SP
OTLIGHT
TRADE
46 |SCOOTERING|AUGUST2019
1989 :Alex and Ralf begin their
involvement with scooters
1994 :SIP established inarented
basement;first sales stand at the
Scooter Drive in Aachen
1996 :Move to premises in the old
Landsberg Barracks, product range
2,000 items
1997 :WithT-shirt producer Sgotter,SIP
organiseaCustom Scooter Show in
Landsberg am Lech, attracting 1,500
visitors
1999 :First parts for modern autos are
added to the catalogue; SIP Performer
tyres launched
2002 :Additional warehouse space
rented
2005: SIP/StoffisRacingTeam founded
2007 :Additional warehouse space
added; 50 employees are dispatching
4,000 parcelsaday
2009 :SIP appointed as exclusive
distributors for Malossi in Germany; SIP
road exhaust launched
2013 :Customer magazine Curve is
published;first inarange of digital
speedometers (Vespa PX) is launched
2014 :SIP exhibit at the prestigious
INTERMOT show,opposite the Piaggio
stand
2015 :Ground-breaking ceremony for
the new building
2016 :New building opened; SIP
performance ignition for ClassicVespas
added to catalogue
2019 :SIP celebrates 25 years in
business
Aregular part of SIP life since 1997
has been the annual tour.The inaugural
event saw the shop close for three
weeks whilst Ralf, Alex and other
employees visited Eurovespa in
Thessaloniki. Although the shop no
longer closes, the tradition continues
with rides both near and far.Video
updates are regularly posted on SIP’s
YouTube channel and their high
production values make them a
pleasure to watch. Thefilm of their
2014 Croatia trip is oneIalways
reference to non-riding friends who ask
me: “Why scooters?”
Their business may be Classic Scooters,
but SIP can’t be accused of living in the
past. This year sees the launch of their
BFA306 engine for theVespa PX, and
there are highly developed plans to
significantly expand their range of
Lambretta components.
“A major development in the
company’shistory is planned for our
anniversary year,” said Ralf. “We’ve
been working with some excellent web
developers to re-launch our store’s
website. The current system is almost a
decade old and doesn’t reflect our
vision. The new site will haveavastly
improved search function, enabling the
correct parts to be found and ordered
with ease.”
Chronology
to outsiders.” It’sthe best answer I’ve ever
heard and it makes me realise that the
secret to SIP’ssuccess isn’t just good
business sense, it’spassion.Apassion
that Ralf and Alex have never lost.
Over the past 25 years SIP has
consistently innovated, bringing quality
products such as digital speedometers,
tubeless rims and performance exhausts
to the mass market. What’snext on SIP’s
horizon? Having spoken to both Ralf and
Alex, I’m still not clear.They bristle with
ideas, constantly asking for opinionson
opportunities, products and concepts. One
thing’scertain, for 25 years SIP has been
instrumental in transforming the world of
scooters and that’samission they’re
determined to continue.
Words&Photographs:Stan
OnTour
Futurama
er usnessmay e ass
