BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (BRAIN) — At its Frostbike event last weekend, QBP bestowed its 2015 Clay Mankin Award on Mike Cachat, the CEO of Jenson USA in Riverside, Calif. The Mankin award recognizes retailers who inspire others with their commitment to bicycle advocacy, industry growth and their passion for cycling.
QBP also named its vendor of the year: DT Swiss.
Clay Mankin Award
Clay Mankin was the founder of San Francisco's City Cycle store; he passed away in 2005. QBP has been giving out the award since soon after his death.
Cachat was nominated for the award for his advocacy efforts and commitment to bicycle retailing. He currently serves on the IMBA Board of Directors and is a Silver Level sponsor for the Southern California chapter of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA).
Jenson USA recently partnered with World Bicycle Relief on a "one-for-one" charitable campaign that has led to donating 30 bikes to date.
Closer to home, Jenson USA has initiated a new annual program called "Kommute for Kids." Employees earn new bike donations for deserving local elementary students by commuting by bike to work.
Cachat started Jenson USA in 1994 as an online catalog selling mountain bike components and accessories. Today, Jenson USA has two Southern California brick-and-mortar locations along with its strong online presence.
QBP's advocacy director, Gary Sjoquist, nominated Cachat for this award. "Mike has demonstrated a commitment to both successful bicycle retailing and advocacy," said Sjoquist. "He began his bicycle retailing efforts as a 16-year-old student with ideas about customer service that continue to this day throughout his business. Jenson USA's focus on values and customer service are not unlike those of QBP."
Cachat said, "It's a little bit ironic that a decade ago it was QBP that inspired me to grow the pie and promote responsible cycling through advocacy and good business practices. Now I'm the one being honored for inspiring others. I'm humbled by this prestigious award."
Vendor of the Year
QBP recognized Switzerland-based wheel and wheel components brand DT Swiss "for continually pushing the industry with its high quality and innovative product — designing, engineering, and manufacturing all of its own products."
QBP's DT Swiss buyer, Dave Larson, nominated the brand for the award.
"DT Swiss hubs are some of the best in the industry and the same can be said about its spokes," said Larson. "The brand is also beginning to grow some of its emerging categories like rims and wheels, modernizing them with the specifications needed to be successful amidst today's quickly changing marketplace."
QBP also noted that DT Swiss is represented on the Bicycle Committee of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI), and is doing its part to work toward a more collaborative view amongst industry-related organizations such as the Union Cycliste International (UCI) and the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Additionally, the brand dedicates time and funds to support various advocacy organizations including IMBA, PeopleForBikes and the Cuyuna Lakes mountain bike trails.
Marco Zingg, the owner, president and CEO of DT Swiss Global, was on hand at Frostbike and accepted the award on behalf of the brand.
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(l to r): QBP buyer Dave Larson, DT Swiss' Marco Zingg, QBP president Steve Flagg, and QBP's product director Tim Gallant.
