LAKE FOREST, CA (BRAIN) — Torcano Industries, the distributor of Funkier Bike Apparel in the U.S., has introduced a program to credit Funkier retailers with the profits from online sales to customers close to them
Under the "No Dealer Left Behind" program, dealers enrolled in Torcano's program will be credited the profit amount for any online sale that comes into the Funkier website if their location is that closest to the consumer.
Torcano will eventually have an in-store pick up option as well, where consumers will be directed to their closest retailer for purchase if they want.
"I hear the frustration from retailers every day about this," said John Denson, the CEO of Torcano Industries. "More and more consumers are going directly to the suppliers' site and are ordering direct. The problem as we see it is that the dealers are the ones validating the brands and building the brand equity. I can think of a hundred brands — that without the independent retailer — they wouldn't be where they're at today."
Torcano plans to eventually roll out similar programs for all the brands they exclusively distribute.
"We want to support the IBDs and we would prefer that our customers shop at their local bike shop," said Kevin Tuttle, Funkier USA director. "But when that doesn't happen and they choose to buy direct from us, we'll still stand behind the bike shops and make sure they're not losing out on the order through the credit. We want to support the shops when they support us."
More information: torcanoindustries.com.
