Ruffwear steps it up

Ruffwear is an innovative manufacturer based in the US state of Oregon that specialises in outdoor products for dogs. For many dog owners, its eponymous brand is a byword for high-quality workmanship, appealing design and cleverly conceived functionality. From its headquarters in Newcastle, the Accapi Group has been distributing Ruffwear in the UK since 2010, subsequently extending its distribution area to the whole of Europe. The company knows the brand’s potential: it makes reference to a consumer analysis for 2022, according to which Ruffwear was the most frequently sought of all leading dog outdoor accessory brands on Google over the entire year, an indicator of just how well-known the brand is.  

To encourage even stronger growth in Europe in the future, the Accapi Group has stepped up a gear. In David Drachmann-Sunne, the company gained an experienced European sales director in September 2021. He has extensive knowledge of the pet and outdoor leisure segment from his previous roles at companies including Orbiloc and Siccaro. The Dane is also well-versed in the brand business. Together with  Sebastian Jansen, head of sales for the German-speaking region, he intends to ramp up growth in Germany this year. The duo was joined in May by the new head of marketing Mathias Falkenberg, another veteran of the sector with over 20 years of experience in the pet supplies business, who was previously responsible for marketing familiar brands in the pet and equestrian segment. Falkenberg has a large contact network in the pet sector and is known to many speciality retailers. His tasks will include working closely with pet product retailers to support sales through targeted promotional activities and regular marketing inputs.  

The opening of a new 4 300 m2 logistics centre in Münster on 29 September last year was an important milestone. All retail partners in 30 European countries are now being supplied with Ruffwear from here, while UK retail clients and consumers are to be serviced as before from the warehouse not far from the head office of the Accapi Group.

 “The new distribution centre will underpin our growth across Europe and…