NEWARK, Del. (BRAIN) — Gore Wear said it is taking a new approach to wholesale distribution in North America and will focus its product portfolio more on cycling apparel. Gore said it will focus on sales to a few key retailers and rely on Quality Bicycle Products for distribution to the IBD channel.
"Our aim is to better serve our consumers while ensuring a sustainable, profitable business for the upcoming years. QBP is a well-respected distributor with an extensive reach into the North American market, which remains a key region for the brand. Whilst retailers will no longer have access to Gore Wear products directly, the partnership with QBP not only makes the ordering process easier for IBDs, it also opens up the brand to more retailers, and thereby consumers, nation-wide," said Kevin King, North American sales & marketing leader at W.L. GORE & Associates, Gore Wear's parent company.
Gore Wear will continue to support its existing retailers throughout a transition period until July. Starting March 1 QBP will carry a full range of Gore Wear cycling products.
Rich Tauer, QBP's president said, "As pioneers of waterproof cycling gear, Gore Wear products have long been synonymous with ultimate weather protection, and they're a much-asked-for item among our retailers. We're thrilled to enter into this partnership and to be able to supply our retailers with the best all-weather cycling gear on the market."
The Gore fabrics division merged its Gore Bike Wear and Gore Running Gear brands into one brand, Gore Wear, in 2018.
King said the latest move to focus on key products, key regions and key distribution channels was encouraged by the worldwide momentum of cycling.
"The impact of streamlining product categories and retail partners was not taken lightly. Gore Wear is permanently adapting its strategies to new circumstances in the marketplace in order to serve its consumers in the best possible way. These strategies will evolve as the market evolves, but for the moment we see this realignment as the most promising way forward for future success of the Gore Wear brand," said King.
