Todd's Rallies Success

A Co Tyrone-based outdoor activity centre Toddsleap.com is enjoying a major surge in export business with help from Invest Northern Ireland.

Offering driving experiences such as rally-style and 4x4 training, Toddsleap.com also provides various outdoor adventure breaks at its purpose built 100-acre site in Ballygawley and targets a diverse range of business and leisure customers.

Activities range from corporate team building activities to health and safety approved off road driver training, and family fun days to youth programmes.

With marketing support from Invest NI, the company has steadily increased its profile in the GB and ROI markets over the past 18 months and has extended its range of activities to appeal to a broader customer range.

Business from those markets has subsequently increased by more than 60%.

Mary Gormley, Manager of Invest NI's Western Regional Office in Omagh said: "At a time where many businesses are rationalising and looking at ways to cut costs, it is essential that firms focus on developing a more competitive market position.

"Toddsleap.com is in a unique position as it is steadily growing its business outside Northern Ireland despite the downturn," she said, noting that success is really due to a combination of factors including a diverse and flexible range of products for business and leisure customers.

"This is regularly reviewed to account for changing market demands, and a highly effective export marketing campaign," she continued.

Invest NI has been working closely with the company to provide practical advice and guidance, as well as financial support to help with core marketing activities such as website development, trade show visits in target markets and general direct marketing.

Ben O'Hanlon, Managing Director of Toddsleap.com commented: "We are really delighted, but not surprised with the increasing demand for our activities.

"There has been a notable surge in business, particularly from the Republic of Ireland as families look to cut holiday costs and make plans closer to home as the credit crunch impacts on their plans.

"Many are looking to maximise their limited time away so our range of activities, from off road racing and quad biking to archery, climbing and clay pigeon shooting is particularly attractive as it helps them to pack as much as possible into short memorable breaks," he explained.

"Business from corporate clients has also increased, with new and repeat bookings for our range of training and development courses, including health and safety accredited 4x4 driver coaching.

"Team building events to boost employee moral because of the impact of difficult trading conditions have also seen a significant rise," he said.

"Projections for the next 12 months are extremely healthy but we are not complacent," he said, noting the firm is working with Invest NI to focus on continuously improving and tailoring our activity offering.

(BmcC/JM)