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"We want to grow the brand from a small base," said Moore Large sales director Gary Mather.
"Despite the problems with GT/Schwinn last year I don’t think the Schwinn brand carries any baggage. It’s a relatively fresh brand in the UK but with a big pedigree."
The bikes will range in price from £200 to £500 at retail. A full product launch will be held at the International Cycle Convention in Harrogate, with availability in June.
The news of the Schwinn deal was released to dealers at the Moore Large open days being held this week in Derby.
Whilst the brand will be IBD-only in the UK, Schwinn is being made available to mass market multiples and category killers in the US. Many US shops who have previously majored on supplying Schwinn bikes are downgrading their reliance on the brand because Pacific is supplying outside of the IBD channel.
Other Moore Large news:
BARRACUDA
The house brand which made its name in competitively-priced full-sussers is being beefed up with hardtails. This is to extend the brand’s appeal to "more mature riders," said Moore Large sales manager Ian Young.
Young said the company was most excited about the £229 aluminium hardtail and the £179 steel-framed hardtail.
The Barracuda logo has also been given a makeover. See below.
Product will be available first week of March.
BUMPER
The Moore Large pavement range had a successful Christmas, said Young, and has now been improved with additions to the 12 and 14 inch offerings, as well as the introduction of 20 inch models which have more "grown-up graphics" than the smaller Bumper bikes.
At the house show the camo Bumper boy’s bikes were displayed against camo netting.
"Wouldn’t that make a great little corner in any shop?" posited Young.
"We can supply the netting, too."
Availability is also March.
FAUSTO COPPI
The classically-appealing Coppi road bikes start at £399 and top-out with a Dura-ace equipped model at £1699. Coppi is exclusiive to IBDs.
This year the range is being supported by a PoS programme, next day delivery and consumer advertising.
A full page ad – and half-page dealer listing – has already appeared in the January Cycle Sport and there will be three further insertions. All road mags have also been supplied with bikes for review.
OTHER BRANDS
2003 JCB and Haro BMX bikes will be launched at the International Cycle Convention in Harrogate.
PIC CAPTION:
Top – Nigel Moore (l) and Gary Mather trumpet the capture of Schwinn
