BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Lapierre
The French brand has been a star performer for owner Accell, according to the firm’s latest financials. It’s been a top performer for UK distributor Hotlines too, generating sales and plenty of column inches – not least with rumours of Lapierre’s TIme Trial bike, which debuted at Dauphine Libere and appeared at this year’s Tour de France Prologue, appearing at retail for 2011.
Saracen
The Saracen brand has been a feel-good story in recent months. From its reinvention under the watchful eye of Madison at the end of 2008/start of 2009, Saracen has acquired goodwill and plenty of praise from consumers and the trade alike. Working with IBDs, the brand has grown and will incorporate BMX in 2011 lines, as previewed at IceBike* Winter a few months ago.
Apollo
As one of Halford’s leading brands, Apollo is the top selling bike brand in the UK according to the retailer – reportedly every one in three bikes sold in GB is an Apollo. This summer the brand launched eight MTB and seven town and trail bikes for men and women, all developed with superior frame geometry in mind. The women’s models have specific design modifications including different saddles, narrower width handlebars and shorter reach levers and cranks.
Cube Bikes
The multi-national company has earned a prestigious reputation in the industry, striving to forge a non-US centric path and seeing what the firm has called overwhelming expansion over the last ten years. Designed and tested in the Alps, Cube Bikes have impressed journalists, retailers and consumers.
Kona
Kona has continued to be an asset for distributor Paligap, not least when sales jumped 40 per cent in value in Q1. The distributor has moved the brand closer through its recent warehouse move, too. Commuter and road platforms have performed well for Kona, with mountain bike sales up for the firm last year, and the Cadabra range selling particularly well for 2010.
Giant
Aside from its expanding Giant branded store programme, which is now also heading into the US, Giant has seen its revenue rocket in the early months of this year, with a 39 per cent rise in revenue in March. The firm also invested in production in January, pouring $15 million into a new facility in China.
Brompton
The ever-popular folding bike brand has successfully faced legal battles to protect its IP this year, but in more positive news has won no less than two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise and has seen its World Championship gain in popularity. The firm also saw founder and director Andrew Ritchie bag an MBE in the New Year Honours list – so, not a bad 12 months for the classic British brand.
