By Patrick Avenell and Claire Reilly

Vintec Australia, comprising the Vintec and Transtherm wine cabinet brands and the Crown Commercial Group, has sold its Darlinghurst premises and moved to a new, larger facility in Leichhardt, in Sydney’s inner-west.

Currently celebrating its 15th anniversary supplying wine storage products to the Australian market, Vintec Australia director Jean-Marie Simart said the new combination head office and showroom would provide the opportunity to showcase both consumer and commercial units in one space.

“The new premises located in 23 Tebbutt Street, Leichhardt, comprise of a large double showroom where all domestic and commercial products will be displayed ‘in situ’ to the public and trade, office space to accommodate all activities and a large warehouse to accommodate any future developments,” he said.

Simart envisages strong growth over the next few years due to Australians becoming more knowledgeable about wine and gaining a much greater appreciation of viticulture. Big real estate developments will be a major focus as new homeowners look for appropriate cellaring facilities for their favourite drop, Simart said.

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When asked about the growth of entry level and cheaper wine cabinets and the threat this poses to Vintec’s premium proposition, Simart was dismissive:

“Cheap wine cabinets are a non-event,” Simart said.“They are unreliable with poor design and no after sales support.”

Vintec’s after-sales support is concentrated on The Vintec Club, which is the foundation of the company’s future plans.

“We are placing a lot of hopes with The Vintec Club, whose success has been immediate. When you buy one of our products, you have access for life to exclusive benefits and the profit you can get from these benefits has no limit.”

Simart claimed 5.5 per cent growth for Vintec Australia during the 2013 financial year and 17 per cent growth for the past 6 month. When asked about the impact Vintec’s new partnership with Eurolinx, distributors of co-branded ILVE and Vintec cabinets, was having, Simart said it was too early to tell and that we should check back at the end of the fourth quarter of calendar 2013.

Whenever an appliance company opens a lavish new showroom, it is customary for the brand to declare that it will not be selling directly to the public, and this time was no different. Here is Simart’s obligatory statement:

“The move to Leichhardt doesn’t change our business model: Vintec Australia, more than ever, sells through all electrical appliance retailers in Australia and New Zealand and some limited number of models through some online specialists in the wine industry,” Simart said.

“Crown Commercial now focuses on commercial equipment for the hospitality industry and on real estate developments for our wine cabinets.”

Simart praised chief operating officer Shirley Hewitson for overseeing this relocation. She said that this move will secure the company’s future for the next phase of its burgeoning life.

“Regrouping all our staff and activities under the same roof, with a clear and focused vision of what our group wants to achieve, has ensured the ongoing professional support for the future development of the Vintec group and all its activities,” Hewitson said.

The tight-knit team at Vintec is celebrating its recent move into Sydney’s inner-west to a larger showroom.