Freedom Boat Club signs alliance agreement with Jeanneau
Freedom Boat Club has signed an alliance agreement with Jeanneau to cooperatively develop Freedom Boat Club franchises among its European dealer network.
According to FBC President and CEO John Giglio, the FBC franchise model is now being offered to Jeanneau retailers in Europe who have the opportunity to develop FBC locations in their local market using Jeanneau outboard-powered boats.
“Our Jeanneau European alliance grew out of a strong relationship with the Groupe Beneteau brands here in the U.S., as a growing number of our franchisees have placed Jeanneau, Four Winns and Glaston outboard boats in their fleets,” Giglio said. “We are very pleased to be working directly with Jeanneau in the launch of our successful boat club franchise throughout Europe. Jeanneau and its dealers clearly understand and embrace the benefits of the sharing economy, and the boat club model specifically.”
Based on current interest and development activity, Giglio expects to announce multiple Freedom Boat Clubs operational in France this spring, with additional expansion elsewhere throughout Europe to follow.
A group of Jeanneau dealers attending the Miami International Boat Show are confirmed to meet with Freedom Boat Club executives to tour a large Florida-based Freedom Boat Club franchise operation.
Giglio believes the new international expansion will be good for business, but also very good for the more than 30,000 Freedom Boat Club members throughout North America and those who will join abroad.
“One of the most exciting aspects of this international expansion is our exclusive membership benefit featuring reciprocity,” he said. “Our Freedom Boat Club members around the world will enjoy full access to our fleet of boats wherever clubs exist, and that will now include international ports of call.”
Boat clubs are a real trend that Jeanneau dealers are keen to develop, said CEO Jean-Paul Chapeleau. “For Jeanneau dealers, it’s a unique opportunity to benefit from an experienced partner while launching this new service to our customers,” he said.
