Clip ‘n Climb is not just the leader in the fun climbing market – it innovated the concept. With 215 facilities worldwide, the leisure supplier has set its sights on world domination, with a projected 1,000 facilities due to be in operation by 2022.
The creation of a new industry sector
Invented in Christchurch, New Zealand by John Targett and Tim Wethey, Clip ‘n Climb is the international market leader of the fun climbing industry, with 215 energy-filled facilities worldwide.
Since the very first centre opened in New Zealand in 2005, Clip ‘n Climb has revolutionised indoor climbing. Its theme park meets climbing wall concept has been thrilling and challenging people of all ages, extending the appeal of indoor climbing to a mass audience and creating a new sector in the leisure industry that by 2010 had grown in popularity all over the world.
Testament to the company’s vision and enduring success, in early 2017, Clip ‘n Climb was completely acquired by Entre-Prises – a specialist in climbing solutions for more than 30 years. Entre-Prises is also a subsidiary of ABEO, a stock exchange listed French group, that ranks among the leading global players in the sports and leisure sector.
The Clip ‘n Climb concept
Clip ‘n Climb currently offers facility owners and investors more than 40 colourful and unique challenges designed to appeal to everyone from four years old and upwards.
Challenges are created to stimulate several senses simultaneously. Visual impact is coupled with tactility – incorporating soft, rough, cold, plastic and even velcro features to create a unique climbing experience. Whilst all challenges are suitable for people of all ages, Clip ‘n Climb has ranked them from one to five to help business owners choose concepts based on their specific audience demographic.
Outdoor facility owners can also benefit from the company’s concepts, with six outdoor challenges now available.
Clip ‘n Climb’s brand is built around the belief that ‘everybody can’ – from its customers who can conquer its challenges to its investors who can reap rewards from a fun, strong business. Its brand values are centred around being fun, brave, free, optimistic, physical and safe. These values are the core of the business.
Demonstrating the flexibility and wide appeal of the concept, the company’s market share is currently split between standalone Clip ‘n Climb centres (35 per cent) in which the entire facility is dedicated to the concept, and zones within retail and leisure facilities (65 per cent), which include trampoline parks, shopping centres and amusement parks.
Entre-Prises has five subsidiaries worldwide taking care of Clip ‘n Climb in the US, France, UK, New Zealand and China, and it’s actively seeking new distributors. The intention is for the business to increase market share worldwide, having just joined forces with international distributors including RCI, ELI Play and SPI Global.
Leading the charge on industry innovation
Quality and innovation is, and always has been, central to the business and it boasts a number of industry firsts, which have set it apart from the competition from the outset.
In 2008, John Targett co-invented the Trublue auto-belay system, which allows all participants to climb independently without any previous experience. Also unique to the company is its BelayMate auto belay system which was engineered by Clip ‘n Climb and guarantees complete safety.
An innovator since inception, Clip ‘n Climb is not intending to rest on its laurels any time soon. Today it continues to trailblaze with the adoption of new technologies that are changing the face of the sector.
With augmented reality dominating leisure experiences, in 2017 Clip ‘n Climb partnered with Valo Climb to offer an augmented climbing wall experience, rivalled by no other. In early 2019, the business is due to launch a new cutting-edge software application and scoring system that will allow people across the world to compete with other Clip ‘n Climb climbers – no matter their location.
Created to add a brand new dimension to the experience, the concept is designed to embrace the connectivity of the leisure industry and how technology is increasingly breaking down geographic barriers.
The path to world domination
2018 has been a landmark year for Clip ‘n Climb and it’s not over yet. To date, the company has opened an unprecedented 49 centres in 17 different countries, staking a claim in five new territories – Portugal, Brazil, Poland, Oman and Denmark. Add to this a further 44 ongoing projects opening very soon and news that the company will unveil its biggest Clip ‘n Climb to date in April (located in Ipswich with a mammoth 32 challenges), it’s clear that business is following a serious upward trajectory.
Clip ‘n Climb is expected to far exceed its ambitions to operate 1,000 facilities worldwide by 2022 – ensuring that generations across the world are embracing the challenge of fun indoor climbing.
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