Japan sales help Dyson to record profit

Vacuum cleaner manufacturer Dyson toasted a record year today after enjoying success with a machine specifically designed for the Japanese market.

Entrepreneur James Dyson, the inventor of the bagless vacuum cleaner, said his firm was repeating in Japan the strong performance already enjoyed in the US, where Dyson has beaten Hoover to the number one spot since 2004.

Mr Dyson also put growth in the company, based in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, down to investment in research and development, which rose by 28% to £50m (€73m) last year. Dyson now employs 420 scientists, engineers and technicians.

“Making R&D the top priority is the best blueprint for the renaissance of invention and engineering in Britain,” Mr Dyson said.

Pre-tax profits for the firm for the year to December 31 were up 32% to a record £103m (€151m) while export sales lifted 44%.

The Dyson DC12, designed in Wiltshire for the Japanese market, has seen sales increase by 177% which made it the country’s best-selling model within one year of going on sale. It has a market share of 12% and exceeds domestic giants Sharp, Sanyo and Mitsubishi.

“It seemed like we were taking coals to Newcastle when we first entered Japan’s crowded vacuum cleaner market,” Mr Dyson said. “The Japanese demand the best in electronics and they have recognised our technological benefits.”

Dyson now has distribution in 2,200 stores in Japan, double the amount when the DC12 first launched in 2004.