BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news

BEN as in Benevolant Fund, the motor and allied trade's charity (and the bicycle trade is one of those 'allied' trades).

The US corporation has bought the Villiger, Arrow, Tigra and Diamant brands from Villiger Sohne AG of Switzerland, a cigarette manufacturing company (slogan: "In love with tobacco")

The Goude Design Group can't get hold of Phat choppers and cruisers (designer: Gary Silva) so has inked a distribution deal with 3G bikes (designer: Gary Silva). 3G is Silva's new bike brand, formed after a fall-out with Phat. And because Silva - an ex-bike shop chain owner and one-time sponsor of Lance Armstrong - now lives in Taiwan and has formed a business relationship with a Chinese factory, there will be no problems with supply.

Broadway House, promoters of the Cheddar Challenge MTB event and managers of "the UK's finest race venue", has announced a packed line-up of event for 2003, including the 15th annual outing for the Cheddar Challenge, plus the European BMX Championships, the British BMX Championships and round one of the National Points Series

Wise words there from American Business Media. And naturally enough, ABM recommends companies should increase their ad spend with trade mags. Sensible stuff, especially in a downturn. And at a recent B2B sales conference, UK publishing industry bigwigs stressed the increasing relevance and cost-effectiveness of advertising in business magazines. And, for IBDs, there's similar advice from Randy Kirk...