Brompton Sets Up Subsidiary in USA - well sorta
 

Looks like Brompton is setting a "subsidiary" here in US - will be a one-man show for now but I wonder what is next and how that will change their distribution model. Enjoy. :thumb:

UK’s Brompton Sets Up American Subsidiary
http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/...tail/3039.html

PORTLAND, OR (BRAIN)—UK folding bike manufacturer Brompton Bicycle has established a subsidiary in the United States led by industry veteran Ed Rae. He will work from his home office in Portland, Oregon.

Rae (pictured) has been in the industry for more than 30 years having worked for the likes of Trek, Giant and Schwinn. He had been working outside the industry for the last couple of years.

“People are thirsting for this type of unique product,” Rae said of Brompton’s folding bikes.

Brompton hasn’t had an American distributor for several years. However, the company has been selling direct to U.S. dealers—as it does in the UK—for several years.

“Brompton’s primary responsibility will be training and service support [in the U.S. market], offering same time zone advice and assistance to Brompton dealers, which we cannot offer from London,” said Emerson Roberts, marketing manager for Brompton. “But we also know that it has a confidence-boosting effect, and expect the subsidiary to extend our network of dealers to currently-neglected districts. We have had so many conversations over the years with American dealers who loved our brand and our products yet ultimately could not bring themselves to stock them because they felt cast adrift without in-country support, even though we actually place very few demands on dealers in the sense that we only ask they stock two bikes, plus a demo model.”

Rae said dealers have already responded, and that Brompton is thriving in North American cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Toronto, Vancouver and Portland.

Roberts said that sales have been growing annually in the U.S. over the last five years at 45 percent. “I’d like to double sales in the next 18 months, which will require more or less doubling our dealer network,” Roberts said.

Roberts feels this is attainable with the U.S. becoming an emerging market for all kinds of utility bikes.

“I see plenty of opportunities in U.S. cities just as there were in the UK five to 10 years ago when things started to take off,” Roberts said. “U.S. cities tend to be even more car-oriented than UK cities, so perhaps the challenges will be even greater than they were here, but cycling as a daily mode of transport will only grow as rising fuel/transport costs, health concerns and congestion continue to rise.”

—Jason Norman

So some guy in his home in Portland Oregon is supposed to do what? It doesn't sound like he is going to have a warehouse full of spare parts, or become a national distributer, it sounds like he is nothing more then a salesman for Brompton here in the states that is trying to sign up more dealers. Not really sure how this will make things better/easier for brompton owners / dealers in the states.

Take his cut on every one sold.

Get back to me when he announces same day shipping of spare parts and accessories.

tcs

Yup, you've got it about right. He's just the new NA salesman for Brompton. Whoopity-Doo!

Well, I guess I was really a little harsh. An in-the-market manufacturer's rep is valuble for expanding presence. If this cat can sign up more US dealers and get more Bromptons on the display floor of more American LBSs so more cyclists can experience the bike and see what it can do, that's a good thing.

tcs

PS: In the 25+ years since the Brompton was introduced in America, I've seen one.

Totally agree - even if it's one person, it's still better than 0 in the same country...that is assuming that they do not pass along a significant amount overhead cost to the retailers (which is unlikely given it's a one man show & working out of home).

If brompton really wanted to increase it's presence here in the states they would make it possible to get a bike in less then 3 months. Bike Friday typically takes around a month to get a custom made bike to its customers and only about a week if the bike is a stock model. American's are not patient :-)

**Disclaimer I own 2 bromptons, en M3 and M6 and 2 Bike Fridays a tikit and a pocket rocket...

I agree, Just took delivery of my M6R and it took about 3 months. I am not sure if the American Distributor would improve delivery times. and to do this, they need to increase production capacity. And since Brompton can't meet demand, Mr. Rae will be the U.S. focal point for customer complaints about slow delivery of bikes, parts, etc.

Disclaimer, I own and love my Brompton, and my Dahon and my Pocket Rocket.

Yep... I've seen only one "in the wild" while on a business trip to Seattle. However, I've been to one store that carried them in Chicago (where I test rode it to compare with the BF Tikit).

--sam

It's funny....My LBS sells a bunch of em. The day I picked up my Brompton, Two other people were picking up their's. However, I've only seen one other being ridden in the DC area.

+1

Though helping to get more Bromptons into more LBS is nice it will do nothing for the horrendous wait times. Actually, it will hurt wait times... The wait time will go from the current 3 months to 9 months to a year. :(

If Brompton plans on expanding their sales here, then they need to pick up production over there. :rolleyes:

BTW, after Dahons, Bromptons seem to be the next most popular folding bike that I see in NYC. I keep seeing more and more of them on the streets here.

I was also at the Sunday Parkways (on my Birdy) and also saw a few Bromptons. I agree about the wait, though. I was down in Portland with a friend who was picking up his - took three months to get it.

We spent the day riding through town switching back and forth between my Birdy (has a Nexus 8) and his new six-speed Brompton. While I still prefer the ride of the Birdy and the Nexus (the 3x2 shifting of the Brommie is definitely a bit annoying and the ride is inferior though not bad), I'm super impressed by the handling of the Brompton with 15 or so pounds in the front carrier. The Birdy carries weight well if you're in touring mode (4 panniers front/rear), but the Brompton with its big single front bag is brilliant from a convenience standpoint.

I didn't really see the point before, but now I'm thinking of getting one for city use. If Brompton can build some extra production capacity I think there is likely a US market for the thing.