APAC 2017 Australian Enterprise Awards

, AE170046 Best Boat Loading System Provider - New South Wales Boathoist provides a wide range of innovative boat loading products. We spoke to Co-Founder Linda Scott to find out more. Boathoist fills the gap in the market for those wanting a product that does not require customisation, fits all vehicles is lightweight and solves the question of - how to take your boat or kayak with you when towing a caravan. Co-founders and owners Steve and Linda Scott are located in the picturesque Port Stephens/ Nelson Bay region. The owners travel, use their own products and have them fitted on their own vehicles. Known for their flexibility and simplicity, Boathoists products have expanded from boat loaders and a folding boat trailer to now include a range of manual and electric loaders for kayaks, folding trailers for rubber dinghies and kayaks. Linda discusses these products in more detail and outlines how the firm works to offer clients the solutions they need. “Here at Boathoist, our products include manual and/or electric loaders most are able to be used for single person operation, making it suitable no matter your height or fitness level or gender. The electric boat and kayak loaders and the folding trailers are all self-fitting and come with simple to read assembly instructions backed up by video assembly instructions. Customers are welcome to phone if they need talk to the owners who will be happy to walk you through the assembly process. We can install as an alternative option. All products come with a 3-year structural warranty.” Overall, it is the Mission Statement of BoatHoist International Pty Ltd to deliver quality Australian Made products that are practical and innovative to the RV, caravan and Leisure markets. The underlying principals are to produce quality products that are Simple to Operate, Safe to Use and Secure when travelling. To achieve this the firm relies both on a dedicated workforce, as Linda explains. “It is apparent to us that we are still small enough to be the face of our business. We design, manufacture, sell, use our products so we have the expertise to provide quality service on all our products. Each customer can talk directly to us not get lost in the system as per some larger competitors. “In addition, staff are always evolving and there is always work in progress on encouraging multi-skilling within the factory and the office. We encourage an individual approach to our customers as they all deserve the respect of receiving a personal response (not generic) and to provide the type of service that is considered helpful and proactive as that commodity is rarely apparent elsewhere these days and it is appreciated.” Looking to the future, Linda is keen to outline the exhilarating changes that the firm has in store which will provide it with many great opportunities for further growth and success. “Currently, Boathoist export a number of products to the US selling via Amazon. Moving forward, our plan is to also enter the European market shortly. Nationally we are growing in line with the increase in the ageing population so we intend to ride this wave moulding every conceivable area possible to help improve our KPI and ROI. I am super excited to make this announcement and you heard it first here! We have a new product to be released onto the market in June 2016. It is an aluminium lightweight trailer weighing just 52kgs, that can carry a 3.9metre x 1750 wide boat with a maximum weight of 300kgs. It is the first of its kind that can be used as a full time trailer yet folds up for travelling and has a ‘’soft spring suspension system’’ that actually works!! “Alongside this we are expanding within our own country and due to demand we are keen to find qualified distributors in the boating/kayaking or caravan areas that could help us achieve this. We would be keen to hear from interested businesses and are excited for these developments.” Company: Boathoist International Pty Ltd Contact: Steve and Linda Scott Email: [email protected] Address: 1/24 Shearwater Drv, Taylors Beach NSW 2316, PO Box 121, Anna Bay NSW 2316 Phone: 0061 1300 001 090 Website: www.boathoist.com.au