Recently integrated into the Zodiac group, following the purchase of his company Anonym SUP, Matthieu Guyonnaud is now at the head of the Zodiac Sport business unit, which covers paddle boats, but also inflatable boats under 5 meters. He answers BoatIndustry's questions about this new entity and its strategy.
You recently joined the Zodiac Group. Could you tell us about your previous career?
Before I got here, I had at least 60 brands in my hands in the surfing industry. I've been through all the levels from technical. I also have experience in textiles at Kanabeach. After that, I went on an adventure where I was making a good living, but I wanted to get back to something I liked. That's when I created Anonym SUP with 4 friends. We chose the name because we had all been behind the scenes for many surf brands. Personally, I got into paddleboarding in 2007, in parallel with longboarding or bodysurfing, because it was a more family-oriented and "non selfish" activity.
What is the status of Anonym SUP's integration into the Zodiac Group?
It's been 6 months. We now have 100% integration, from sourcing to software and legal. The website should be updated on March 15.
What is Zodiac's strategy in creating the Zodiac Sport business unit for SUP and small folding boats? What are the upcoming developments?
It's a global vision, in a field where we have always wanted to erase seasonality. Our goal is to make things that inflate, to go on the water and have fun or do sports. Why not Zodiac SUPs, fitness products, dock stations or yoga accessories, but also whitewater. Zodiac was one of the first in history to make inflatable rafts before stopping due to the strategy of investment funds. We must not forget the past. Zodiac originally patented the drop-stitch (editor's note: the weaving technology that integrates retaining threads inside the inflated volume to obtain complex shapes).
There are also drop stitch contributions to be found in safety equipment, taking advantage of the know-how of our factory in Toulouse.
What are the areas of work for small inflatable boats?
We're working on things in the era of the times, with new colors, accessories. A bit like what has been done for the bigger boats. We want to modernize things that haven't changed in a very long time! There are marketing codes to be dusted off.
What are the synergies between the activities?
There's a complementarity in sales, with a different way of working. For Zodiac Sport, I work through independent sales agents who have their own networks with rental companies or municipal centers on lakes, for example. Their strength is that they can offer safety boats and paddles at the same time. I also always believed that there was a bridge between boating and the world of surfing and action sports. The SUP is the new dinghy!
On the technical and industrial side, we cross sourcing. I also bring a know-how on details such as storage bags.
