Ultimate gives Intempo a new lease of life

A smooth transition means business as usual for retailers.

Intempo, which classes itself as a “unique music technology brand” and is best known for its DAB radios and iPod/MP3 docks and speakers, has confirmed it is alive and kicking and moving forward under the new ownership of Ultimate Products Ltd. In April this year, as reported by GC online, Ultimate Products Ltd. purchased the business and goodwill, the Apple licence, intellectual property, marketing and media information and sales information of Intempo Digital Limited and employees of the company were transferred to the purchaser.

Those that have supported the brand will be pleased to know that Intempo’s founder Bernadette Spofforth, in the role of Brand Director, will continue to be responsible for the Intempo brand and will oversee product design and development as well as taking control of all Ultimate Products in-house brands.

“Being part of Ultimate will unlock new opportunities for Intempo,” said Spofforth. “The long-term plan was always to provide high quality, stylish audio at prices that customers can afford, and to take this model to an international market. With Ultimate Products we will be able to achieve this goal and achieve it extremely quickly.”

Ultimate Products claims to be the UK’s largest independent product sourcing and design business for homeware and electrical goods. It was established by Simon Showman and Barry Franks in 1997 and its turnover has grown from £1.8m to £54m in that time. Simon Showman, founder and CE of the company, said Intempo was a “strong fit” for the business: “We already have a highly successful consumer electronics division. With the addition of Intempo we are now in a position to offer an aspirational audio brand to our customers around the world.”

Intempo was one of the first audio manufacturers to capitalise on celebrity culture, marketing two DAB radios in collaboration with fashion designer Matthew Williamson. The company also claims to have “led the way” in converging iPod speaker-docks with digital radio.

Intempo will continue to operate under its existing brand name and all current customer warranties remain valid.

In August 2009, the company will announce a new product range that will be in retail outlets for Christmas. The lineup will “stay true to the Intempo brand with striking, innovative design at affordable prices.”

http://www.gcmagazine.co.uk/the-word-article.asp?guid={A9FA8420-A097-445A-AD19-5F8566CE811A}