Products: Tune Belt
DMP’s growth plan
Distributor DMP says it sees potential to extend its reach into the outdoor sector with its existing range of Tune Belt products, as well as new developments on the horizon. David Pittman reports
D
MP is a wholesale importer and distributor of sports protection equipment for technology, leading on the Tune Belt range of neoprene carriers for portable electronic devices such as smartphones and MP3 players.
The Tune Belt range includes variations that are tailored to the most popular smartphone, the Apple iPhone, as well as handsets from its peers such as HTC, Samsung and Motorola.
The most high-profile models being promoted to the market by DMP at the moment are armband variants, which use a clear case on a Velcro strap to allow runners, cyclists and the like to safely stow their phones while on the move, as well as connect a wired headset to allow them to listen to music and make and receive calls on the go.
There are also smaller versions for devices such as the sixth generation iPod Nano or iPod Shuffle, larger models for earlier iPods and even a case for the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit Sensor, which is attached to the laces of the wearer’s shoe. DMP’s Alice Molloy says the brand has already established support in the sports market, and DMP is even supplying the iPod Nano model to Apple’s online store. This is making for great business, but Molloy is aware of the potential applications for Tune Belt in outdoor categories. “I don’t see why they wouldn’t sell in the outdoor market. I use a Tune Belt armband myself when I go for walks as it allows me to keep my phone safe and to hand, so there’s no reason why other people wouldn’t do the
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www.sgboutdoor.co.uk same,” she says.
Molloy is cautious about pushing the armband range into the outdoor market too heavily at the moment, especially as warm weather remained steadfastly absent in the early parts of
summer. She says the armbands are not designed to be used
through coats and other
outerwear so might not
number of other high-end smartphones. There is even a waist belt for protecting wireless microphone transmitters, although this is designed for use by fitness instructors when leading a class. DMP is also in the early stages of establishing a distribution agreement with another sports belt manufacturer, which Molloy said will further enhance DMP’s product portfolio that is attractive to the outdoor market. This includes hydration and race belts that offer quality comparable to Tune Belt and will be attractive to marathon runners, trail runners and other outdoor-orientated pursuits, Molloy says.
meet every
outdoor user’s
requirements. Instead, she draws attention to the range of
waist belt products on offer from Tune Belt, which she says may fit better with the outdoor community as they can be used all year round. These traditionally offer protection to equipment such as MP3 and MiniDisc players, but there is also the IP2 Tune Belt Sport Belt that allows people to carry smartphones around the waist. It fits all iPhones, most Blackberry devices and a
Molloy is now interested to hear from the outdoor community to find out whether DMP’s line-up of products, from waist belts to armbands, is something that interests the market.
She believes it will, but admits she has been ‘swamped’ by demand from current customers, which has ‘skyrocketed’, stopping her from properly evaluating other opportunities. “I’ve been up to my eyeballs as demand for Tune Belt has gone berserk, which has meant I’ve not had the chance to properly scope out opportunities in other markets.
“We want the Tune Belt brand to be well recognised in the UK and DMP is happy to work in the outdoor space to further this goal.”
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