BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
RIDLEY
Ridley has expanded its presence in South America, adding distributors in Brazil – Express Imports, Mexico – Biciclo, Panama – Trizone and finally in Venezuela – Ciclozona.
“2011 has been a great year for us,” enthused international sales manager Jo McAleer. “We’ve added new distributors in South America along with new partners in Europe and Asia. We’ve invested in our infrastructure in Belgigum and I believe we are now seeing the benefits of this with our new warehouse, B2B and our customiser programme.
“In the last few months our CEO Jochim Aerts was awarded Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Ernst and Young voted us amongst the top five most promising young Belgian companies. We’re heading in the right direction and we’re having fun doing it.”
Ridley added that it had this year launched the first ever road bike with fully integrated brakes – the Noah Fast. For the 2012 race season the brand is going back to its Belgian roots with an eight year sponsorship of Lotto.
SRAM
Continued growth in Spain and Portugal – and the desire to further support dealers in the regions – has seen SRAM expand its network there. As of this month Team Bike SL will become a SRAM distributor for both markets and offer sales and service, alongside established SRAM distributors Motordealers and Cicle Coimbroes.
SRAM’s European aftermarket manager Ian Young said: “During discussions with Team Bike S.L. it became clear that their vision for dealer support and brand building were very similar to SRAM’s. This made them a great addition to our established distributors for Spain and Portugal.”
Dahon
Sticking with Madrid-based Motordealer, Dahon has appointed the firm distributor for Spain and Andorra, as of January 2012. Motordealer’s dealer network comprises over 2,200 shops. The firm has also opened a brand new 4,000m2 warehouse recently.
“MotorDealer is one of the best-known names in the Spanish cycling industry and we are thrilled to have them on board with us,” commented Dahon founder and CEO Dr David Hon. “This is a great opportunity for our company as we continue to grow the brand throughout the European continent. We’re very pleased and will continue to strive to meet the different markets’ needs by providing the very best in both product and service.”
NeilPryde
The Pryde Group Americas, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Pryde Group, will be responsible for distributing and managing NeilPryde Bicycles in North America.
Neil Pryde said: “"Our bicycles have been very well received globally and, in recognising the strategic importance of the North American market and consulting with our existing dealers, we decided it was important to create a formal structure in the US to fully develop the Group’s bike business in partnership with local bike shops across North America."
Industry vet Jim Pfeil has joined Pryde Group Americas as bicycle brand manager.
Michael Pryde, division manager of NeilPryde bicycles said: "Jim has the necessary industry knowledge to help develop a statewide dealer network over the next five years in order to establish the brand as a key player in the USA and Canada, and in the fast growing economies of South America where Pryde Group Americas has already been operating since 1982. Jim’s knowledge of composites played a big part in the Group’s decision to recruit him, and his input in future product development will add extra expertise to NeilPryde’s in-house R&D team.“
