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Weeks ahead of its appearance at the Orbital Festival, Spencer Ivy has been bought out by Peter Claxton.
The Spencer Ivy company (and stock) went up for sale in April this year after founders Va Hua and his wife announced they were moving to Australia. The story posted on BikeBiz.com first drew Claxton’s attention to the brand.
He said: “I read about Spencer Ivy being for sale on the BikeBiz website late one evening and the whole brand instantly appealed to me. I am a life long ex-racing and commuting cyclist who always felt a little unsure about e-bikes. As soon as I saw the product I had a Victor Kayam moment – "I liked the bike so much, I bought the company."
Claxton revealed that for the short term it will be business as usual for Spencer Ivy, with no immediate changes. Appearances at the Goodwood Motor Circuit-set Orbital Cycle Festival, as well as at the NEC Cycle Show are planned.
Claxton told BikeBiz: “We are off to see our manufacturer in early July to ensure a smooth transition and continuation of the design and manufacturing process. My other business is based in Germany and I have every confidence in their ability to deliver quality products at an affordable price on time. We will be at the Orbital Cycling Festival at Goodwood and then at the NEC in September and look forward to meeting everyone there. We have some bicycles in stock and would be delighted to arrange test rides and chat about your requirements regarding stocking the brand.”
Further in the future, Spencer Ivy bikes will look to develop further customisation in its bikes, more corporate partnerships and possibly even a team up with Barclays Cycle Hire.
“E-bikes are, quite rightly, becoming more popular and widely used every day,” Claxton explained. “We aim to consolidate and develop Spencer Ivy’s position as the leading, stylish UK bike. We would like to build a strong international image as quintessentially British. On a more immediate note I would like to see electric Boris Bikes, more corporate usage and sponsorship of e-bikes for everyday travel in London and other cities.
“We are looking at introducing custom-specced e-bikes…the ultimate luxury for eco-aware playboys (and girls). We will maintain the core products whilst offering custom paint finishes, individually specced components and as much individuality as our clients require. A bespoke electric bike!”
Claxton appealed to dealers to get in touch via the website or by phone on 020 7099 1130. “We would be delighted to hear from anyone who would like to make suggestions about how we can appeal to even more of your customers.”
