Nolan is a well-known helmet brand across much of Europe, although it hasn’t enjoyed any significant recognition in the UK in recent years. Now this is set to change, as Nevis takes over as the UK importer for Nolan, replacing previous importer Motogear. According to Nevis managing director Scott Empson (pictured below), this change is part of an efficiency drive initiated by Nolan’s French parent company, 2Ride Group, which also owns Shark helmets. Nevis has been the importer of Shark helmets for nearly 20 years, so it makes sense to consolidate the distribution under one company.
Empson explained: “It’s a 2Ride amalgamation of brands; that’s fundamentally what caused it. After acquiring Nolan, 2Ride immediately started discussions with us. They wanted to unify the brands under one roof, and this is the first step in that process.
“It’s about streamlining their operation. They want one partner in the UK for all brands. There was no unpleasantness, they simply wanted to amalgamate the brands, and we were obvious partners, as we’ve been distributing Shark since 2005.”
Empson believes the two helmet marques will be good for Nevis. “It’s a perfect fit. We do both their brands now, and while Shark is very racy and aggressive when you see the new 2025 Nolan range, they’ve gone in a completely different direction. They have separated the two brands, so they don’t compete with each other. Nolan has very classy, elegant and bold geometric graphics; it’s an entirely different look from any other helmet brand.
“They’re trying for the fashion look. Their EICMA stand was like an art gallery; they’re going down the Aston Martin or Louis Vuitton look, which is very stylish. Everything is produced in Italy; it’s the only helmet brand where everything is produced and made in one factory: shells, visors, etc, are all made in the factory in Bergamo.”
Nevis is set for a smooth transition with Nolan, as logistics are straightforward. “The products will fit perfectly with our current sales team,” said Empson. “We’ll maintain substantial stock levels, provide helmet repairs, and have spare parts readily available. Our dealers will receive exceptional service, and we’re planning a proper launch with strong marketing initiatives for 2025.”
Additionally, Nevis is now the distributor for high-tech security brand Hiplok. Known for their advanced D-locks and angle grinder resistant ground anchors, Hiplok is a relative newcomer to the market, launching its motorcycle range of locks in 2021.
Nevis has also become the UK distributor for ROKiT, which offers a new line of bike care products and has gained recognition as the title partner of the championship-winning ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK team. Its range includes a helmet care kit, a motorcycle cleaning kit, a Premium Ceramic pack, and the new Premium Winter pack, as well as ROKiT UP digital tyre pumps.
“We’re extremely pleased to be working with ROKiT and bringing its range of products into the market through our dealer network. We feel that the brand complemented our portfolio and like the variety of options available in the product line-up. We look forward to working with them!” added Empson.
Nevis Marketing Limited
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