Mouser Electronics is continuing its global expansion, reporting strong growth in Europe despite the region’s weak economic outlook, which shows little sign of improvement in the months ahead.
The Texas-based electronic components distributor has invested heavily in Europe over the last two years, adding offices and staff in Germany, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden and expanding existing operations in France, Italy, Israel and the United Kingdom. The efforts have yielded roughly 20% growth in Europe through the first half of the year, and company officials say they remain optimistic about the rest of 2012.
“By adding more resources and staff members in Europe, we have helped drive further growth over an amazing 2010-2011,” Mark Burr-Lonnon, Mouser’s vice president of EMEA business said in a statement announcing the results this week. “We’ve seen around 20% further growth in 2012 and gaining momentum each month, solidifying us as a key player in the European market. No question about it, 2012 is proving to be another great year for Mouser, especially bearing in mind the slowing of the market.”
The growth so far this year follows more than 40% growth in the market last year, Burr-Lonnon added.
Mouser credits its local headquarters in Munich and its Web efforts throughout the region as key drivers of the new business. Germany remains the center of gravity for the electronics market in Europe, and the Web is making it easier for distributors to deliver even more information and services to design engineers and procurement professionals around the world.
Burr-Lonnon said the Web accounts for 75% of all new accounts and 50% of sales in Europe. The company touts its user-friendly online catalogs, mobile apps, advanced search capabilities, intelligent Bill of Materials (BOM) tool, local technical support, and service via 17 languages and currencies as key online attributes.
Mouser is also expanding elsewhere around the world, announcing key moves in Asia recently. The distributor grew its presence in China by incorporating in the country this year and putting roughly 50 people in place to provide marketing and customer support to local design engineers and purchasers. Mouser also began accepting local currency in China this year and is conducting online transactions in the Chinese Renminbi as well as accepting UnionPay’s China Pay e-payment service, the country’s government-backed inter-bank transfer network and Chinese bank card organization. Both moves offer more seamless transactions to local customers.
