SamBoat, global platform for boat and yacht rental, has announced a transformation of its branding, amid record growth and a series of significant industry mergers in recent months.
The rebrand represents a new chapter of growth for SamBoat, marking a transition from a France-based startup to major international operator. With a new, distinctive brand that matches its values and ambitions, the new brand will have global appeal with the aim of onboarding a new generation of boat charter customers. With the refreshed brand identity comes a redesigned website and app, alongside OOH and digital marketing created with the new, engaging and vibrant SamBoat look and feel.
SamBoat developed the new branding with internationally acclaimed creative director, Dave Rax, who has previously worked with household names such as Airbnb, Uber Eats and Discord.
SamBoat’s ambition is to hit €100m in turnover by 2024. Its path to becoming a global industry leader is bolstered by a number of recent mergers it has made in the boat and yacht rental space, including with UK-based LateSail and French Vents de Mer in 2022. Already in 2023, SamBoat has finalised a merger with German boat rental firm Argos, incorporating its 40-plus years of industry knowledge and loyal customer base. This comes on the back of its launch in the United States in June of last year.
Since its launch almost a decade ago by friends and boating enthusiasts Laurent Calando and Nicolas Cargou, SamBoat has connected boat owners with renters looking to get out on the water. Thanks to its innovative approach, commitment to excellent customer service, and mission to democratise the world of boating and yachting, SamBoat has since grown to offer over 50,000 boats, with customers in every major sailing destination across the globe.
Along with remarkable revenue growth of over 72% in 2022, exceeding €50m in turnover, SamBoat saw its week-long yacht charter business triple last year, demonstrating strength as the travel industry recovered from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Laurent Calando, CEO and co-founder at SamBoat, says: “The growth journey SamBoat has been on over the last few years has been extraordinary, and we felt the time was right to mark our position as a global leader with new branding that represents SamBoat as a company: inclusive, adventurous, knowledgeable and most of all, fun. Our aim has always been to democratise sailing, and we want to be the company that truly opens up the boat rental market to a much wider audience, for both day rental and longer charter, and our new brand very much represents this aim.
To offer the best possible experience to our customers, it is crucial that we work hand in hand with local charter experts, who know their markets as no one else can. The mergers we have made across Europe in recent months mean that we are able to expand our operations while continuing to demonstrate local expertise and a loyal customer base. The more SamBoat grows as a force in the boating and yachting industry, the more we will be able to carry out our key mission: to give everyone the opportunity to discover the joy of being at sea.”
