Industry News
GENT, Belgium (BRAIN)—The trade group that represents European bicycle dealers won a small victory in its push to relax regulations for electric bicycles.
Blue appoints rep in Southwest
NORCROSS, GA (BRAIN)—Blue Competition Cycles has hired Michael Lax as a rep for the southwest region. Lax will be responsible for sales in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, an area the Norcross, Georgia, company has identified as a growth opportunity.
DENVER, CO (BRAIN)—Race officials have picked the dozen cities that will be part of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in 2012.
LEXINGTON, SC (BRAIN)—Hawley has enrolled in SmartEtailing’s sync and fulfillment programs to help dealers capture online sales. In doing so it joins Trek, Norco and Quality Bicycle Products, which have either implemented or are working on similar systems.
PORTLAND, OR (BRAIN)—Planet X Bikes has hired former bike journalist John Stevenson as head of marketing.
The direct-to-consumer bike supplier based in the UK and owner of the On-One and Titus brands has been through a period of unprecedented growth in the last few years, according to a press release.
NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia (BRAIN)—Ryders Eyewear has partnered with Wounded Warrior Project this holiday season, donating 5,000 pairs of sunglasses to veterans injured in military service.
PORTSMOUTH, UK (BRAIN)—Online UK bike retailer Wiggle has been acquired by European private equity firm Bridgepoint for 180 million British pounds ($282.5 million).
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA (BRAIN)--Interbike announced Wednesday that show director Andy Tompkins will leave the company at the end of December.
MISSOULA, MT (BRAIN)--The state of bicycle touring in the U.S. remains strong, if it can be measured by the state of the touring organization Adventure Cycling.
VISTA, CA (BRAIN)—Leemarc Industries, parent company of Canari Cyclewear, is the new owner of women’s cycling apparel brand Shebeest, company officials confirmed with Bicycle Retailer Tuesday.
POC adds sales rep force in Northwest and Northern California
POC USA has added the MODUS Sports Group to represent its “Wheels” product line, including bike helmets, in the Northwest and Northern California.
POC, based in Sweden, specializes in protective products for gravity sports.
PORTLAND, OR (BRAIN)—Bike brand One Ghost Industries now has distributors in Canada and the U.K., the Portland-based company announced Monday.
CINCINNATI, OH (BRAIN)—An Ohio blogger is looking to create a network of small cycling websites that can cooperate to attract advertisers, offer a diverse viewpoint to readers and perhaps consult with supplier start-ups.
MIDDLETOWN, PA (BRAIN)—Quality Bicycle Products began shipping from its new warehouse in Middletown, Pennsylvania, Dec. 1, hitting its anticipated deadline. The 125,000-square-foot facility, coined Q-East, is a leased warehouse and employs 41 people.
Rick Wilks rejoins industry at FSA
MUKILTEO, WA (BRAIN)—After a four-year hiatus from the bike industry, Rick Wilks is back, joining FSA as its new Director of Business Development.
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN)—Taichung Bike Week moves two weeks earlier next year as organizers strive for better balance between American and European spec calendars.
Editor's note: The following article appears in the December issue of Bicycle Retailer & Industry News. To subscribe to the magazine, click on the link at the upper right.
American brand tweaks business strategy to build on European success
By Matt Wiebe
Editor's note: The following article appears in the December issue of Bicycle Retailer & Industry News. To subscribe to the magazine, click on the link at the upper right.
By Nicole Formosa
Editor's note: The following article appears in the December issue of Bicycle Retailer & Industry News. To subscribe to the magazine, click on the link at the upper right.
By Nicole Formosa
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN)—WTB will be producing identical rims, tires and wheels in four locations by the end of next year. The company currently produces products in China and Taiwan, and it's scouting locations and moving manufacturing equipment to Europe and the South Pacific.