Lighting up overseas markets

Nimbus Lighting is a family-run business that has been manufacturing downlights for 38 years. Many of our competitors feature downlights as part of their whole series of lighting products, and they spread their R&D over the different facets. With the latest advances in LED lighting, the industry is changing considerably. So we’ve turned our full focus to LED to keep up with cutting-edge technology as it happens.

We have an experienced R&D team led by my brother Frank Austin and have developed a niche market. Through close associations with leading manufacturers of light sources such as Phillips, we are provided with engineering samples of new technologies due to be released and we can adapt these to our products quickly.

Apart from the fact that we use energy efficient light sources and we’re proven in performance and quality, our DOT brand has an extensive range of accessories that can be attached to the lights once they’re installed. We have 80-90 standard fittings in our range, but that can be extended to 4500 combinations with accessories that are available.

Our designs make it very easy for distributors to stock and assemble as required, saving on freight and duty. The Illuminating Engineering Society has recognised our commitment to luminaire design by presenting us with several awards. We were a design finalist in the 2010 New Zealand International Business Awards too.

Several years ago, we introduced our vast range of downlights to the international market, where they have been well accepted, particularly in Australia where demand continues to grow. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) has also helped us explore Southeast Asia, which is now an important market to us – especially in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Due to growing interest in our product both in Europe and the Middle East we have set up a warehouse and distribution centre in Malta to service these markets and North Africa. NZTE’s International Growth Fund has helped us establish that centre, and we have engaged a business development manager there with strong ties to North Africa and Europe.

In the next three to five years, we expect to see significant growth in Europe through this enterprise. Due to the size of the market, we believe revenue growth will eventually surpass what we are doing here in New Zealand. For the future, we are looking to emulate this hub in South America and Southeast Asia.

Our quality and performance is comparable to most European brands, our price points are competitive. When we appoint a distributor anywhere in the world, we will travel there and train their staff in our products, and when we release new products we take them to the distributors and meet with their clients. It’s crucial to our success to offer this service anywhere in the world.

Paul Austin is the Market Development Manager of Nimbus Lighting, specialists in the design and manufacture of recessed downlights for domestic and commercial use, with emphasis on energy saving light sources, marketed under the DOT brand.

This article was first published in the National Business Review.