Zippo® partners with William Penn Pvt Ltd to strengthen its footprint in India
The iconic American brand signs on William Penn Pvt Ltd (WPPL) as key distributor for the Indian market
5 Dariya News
Bangalore 17-Aug-2016
Iconic lifestyle brand Zippo is excited to announce its partnership with William Penn Pvt Ltd (WPPL), the largest multi-brand retail store chain of premium and luxury men’s accessories in India. As exclusive distributor, WPPL will ensure Zippo’s widespread availability of products at retailers throughout India, which will include new and iconic Zippo Windproof Lighter designs.“We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to distribute Zippo lighters across India, as well as sell them in all our own stores.” said Nikhil Ranjan, Co-Founder and Managing Director of WPPL, “The addition of an iconic brand like Zippo to the existing quality brands we distribute will enable us to work even closer and further strengthen our relationship with Indian retailers. We are always looking for ways to improve our performance and reach new customer bases, so I am confident that our association with Zippo will prove to be fruitful and one of immense success”.Zippo products are available in more than 160 countries, with India being a prominent focus for the brand. Customers in India will be able to choose from an extensive range of lighters offering the very latest designs and finishes.
WPPL plans to further develop the distribution base for Zippo products in India working with a variety of different retailers to ensure the brand has strong visibility in the key towns and cities across the country. Zippo products will also be available in the 28 William Penn stores and 3 shop-in-shop operations in 10 cities.“A multi-faceted nation like India is one of the most-sought after markets for global consumer brands like Zippo,” said David Warfel, Vice President Global Marketing. “WPPL have a proven track-record of distributing quality brands to other retailers. We believe they can have further success with Zippo products. The brand personality resonates with our own and we’re enthusiastic about reaching new and existing customers by offering them a fantastic range of products and designs.” WPPL will be present at this year’s GIFTS INDIA exhibition from 19th-22nd August at the Nehru Centre in Mumbai, with a wide selection of Zippo products on display at their booth (1P & 2P on the Ground Floor) allowing potential retailers to explore the range and discuss the potential to stock Zippo products
Zippo: more than a lighter
With over 80 years of history, Zippo has an influential and dedicated fan base. The brand has transcended its functional benefits to become a cultural icon and regularly features in films around the world.The unique designs, date stamping, affordability and rich history of the Zippo lighters make them a great item to collect. The number of collectors and lovers of Zippo lighters continues to increase daily. In the United States alone it is estimated that there are around 4 million Zippo windproof lighter collectors and there are 11 official collectors’ clubs worldwide.
About Zippo
One of the most recognized brands in the world, Zippo was founded in the fall of 1932 by George G. Blaisdell in Bradford, Pennsylvania, where it has manufactured over 550 million windproof lighters. With the exception of improvements to the flint wheel and modifications in case finishes, the product remains unchanged and is backed by the company’s famous lifetime guarantee – "It works, or we fix it free.™" Zippo’s diverse product line includes lighters and accessories; butane candle lighters; fragrance, and a robust line of heat and flame products for outdoor enthusiasts. Zippo markets in nearly 200 countries and also owns W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery Company, also based in Bradford, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit Zippo.com.