighted the many benefits of the Iguana technology. Having a boat directly at home has never been more appropriate.