8 minute read
MEET THE TEAM
from Seabreeze 2015/16
A UNITED FRONT IN SINGAPORE
SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING 30 YEARS AGO, SINGAPORE HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT MARKET FOR SIMPSON MARINE. IN RECENT YEARS THAT HAS BEEN THANKS IN PART TO YACHT BROKERS NICK STRATTON AND PETER MISON
Nick and Peter work well together because they are customer focused, enjoy the boating lifestyle themselves and are also competitive in a good natured way
One doesn’t sell over 100 yachts in five years without expert knowledge, dedication and a little help. That’s what makes Nick and Peter the perfect team.
Five years as a manager at the UK’s largest brokerage firm has given Nick a broad range of knowledge in the market. He received his professional training as a yacht broker at the Yacht Brokers, Designers and Surveyors Association (YBDSA) in the United Kingdom. During his time off, you will find Nick wakeboarding in Singapore or dirt biking in Malaysia. “I am on the water nearly every weekend all year round,” says Nick. An avid boater his entire life, Peter grew up with a lake behind his parents’ house. He was sailing and fishing since the age of six, and by 22 had completed a passage from Los Angeles to Hawaii. Peter began his career at a multinational but his love of sailing soon drew him to the yachting industry. He recently sold his 32’ Sea Ray sports cruiser so he and his wife can upgrade to a larger sailboat, and dreams of a tour of the South Pacific.
With as many similarities as differences, Nick and Peter work well together because they enjoy the yachting lifestyle and friendly competition. They’ve worked together steadily to support each other with their respective clients, regardless of who sold the boat. For the weekend, both of them will take off to islands around Singapore for a swim or wakeboarding.
Both Peter and Nick feel that handing a yacht over to her new owner is one of the highlights of their jobs, especially when it is a first-time buyer who is being introduced to the yachting lifestyle.
If you stop by the Simpson Marine office at One°15 Marina in Singapore, do have a chat with Peter and Nick. They will be happy to spend the afternoon talking boats with you; it’s what they live and breathe.
ERIC CHAN SENIOR BROKER
When you are buying or selling a used boat you want to have a broker that knows the value of hard work. Eric Chan was born in Hong Kong and his family has been involved in the marine industry for many years. After graduating from university in Canada, Eric started his career in sales and marketing before joining the yacht industry in 2010. Since then his career has flourished and in 2014 Eric received the award for top sales person for the number of boats sold across the whole of Simpson Marine.
Eric stays busy with scuba diving and wakeboarding while cruising the Sai Kung area aboard his family’s 43’ Azimut yacht. He is currently studying to upgrade his captain’s licence and also does charity work with children and the elderly.
What was your first job in the industry? I joined the Simpson Marine team in January 2010. I had a varied sales background but didn’t know anything about the product. So I said I would work in the service centre for three months to learn. Our service centre is very busy and I learned a lot during that time.
When I first started as a Junior Broker I came to work at 4am twice a week to do my paperwork and write the ads for customer’s boats then get to the Marina Club, meeting clients by 9am. I still do that when it’s needed.
Most important advice to a first time buyer? Always find out what kind of after-sales service you will get. Many brands do not have their own service centre and only subcontract, but we use our own team. We will do your work first. Our offices range from Taiwan to Indonesia, so wherever you go someone can take care of you.
Which category of yacht is the best seller recently? We used to sell more power boats in the 40’-50’ range. It has stepped up now; 50’-60’ power yachts are the big seller. Owners used to get a boat licence and operate their own yachts up to 50’. Now many of them buy bigger boats and hire a captain when they go out. The trend for the entire industry is towards larger and larger yachts.
What is the biggest challenge you have had to overcome as a yacht broker? Nowadays the issue is getting berths for a yacht: parking places are harder to find. Clients often call me looking for a berth before they buy the boat because they have heard how difficult that can be. I can help you locate a berth and then rent it out while we find your yacht.
There are many buyers in Hong Kong, but we need more places to keep their boats to be able to service them all.
Why do you think the popularity of yachting keeps growing here? Hong Kong is small and crowded but the sea is wide open. It is really not too much cost to spend a day on the water. Any changes you see that may affect yacht owners? In some of the mostly empty typhoon shelters, I have seen big boats anchored and then they tie yachts alongside. This could be a big step in the right direction towards giving us more places to berth yachts in Hong Kong.
What changes would most benefit the industry? Without doubt we need more berths. Customers from all walks of life want to own a boat and get out and on the water, but often can’t because of a lack of berths in Hong Kong.
SENIOR YACHT BROKER MAKSIM VOLKOV LEARNED THE INS AND OUTS OF THE TRADE IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE: BY SETTING UP HIS OWN YACHT BROKERAGE DISCOVERING NEW MARKETS
In 2002 Maksim began representing Italian brands in Moscow. This proved so successful that in 2005 Azimut-Benetti Group asked him to be their representative in Southern Russia. By 2007 he was Azimut’s sole distributor in Ukraine.
By the time Maksim joined Simpson Marine Thailand in 2012 he had sold 45 yachts up to 100’ and was an authority on shipping, insurance, financing and marketing yachts.
How did you come to Simpson Marine? I had a feeling that in the near future the Asian market would really grow. Which is, in reality, now! My wife and I enjoyed travelling the Asia-Pacific region. I thought it would be fantastic if I can stay and work in Asia, we really like this part of the world.
After the world financial crisis it was clear that only well financed, stable, companies with strong management could survive. I knew that Simpson Marine was one such company. Simpson Marine also represents four of what I consider the best brands in the world; Azimut, Beneteau, Lagoon, and now Monte Carlo Yachts. With my Azimut experience, Simpson Marine became the clear choice for me.
During your time at Simpson Marine what was one of the most rewarding yacht sales you’ve been involved in? It was a Lagoon 52, which was the first in Southeast Asia. The client was a Russian businessman and his wife staying in Pattaya. They love the sea, and I noticed there may be a hidden market catering to the Russians based in Thailand.
Maksim Volkov, Senior Yacht Broker Thailand
What have been the biggest changes in the yacht market in SEA? I am surprised by how the Russian market is growing in Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand and Singapore. Many Russians are looking for a nice lifestyle. It is convenient for them to travel here. Plus there is great nature, fantastic cuisine, diving and fishing. Almost half of the villas in Phuket belong to Russians.
Is there a specific market you focus on, and why? I focus on the Russian market. In my opinion, you will have better success if you understand the expectations of your customers. It is not possible to understand people 100 per cent if you can’t think in the same language. It is also very important if you want to sell the yachting lifestyle.
Tell us your most important advice for a first time buyer. Try the boats you are thinking about before you get one and check the reputation of the company you plan to work with. Remember to factor in monthly expenses. Our yacht charter fleet in Phuket is a great way to test a catamaran. When you buy one it is a great way to offset your ownership costs by placing it in charter.
SL76
SL86
SL96
SL106
SL118
Each Sanlorenzo yacht is conceived by its owner. By his vision of what a yacht should be, and by his idea of the sea. He is totally involved from the planning phase onwards, and his contribution is visible. There are no limits to his wishes. This is why no two Sanlorenzos are the same and why each Sanlorenzo yacht is as unique as its owner.
