State of the industry: a running thread

[novocaine]

you have to think though, if specialized drop 5% of their staff it's a few hundred people but it won't really make a difference to the operation, if a small boutique brand drops 5% of it's people there are a few half people wandering about. Claret all over a hand built frame is seen as a no no really.

 

[Roasted]

and I'd go further and speed up the move to electronic

I can see the benefit of electric but I'm a bit apprehensive adopting it. The bike industry seems to have a really short support cycle, meaning your 8 year old £450 rear mech is garbage as the battery is dead and the manufacturer doesn't make them any more.

I also question the sustainability of it. All these e-bike and derailleur batteries that contain heavy metals are going to end up in landfill, unless a decent recycling framework is created. Cycling used to be very environmentally friendly and sustainable, but not so much these days.

 

[jonnyboy666]

ok, so more bad news,

Hotlines, uk cycle distributor has announced it's in administration, they distributed nukeproof, ragley, wtb, brand x, spank, and quite a few other things. they are owned by CRC, this was likely as soon as we heard the overall bad news about Signa, Wiggle etc, i have heard rumors that CRC will be sold separately so there is hope for CRC fans currently, we'll see.

also i just got an email from Raleigh P+A, looks like they are being closed down by their owner Accell, Accell owns haibike etc so it looks like they'll be carrying on based from europe with bikes but P+A is going.

 

[klunkrider]

ok, so more bad news,

Hotlines, uk cycle distributor has announced it's in administration, they distributed nukeproof, ragley, wtb, brand x, spank, and quite a few other things. they are owned by CRC, this was likely as soon as we heard the overall bad news about Signa, Wiggle etc, i have heard rumors that CRC will be sold separately so there is hope for CRC fans currently, we'll see.

also i just got an email from Raleigh P+A, looks like they are being closed down by their owner Accell, Accell owns haibike etc so it looks like they'll be carrying on based from europe with bikes but P+A is going.

Remember that bike parts shortage during lockdown? Welcome to the sequel.

 

[jonnyboy666]

@klunkrider yes all of this is related, i still have an overstock from covid with some stuff, but i have one superpower, i'm a hermit. so basically i ordered loads of stuff in advance, and paid for it as i went and as it sold the money stayed in the bank, when things started to slow, i cancelled some stuff, other stuff i kept on order, i only have an excess of bell helmets and 8 speed 11-34 cassettes, everything else is pretty much back to my normal levels, as a result i should be ok, i will just gradually tick out the overstock. but the importers weren't as lucky, the commitment to stock holding for them is massive by comparison, it's not as easy fro them to cancel orders, and the numbers are simply much bigger, and the bigger they are the harder they fall.

 

[legrandefromage]

How much are your 11-34 8spd cassettes?

(asking for a friend...)

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Beat me to it

 

[geddy1972]

Beat me to it

same here ! does he have an online bike shop ?

 

[greencat]

How much are your 11-34 8spd cassettes?

(asking for a friend...)

RRP to your friend

 

[al-onestare]

@klunkrider yes all of this is related, i still have an overstock from covid with some stuff, but i have one superpower, i'm a hermit. so basically i ordered loads of stuff in advance, and paid for it as i went and as it sold the money stayed in the bank, when things started to slow, i cancelled some stuff, other stuff i kept on order, i only have an excess of bell helmets and 8 speed 11-34 cassettes, everything else is pretty much back to my normal levels, as a result i should be ok, i will just gradually tick out the overstock. but the importers weren't as lucky, the commitment to stock holding for them is massive by comparison, it's not as easy fro them to cancel orders, and the numbers are simply much bigger, and the bigger they are the harder they fall.

I couldn't possibly name the manufacturer, but if you know me, you know

Any normal year, they'd have around 10-12% available stock worldwide. They are currently running at 30-35%. You can figure out how much that hurts the business.