From Salford to Seoul: Scooter firm Swifty lands South Korean export deal

Scooter company Swifty Scooters has landed its first South Korean contract with support from the government’s Exporting is GREAT campaign.

The order for 100 units followed the Salford-based company’s participation in a North West trade mission to Japan and South Korea earlier this year.

Founded in 2011 by design duo Camilla and Jason Iftakhar, Swifty manufactures folding adult scooters.

During the trade mission, Swifty exhibited at the Great Outdoors Show in Seoul and, after attracting interest from several distributors, the firm agreed a deal with South Korea-based British brand importer DY Grove.

Additionally VanHart, a menswear brand with more than 20 stores in Seoul, has shown an interest in collaborating with Swifty on an exclusive, limited edition scooter.

Swifty co-founder Jason Iftakhar said: “Exporting is GREAT has been a very important partner in Swifty’s journey to date.

“From attending cultural training classes to attending the South Korea-Japan trade mission, working with the campaign has allowed us to think big.”

He continued: “I’d like to thank our international trade advisor Penny Wang-Orme for her advice and support, and would encourage other businesses to follow our lead and begin their export journey.

“It is so simple to do and can, hopefully like our scooters, open your eyes to experiences and opportunities you didn’t previously consider.”

Camilla commented: “We like to see our scooter as an alternative form of urban mobility that allows users to explore their environment in a way which enables them to find hidden areas that would otherwise go unseen.

“We’re very excited that the people of South Korea will soon be able to enjoy our products, and with Exporting is GREAT’s help we look forward to entering more new markets in near future.”

The head of trade at the British Embassy in Seoul, John Murphy, believes Swifty Scooters will appeal to Korean consumers as they are “cool, innovative and British designed”.

He said: “With a fantastic product, a dedicated team and some of the connections the Exporting is GREAT team were able to help them make, Swifty is set to go from strength to strength in South Korea and beyond.”

The Department for International Trade’s North West regional director, Clive Drinkwater, praised Swifty’s “inspiring” journey from Salford to Seoul, which he said is a testament to “the demand worldwide for British products”.

Clive said: “We will continue to support and advise Swifty as the company expands to China and other markets, and I hope Swifty’s success leads to other businesses contacting their local Exporting is GREAT team to find out how to begin their own exporting journey.”

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