Accell North America (ANA) has brought more new consumers and fulfillment opportunities to the company’s independent bicycle dealers (IBD) channel with the launch of a commerce-enabled website for the company’s ePerformance mountain bike brand, Haibike.
When Haibike launched in Germany in 2010, the company introduced an entirely new cycling experience and category in ePerformance, or pedal-assist off-road performance riding. EPerformance bikes maximize a rider’s physical capabilities with high-performance mountain bike designs that feature an on-demand, quiet boost of electric support.
According to an April 20 report issued by the Bicycle Products Supplier Association (BPSA) and People for Bikes, ebikes now comprise the fastest growing sector in cycling, and Haibike is the fastest-growing brand in the category, according to Larry Pizzi, president of ANA’s ebike division.
“Adding Haibike to our growing consumer-centric omnichannel strategy brings an incredible opportunity for IBDs to grow their reach to new cyclists and position themselves as a trusted, go-to resource for consumers searching for a pedal-assisted off-road riding experience,” Pizzi said. “This is especially meaningful, as more and more terrain is opening up for eMTB enthusiasts in North America.”
According to the BPSA and People for Bikes report, eMTBs are now allowed in state parks in Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Utah. EMTB policies are being developed for Oregon State Parks, and there are other states considering adoption as well.
“New and existing mountain biking enthusiasts are now able to ride with friends and family as pedal-assist performance Haibikes level the playing field, opening up the experience to riders of all ability and fitness levels,” he said.
According to the BPSA’s quarterly sell-in report compiled by The NPD Group (published April 17, 2018 in BRAIN), ebike sales accounted for 9.8 percent of all wholesale bike sales in the first quarter, up from 5.5 percent of the total market in the same quarter last year.
With the launch of the commerce-enabled Haibikeusa.com website, ANA expands the range of brands being offered to IBDs through the company’s consumer-centric omnichannel strategy, an IBD partnership opportunity launched on Jan. 19, 2018. The move expands ANA’s brand portfolio available for click and collect and enables IBD’s to reach a much wider customer base.
ANA has been distributing Haibike for four years in the United States, and the brand is part of ANA’s ebike division.
