Working differently in the nautical industry
Richard Demeule and Eric Lerendu launched Marine Mobile Diffusion, a commercial service provider for marine equipment manufacturers, in spring 2018. Many years of experience in the maritime environment led the 2 partners to embark on the adventure. After having been a sailor in the French Navy, Richard Demeule worked as a base manager in river boating, and then moved closer to the sea to work in the field of fishing accessories. He finally joined SEIMI, a company specializing in equipment for professional boats and pleasure craft, as a technical salesman, where he stayed for 17 years and where he ended up as sales manager. It is there that he met Eric Lerendu who worked under his direction, particularly with pleasure boat yards and rental fleets. He is also in charge of setting up a network in the overseas departments. Before that, Eric Lerendu worked for a Bavaria boat dealer. As the Alliance Marine group, of which SEIMI is a part, grows, the two colleagues want to return to small structures. "We identified a different way of working," explains Richard Demeule. This is how Marine Mobile Diffusion was born.
An external sales force
"Marine Mobile Diffusion offers to yachting equipment manufacturers and wholesalers an additional or complementary sales force," says Richard Demeule. The idea is to offer companies that do not have a sales manager, or a team that is too small, one-off or long-term missions to win over customers in pleasure boat or professional shipyards, maritime or river, particularly for original equipment.
Flexibility and efficiency
"We are more flexible and less expensive than an in-house sales force," exclaims the founder. "By dealing directly, we also reduce margin stacking, so everyone is on the same page."
Federating the small players
Concentrated on French and European brands, Marine Mobile Diffusion wishes to ensure the promotion of these brands in France and in the French overseas departments and territories. "Our will is to put forward the small brands. We want to federate manufacturers, small structures left behind by the big groups and transmit their values and images to shipyards. We are aiming for 5 to 6 brands to start with." Delta Equipement Marine, a specialist in marine electricity, is expected to be the first company to place its trust in Marine Mobile Diffusion.
