NEWS HUB
Buzzbike closes its doors
BUZZBIKE has closed after eight years. Founded in 2016 by former Apple marketing executive Tom Hares and KPMG management consultant Andrew Nunn, Buzzbike was hailed by The Guardian as “The Netflix of Bikes.” The company offered members an all-inclusive, flexible subscription service for premium e-bikes and traditional bikes, along with on-demand maintenance and theft protection via its app.
Despite achieving record revenues in 2024 and serving more
than 20,000 subscribers since its inception, the company faced significant challenges. Rising costs, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, and notably,
the recent high-profile collapse of its largest shareholder and supplier, Signa Sports United (parent company of Wiggle),
ZyroFisher to supply Gaerne footwear
ZYROFISHER has announced an exclusive distribution partnership with Gaerne to supply retailers in the UK and Ireland.
Nadine Thompson,
CCO of ZyroFisher, shared: “After months of hard work and preparation we’re incredibly proud to add Gaerne footwear to our brand portfolio.
“Gaerne footwear has been leading the way in recent years
with Grand Tour stage wins on the feet of Biniam Girmay and tearing up the trails with Cameron Orr (UK MTB XC Champ). “We’re excited to be reintroducing this prestigious brand to the UK and Ireland, and can’t wait to get the range into the hands of our dealer base.”
Gaerne will be available in the UK from Spring 2025 with pre-orders being taken from December this year.
forced Buzzbike to make the decision to cease operations. Tom Hares, CEO and co-founder of Buzzbike, remarked, “We are immensely proud of the role we have played in transforming the UK micromobility landscape, the innovative technology we have developed, the bikes and e-bikes we have designed, and the incredible partnerships we have forged. “We still believe that cycling can address many of the challenges facing our cities, but unfortunately, the difficult macroeconomic conditions and the collapse of our largest shareholder have made it impossible to continue.”
Future of Orro Bikes secured
THE brands of British bike manufacturer Orro and distributor I-ride have been acquired by Baaj Capital LLP.
The firm, which purchased Planet X via Winlong Garments in June last year, says it is “dedicated to preserving Orro Bikes’ rich heritage and continuing its tradition of producing world-class bicycles”.
Paul Butler of Orro added: “We are delighted to be working with the Baaj Capital group to secure Orro’s future as a leading British bicycle manufacturer and are excited to continue the brand’s growth and development. We look forward to strengthening our partnerships with our IBD network.” As first reported by Cycling Weekly, Orro and I-ride’s original
parent company – the Martlet Group – has been “effectively liquidated” with staff made redundant after it entered administration in October.
The Pro’s Closet returns under new ownership
THE Pro’s Closet (TPC) is set to return under new ownership with Elshair Companies having acquired the TPC brand and its intellectual property. Elshair Companies is a private investment firm with more than 20 years of e-commerce expertise in founding, acquiring, and expanding businesses.
8 | December 2024
This acquisition will see new infrastructure, dedicated staffing, and a commitment to sustainable growth. A core team of former employees —
including JP Gage as chief operating officer and Justin England as chief revenue officer — will look to revive TPC’s reputation and build upon its foundation in the cycling community.
www.bikebiz.com
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