Setting The Sails
Mr. Stavros Lalizas former National Sailing Champion founds LALIZAS by responding to the demands of the sailing market in his house and starts selling throughout out the region of Greece custom made lifejackets.
Business Expansion
Within 3 years the brand name LALIZAS became renowned and identical to "safety" regarding Sailing. Due to a vast demand for marine accessories and safety equipment, the home based facility was transferred to new premises and became a small factory. By that time, the personnel reached the number of 15 persons and the production line consisted of 150 product codes.
Crossing the Borders
Due to continuous development and rapid growth of sales, LALIZAS set its first exporting activities and established a commercial presence to Australia and afterwards to Netherlands, where participated in the International Expo for the first time.
LALIZAS Holdings is founded
A Giant Leap
Nearly after a prosperous decade, the company had to respond effectively to a significant increase of demand from the national and global markets. For that reason, the company was transferred to new premises. This investment gave the company the opportunity to establish a bigger factory, which allowed a substantial growth of production capacity.
Commercial Expansion
After being able to meet the increased requirements of the local and abroad markets, the company managed to reach its commercial presence to 45 countries.
Ground Zero for LALIZAS
On the 23/10/2000 the company faced upon an unfortunate incident. For unknown reasons, the factory facilities caught on fire, which resulted to an immense disaster. The outcome was a total loss which literally almost put the company out of business.
Moving Firmly Forward and Setting new Goals
Almost two weeks later, LALIZAS participated in Athens Boat Show, with no displayed products, but only with its employees, by stating that will not give up and will continue all over again with the same corporate vision and vigor. The main goal at the time was to be 100% operational within 90 days.
Goal Achieved
Under great endeavors and with a solid commitment to the company's main target, on the 09/01/2001 LALIZAS was back in business with new and modern premises. All the employees at that time and later on, contributed both diligently and efficiently towards the recovery of the company, along with the company's customers who provided impartially their support. As a result, the turnover at the end of the year was double from the previous year.
2 major historical facts for LALIZAS organization
LALIZAS established its own production line in China, and opened MARINA Stores, its retail channel, located next to the Headquarters. The purpose of this retail channel was to get the market feeling firsthand.
Established a logistic hub in China
This was a strategically important fact for LALIZAS, since the company was now able to dispatch container bases around the globe.
Key point fact
LALIZAS opened its own logistic hub in Belgium and reached out the European market within 3 days’ delivery and 90% availability.
Acquisitions of LOFRANS, MAX POWER, NUOVA RADE & OCEAN
LALIZAS announced the acquisition of four major companies in the marine industry and expands its range of products. LOFRANS assembles the “unbreakable” windlasses, MAX POWER produces thrusters offering full vessel maneuverability, NUOVA RADE manufactures marine plastic accessories and Ocean Fenders provides the boating world with the best boat fenders.
Opened a production line in Pernik, Bulgaria
One more production plant was established in Pernik, Bulgaria. It is the fifth production unit of the LALIZAS group, which main goal is the production of boat fenders for the OCEAN brand.
Acquisitions of AlexanderRyan & Antipiros
LALIZAS recognized the needs and the opportunities that Commercial market gives and therefore acquired two major companies with worldwide presence. Alexander/Ryan Marine & Safety based in Houston, USA with expertise in offshore Oil & Rig industry and more than 50 US Coast Guard Approvals and Antipiros based in Split, Croatia which is expertise in Fire-fighting Equipment.
Aquisition of ARIMAR
We proudly welcomed ARIMAR to our family, a European leader in the production of state-of-the-art life rafts as well as inflatable boats.