Industry News
PHILADELPHIA, PA (BRAIN)—The Bicycle Supplier Parts Association (BPSA) reports that October on October shipments to retailers fell by 11 percent, and sales fell by 5 percent over 2008. October bicycle imports are also down over last year, according to the Department of Commerce import statistics.
BEAVERTON, OR (BRAIN)—Yakima has tied its future to a Taiwan company that—among many other items—makes water filtration products and water coolers for Whirlpool. It seems an unlikely merger, but Kemflo International also makes parts for Yakima’s racks, and has for the last nine years.
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“I have been through a lot of adversity in my life and I have fought through it and succeeded but the journey has been far from easy. I think that it is an important message for these kids at this time in their life. Everything might look hopeless, but it is only temporary.
SPEEDWAY, IN (BRAIN)—W H Worrall & Co is now an authorized distributor of Zipp products in the New Zealand market.
HELSINKI, Finland (BRAIN)—A shake up at the top of Amer Sports, parent company of Mavic, has resulted in the appointment of a new president and chief executive officer.
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LEVALLOIS-PERRET, France (BRAIN)—Ernest Csuka of Alex Singer Cycles died at the age of 81.
Csuka was known as the last of the great French framebuilders. In 1964, Csuka took over Alex Singer and went on to make some of the finest bikes ever produced. Csuka started with Alex Singer in 1944.
BEAVERTON, OR (BRAIN)—Yakima, one of the industry’s best known rack companies, has “merged” its operations with a privately held Taiwan company that has been supplying it with parts for the last nine years.
ST.PAUL, MN (BRAIN)—The industry’s best factory training clinics are filling up fast. Professional mechanics from across the country (and abroad) are registering for the hands on Park Tool Tech Summits in Philadelphia, Chicago and San Jose.
OGDEN, UT (BRAIN)—After a highly successful year of servicing dealers in the United States, Edge Composites has extended a contract with North America distribution giant QBP to incorporate Canada into their distribution portfolio.
ATLANTA, GA (BRAIN)—For the second year in a row, the Tour de Georgia has been cancelled, due to lack of sponsorship dollars.
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Where can you hear Tim Jackson, Carlton Reid and Donna Tocci all in the same place? The newest (end of year) Spokesmen Podcast of course. Topics include social networking, Lance's comeback and the state of the bicycle industry from an economic perspective.
Click on link to listen.
Happy Holidays from the staff at Bicycle Retailer and Industry News!
BRAIN's offices will be closed today and Friday in observance of the Christmas holiday.
Regular news posts will resume on Monday, December 28.
SoCal industry folks and friends are invited to an early birthday celebration for Dave "Crash" Collins, a promoter at Bootleg Canyon, who's been diagnosed with cancer.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (BRAIN)—As the world’s politicians hunkered down indoors to negotiate a climate accord last week, League president Andy Clarke was outside experiencing this Danish city that’s fast becoming known for its bike culture.
COSTA MESA, CA (BRAIN)—The National Bicycle Dealers Association has opened the application process for scholarships to allow retailers to attend the 2010 National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C.
The NBDA will give out $30,000 in scholarships next year—$5,000 more than last year.
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA (BRAIN)—Two years after selling Chrome Bags, founders Bart Kyzar and Mark Falvai have resurfaced with a new urban backpack startup called Mission Workshop.
CLEARFIELD, UTAH (BRAIN)—QBP will jumpstart its western operations next month by setting up temporary operations at a warehouse in Clearfield, Utah.
BETHEL, CT (BRAIN)—Cannondale Bicycles will be the official bike sponsor of the 2010 Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling Team.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (BRAIN)—Specialized has opened a state of the art service center in its new Western U.S. distribution center in Salt Lake City.
BOULDER, CO (BRAIN)—A Leisure Trends study of cycling retail POS data shows sales of bicycles dropped slightly from September to October, while revenue from apparel, helmets and shoes increased marginally.