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18.06.2024 Press conference: 13th "Open Day" at PIKO in Sonneberg

On Saturday, 22 June 2024, PIKO celebrates the 13th "Open Day". As with previous events, thousands of guests are once again expected to attend this special event at the company headquarters in Sonneberg, especially as this year's event is dedicated to PIKO's 75th anniversary.

On Tuesday, 18 June 2024, Dr René F. Wilfer, Managing Partner of PIKO Spielwaren GmbH, invited to a press conference.

Before looking ahead to the upcoming "Open Day", Dr René F. Wilfer and PIKO Sales Manager Jens Beyer took a look at PIKO's business development in the first half of 2024. Another key item on the agenda was the highlights of PIKO's anniversary year.

Business development until the end of May 2024:

After 5 months, PIKO is slightly below the previous year's level in terms of total sales. Due to production-related postponements contrary to the originally planned delivery of new products and up to 3 weeks longer delivery times for containers from PIKO China, we are slightly 2-digit below plan as at the end of May.

In Germany, PIKO's largest market with almost 70 % of sales, business in the first five months was at the previous year's level and slightly below plan.

The German specialist retail sector is doing slightly better with a 3% increase in sales compared to the previous year up to the end of May. The B2C business, where PIKO has had a local presence for customers with its attractive PIKO flagship store in addition to the web shop since May last year, is also performing slightly better than in 2023.

In the export sector, however, the start to the year was somewhat more subdued. Here we are below the sales of the same period in the previous year and also below plan. In addition to the continuing reluctance to buy, the delays in the delivery of planned new products for the individual foreign markets described above also played a role in this development.

With the BR 62 steam locomotive and the Vectron Dual Mode, two H0 modelling novelties are currently being delivered to the trade as highlights. The response has been extremely positive, which will lead to increased repeat purchases. Active sales, supported by various marketing activities, should boost demand on the market. This also includes an autumn campaign in which PIKO is offering specialist retailers H0 Hobby locomotive and carriage models at pocket money prices in order to attract more new customers and newcomers to the fascinating hobby of model railways. The locomotives with an RRP of € 50.00 for the DC version and € 90.00 for the AC model incl. decoder as well as freight wagons for € 15.00 will be delivered to retailers at the end of October, just in time for the start of the main model railway season.

PIKO "Open Day" on 22 June 2024

This year, for the 13th time, PIKO and its fans will once again be celebrating an "Open Day" at the company headquarters in Sonneberg. This day was celebrated for the first time in 1999, on the occasion of PIKO's 50th anniversary. As with previous events, numerous PIKO fans from all over Germany, but also from other European countries, Canada and China, have already registered in advance for this year's visit to celebrate this milestone together. Preparations for the big day are in full swing and nothing should be left to chance.

The company premises are open to the public between 9:00 and 17:00. The company tour offers exciting information about model railway production in Sonneberg at various stations. From equipment construction and plastic injection moulding to the paint shop and assembly - there is a lot to discover here. Of course, it is also possible to purchase PIKO models at various sales stands. Traditionally very popular are the stands with the 2nd choice articles and the "oldies" (partly from GDR production), but also the TOFT special articles and this year's anniversary locomotive special models as well as the sales stands with the 1st choice models, starter sets and tracks should not be forgotten here.

PIKO offers a colourful and varied programme to make the Open Day a special experience for model railway enthusiasts of all ages:

• Company tour during ongoing production
• Special sale of PIKO products, rarities and souvenirs
• Information about the PIKO history
• Big raffle with attractive prizes
• Limited and exclusive special wagons for H0 and G gauge
• Model layouts in various track sizes
• PIKO models with customised printing as a special souvenir at a special "TOFT" price
• Childcare with large bouncy castle
• Large PIKO garden railway play set
• H0 play layout with the PIKO terminal block wagons
• Wagon painting campaign for children, where they can design their own model railway wagon
• Fairytale railway for children to ride on
• Information stands of various PIKO departments
• and much more.

Food and drink will also be well catered for: Thuringian specialities, coffee and cake as well as drinks and ice cream will be on offer at various stations on the company premises.

In addition to PIKO itself, "The journey is the reward" can of course also be the motivation to come. For this reason, various special trains will be travelling to Sonneberg again in 2024, making even the journey there a special experience. A shuttle bus service has been set up for the journey between Sonneberg main station and the PIKO company premises. With the help and support of our direct neighbour on site, the Simba Dickie Group, there are also plenty of parking spaces available near the PIKO company premises.

Highlights in the anniversary year 2024

PIKO also has a few surprises in store for the anniversary. A sequel to "The PIKO Book", published in 1999, was announced at the beginning of the year. The book will be published in the second half of 2024 and will once again provide numerous exciting insights into the history of PIKO over the years. On the "Open Day", visitors will have the exclusive opportunity to pre-order "The PIKO Book II". Anyone who takes this opportunity will receive a copy signed by Dr Wilfer upon delivery.

After the announcement of the BR 101 in anniversary livery in 2022, many PIKO fans expressed the wish that anniversary models should also be offered in the other gauge sizes in the future. PIKO is very happy to fulfil this wish for the 75th anniversary and announced a BR 131 with a special design in H0, TT and G as well as a BR 185 in N at the beginning of the year. After the smaller track sizes were already delivered at the beginning of June, the Sonneberg model railway manufacturer has come up with something special for the garden railway model:

In addition to the exclusive TOFT wagons, the G-gauge anniversary locomotives will also be manufactured live on the "Open Day" and can be taken home directly - fresh off the production line, so to speak.

Sonneberg, den 18.06.2024

Dr. René F. Wilfer
Geschäftsführer

PIKO owner, Dr René F. Wilfer, presents the special models for the 75th anniversary in the 4 different gauges G, H0, TT and N to the press representatives present.