BRANDS
more of the smaller products come to the fore a bit as well, like the canister bags, the small frame bags, top tube bags, and the smaller saddlebags. I think people are realising that backpacking doesn’t just mean that you can go camping, or that you can go travelling with your bike. With gravel riding as well, you can take your stuff to be more self-sufficient.” Founder and managing director Nathan Hughes added: “As
the gravel market’s got bigger, you need to take a little bit more kit with you and rain jackets and things like this. People are getting used to riding with luggage all the time. When you remember five or six years ago, you had carbon road bikes and there wouldn’t be a thing on the bike where now we quite often see someone with a frame bag, or canister, or toolbag, or something on the bike.”
Restrap manufactures almost all of its kit in-house, from fabric cutting to sewing. Currently offering a range of around 70 different products,
from frame, top tube and handlebar bags, to unique bikepacking solutions like the bumper bar, Restrap has been able to ride the wave of bikepacking and gravel riding popularity. But the most recent development is that the team has decided to bring its distribution in house, allowing Restrap to work more closely with stores, help educate retailers about the product, and find businesses that suit the Restrap philosophy. Hughes said: “I think it’s about representing the brand in the right way. We felt like the product needs some education behind it just because there’s so many different setups, and options, and the way you pack things. It’s the only way we could really represent the brand in the right ways. “A lot of the dealers already know the product sells and it means that we can bring out merchandising and point of sale displays. It just gives us that room for growth in their shops, rather than having to go through a third party. We’re looking at it from a way of making sure we’re in front of the right kind of customer.” Having launched the sign up process for stores earlier this year, Restrap now has 65 accounts on board. Hughes added that cycle luggage can often be an
The innovative handlebar bumper bar from Restrap
afterthought for retailers when stocking the shelves, so he hopes Restrap can help fill that gap in the market for some stores.
Future plans After expanding into its current workshop two years ago, Restrap is now focused on plans to expand its range of products, including some new soft goods that are currently top secret, and even more luggage solutions. Restrap is also focused on the technology aspect of its business, working with Leeds University to develop new materials. Hughes added: “A lot of things that we’re looking at are
Restrap specialises in on-bike luggage solutions
www.bikebiz.com
around technology. We’re really trying to push to be the best luggage company in terms of technology, so we’ve got the most resistant fabrics and hardest wearing stuff.” ●
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