CERRITOS, CA (BRAIN)—Southern California distributor Tom Hall Enterprises is moving to a larger building as a result of growing sales and in anticipation of continued sales increases.
Owner Jim Bremner said sales have grown 34 percent during the past year. The new warehouse will remain in Cerritos, California, but offer about 44 percent more room.
Bremner, who’s owned the 14-year-old company for the last five years, said he’s also adding a new brand to his lineup, importing MET helmets from Italy starting in June.
He currently carries products from Knog, IRD, Minoura, MKS, Oury, Pro Gold, Pake, Sapim, Soma, Lezyne, Uno, Brewtal, Wiha and Yokozuna, which are sold through his sales rep force, consisting of 21 reps nationwide.
“MET helmets are still all made in Italy,” Bremner said. “They’ve never been in the States before. I spotted them five years ago and been talking with them since then. They’ve been reluctant to sell into the U.S., but right now they’re seeing the American market and wanting a piece of it.”
MET S.p.A is headquartered in Talamona, a small town in the Italian Alps. Its European production plant has been making bicycle helmets there since 1987, according to its website.
Bremner said he will bring in six models, three mountain and three road. Retail prices will range from $89 to $279. “I think people are tired of having the same old same old. These helmets are truly premium,” he said, adding that the helmets have been sported by pro teams including Liquigas-Cannondale, Cannondale Factory Racing and the French pro continental team Saur-Sojasun.
Consumers and dealers will get an early look at the MET helmet line at the Sea Otter Classic later this week. Tom Hall Enterprises will debut some models at Booth 434.
