In an interview with BikesIndia, Shailendra Jain, Global Group Head - Sales & Marketing & Product, Steelbird, says that the company is eyeing on the immense potential in the safety gear market. And may be the country is going to witness the biggest manufacturing facility of helmets and other riding gear in another 2-3 years.BikesIndia: Let us talk about the diversification plans of the company, the company has already stepped into Riding Gear with the brand name IGNYTE, do you have any plans for having a Motorsport Team?
Shailendra Jain: Right now our prime focus is on our core business which is Helmet and Riding apparels, however, we are working towards Motorsport activities rather than forming a proper Motorsport Team. We already have Motoziel as a part of Steelbird Group which is into world touring business which also provide high end bikes equipped with gadgets like GPS navigation system etc.
BikesIndia: Is Steelbird eying on International market for Riding Gear? What is your expansion plan for Riding Gear business?
Shailendra Jain: Yes, we do, provided we get substantial demand from the foreign market, in fact we are already supplying our products to lots of OEMs. Steelbird group is also catering institutional sales along with the aftermarket supplies. As far as expansion plan is concerned we follow a business pyramid, where the Steelbird sits at the base of the pyramid and the brand IGNYTE is on the top of it, while the AIR and ARES come right in between these two. So the riding gear brand Ignyte is on the top of the pyramid.
We are focusing on the exports along with the domestic market sale. To address the growing demand we already have 6 operational manufacturing facilities in India. Three of these plants manufacture Helmets only, whereas the rest of the three plants are concentrating on the Riding Gear and Apparels.
BikesIndia: Any preference given to a particular brand? Or are you giving equal importance to both Helmet and Riding Gear business?
Shailendra Jain: We are focusing on both Helmet and Riding Gear market especially in India. Our Indian market is youth driven and the riding culture in our country is also growing day by day, today’s youth is both informed as well as aware about the safety. The Govt. policy regarding road safety is also changing and that brings a vital transformation in the overall mindset of the masses.
The purchasing power of an average Indian citizen is also increasing with improving economy, which also affects the demand of various products in the market. Being one of the oldest helmet brands of the country we would like to in cash the opportunity from the booming market. We are ready with our high quality products and looking forward to fulfill the needs of the market with best of our products and after sale service.
By: Farhan Kashif
Shailendra Jain: Right now our prime focus is on our core business which is Helmet and Riding apparels, however, we are working towards Motorsport activities rather than forming a proper Motorsport Team. We already have Motoziel as a part of Steelbird Group which is into world touring business which also provide high end bikes equipped with gadgets like GPS navigation system etc.
BikesIndia: Is Steelbird eying on International market for Riding Gear? What is your expansion plan for Riding Gear business?
Shailendra Jain: Yes, we do, provided we get substantial demand from the foreign market, in fact we are already supplying our products to lots of OEMs. Steelbird group is also catering institutional sales along with the aftermarket supplies. As far as expansion plan is concerned we follow a business pyramid, where the Steelbird sits at the base of the pyramid and the brand IGNYTE is on the top of it, while the AIR and ARES come right in between these two. So the riding gear brand Ignyte is on the top of the pyramid.
We are focusing on the exports along with the domestic market sale. To address the growing demand we already have 6 operational manufacturing facilities in India. Three of these plants manufacture Helmets only, whereas the rest of the three plants are concentrating on the Riding Gear and Apparels.
BikesIndia: Any preference given to a particular brand? Or are you giving equal importance to both Helmet and Riding Gear business?
Shailendra Jain: We are focusing on both Helmet and Riding Gear market especially in India. Our Indian market is youth driven and the riding culture in our country is also growing day by day, today’s youth is both informed as well as aware about the safety. The Govt. policy regarding road safety is also changing and that brings a vital transformation in the overall mindset of the masses.
The purchasing power of an average Indian citizen is also increasing with improving economy, which also affects the demand of various products in the market. Being one of the oldest helmet brands of the country we would like to in cash the opportunity from the booming market. We are ready with our high quality products and looking forward to fulfill the needs of the market with best of our products and after sale service.