Twitter Helps Midlands Manufacturer Establish German Connection

MIDDLETON, England, February 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

A Warwickshire luggage manufacturer has secured a deal with a German company to distribute their products, thanks to the power of social media!

Middleton-based Hillsalive Solutions (http://www.hillsalive.co.uk), which specialises in designing and manufacturing luggage sets for classic and modern sports cars, has joined forces with Vintage Driver in Hannover after owner Karsten Gartner found them on Twitter.

Vintage Driver will act as Hillsalive's German agent, promoting their products via his website http://www.vintagedriver.de and at car shows.

To begin with, they are focusing on luggage for the classic MGA and MGB Roadster, later expanding to include the company's full product range, which currently caters for more than 100 different models of car.

Company founder Rob Hill said: "We have been focusing on internet marketing to build our profile globally, and we have picked up orders from Europe and beyond.

"We have been to shows in Europe before, and UK Trade and Investment have been very helpful in that respect, but I don't think we would have been able to bring Karsten on board if we hadn't built a relationship on Twitter.

"The advantage of having agents in other countries is they already have established customer bases, connections with the media, and the ability to attend car shows which are beyond our reach."

Hillsalive started working with UK Trade and Investment in 2012 to exhibit at trade shows in Germany, France and Holland.

In February, Rob and wife Heather will be attending the RetroMobile show in Paris, to try and find an agent in France.

The company already exports to Australia, South Africa, the USA, Canada, and all European countries.

Hillsalive Solutions specialises in designing and manufacturing luggage sets for classic and modern sports cars, producing cases to meet customer specifications if their car isn't already catered for.

The luggage is manufactured in the UK, from high quality, abrasion-resistant polyester with brushed nylon linings. A full range of colours is available.