DENTON, Texas (BRAIN) — Bunch Bikes has expanded its cargo bike offerings and is now selling through bike shops in addition to its intial consumer-direct sale model.
Aaron Powell launched the company in 2017 as Urban Tribe Cargo Bicycles, a brand inspired by the personal finance blogger Mr. Money Moustache. Powell soon re-branded the company for legal reasons.
Bunch recently launched two new models. The company also is now the exclusive U.S. distributor for Melia cargo bike seats, from the Netherlands. The Melia seats, which fit all front-load cargo bike brands, provide a secure seat for kids too young to sit comfortably in a cargo bike's box. Powell said the Melia distribution is being set up as a separate entity from Bunch Bikes; the seats and mounting kits for various cargo bikes are already in stock and shipping to dealers.
Powell said Bunch will continue to sell online, but that some consumers like to test ride cargo bikes before buying, so he's looking to establish dealers in hot bed markets where the company is already selling a lot of cargo bikes direct to consumers. Those markets include Portland, Oregon; San Francisco; Los Angeles; Chicago; New York; Minneapolis; Denver; Phoenix; and Austin, Texas.
Dealers are being offered free shipping and the bikes arrive fully assembled and ready to ride. Minimum order is one bike. The company also offers an array of higher margin accessories. Wholesale pricing, terms and margin information is available from the company.
"We will not be using dealers to fulfill online orders as some brands are doing with the 'omnichannel' strategy," Powell said. "It's an either/or thing. If customers approach us first, we encourage them to order direct. If they contact us looking for a test ride, we'll send them to a local dealer."
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The new Bunch Bark model. -
The Original Bunch cargo bike.
