VIDEO Interview: I speak with Mike Pryde about Chapter2 bikes – the model he created along with his well-known dad Neil, about how their direct to client gross sales mannequin is sensible for a rising variety of riders world wide who need top-shelf high quality, honest pricing, and quick supply instances.
– Click on PLAY to see our video interview, and see extra on the PEZ Youtube channel right here.
– The total interview transcript follows under….
Pez: I’m again, and I’m speaking with Mike Pryde of CHAPTER2 Bikes. Now, I’m sitting right here in Vancouver at PEZ HQ and I’m truly speaking to Mike someday sooner or later as a result of he’s midway world wide in New Zealand. Mike, precisely the place are you proper now?
Mike Pryde: So, truly sitting in my lounge. Since COVID, I’ve truly began working from residence. That is my residence workplace, and I’m right here in Auckland, New Zealand.
Pez: Mike, the primary query I’ve received for you, is that bike truly a everlasting fixture in your lounge?
Mike Pryde: Solely after I’m not driving it. That’s the Toa. The unique coloration was simply Tongariro. And we truly solely made a number of of these they usually offered like hotcakes.
Pez: So, the model known as CHAPTER2. We’ve seen it right here on PEZ a few instances earlier than as a result of we’ve reviewed a few of your bikes. And also you’ve been within the biking enterprise for a variety of years now, however earlier than that you simply have been within the crusing enterprise working along with your dad, Neil Pryde, the founding father of a extremely well-known crusing model that numerous my readers will know . How did CHAPTER2 come to exist?
Mike Pryde: We designed every thing round being boutique and making a enterprise mannequin that we are able to truly scale in an applicable method. So, one of many first choices that we took was that we might be a body set solely enterprise. And the beauty of that’s that with a body set solely enterprise, we are able to additionally ship these merchandise all world wide by DHL actually affordably. And I assume the opposite method that we form of have structured CHAPTER2 is that we’ve designed every thing to be way more approachable and way more private. And that implies that any supplier or client that’s excited about CHAPTER2, they really speak to me personally.
Pez: As a boutique model, what are the advantages which you can supply customers that the bigger manufacturers can’t or simply received’t?
Mike Pryde: Being an fanatic myself, over time, I’ve by no means been the form of man that goes to a motorbike store and buys a complete bike and that ready-to-ride kind of expertise. So, I form of needed to imitate my private expertise as a bicycle owner and let the buyer select. So, we’ve truly tried to make accessibility of CHAPTER2 to each sellers and customers as simple as potential. And I believe with trendy know-how now and logistics, it’s actually modified the way in which we do enterprise.
Pez: So, we’re residing in a time proper now the place costs for every thing are rising and the choice for some readers to purchase a brand-new bike isn’t as near them because it was. So, upgrading the bike historically meant one thing like a brand new set of wheels or upgrading your cockpit, however the different factor you possibly can completely do is improve the body and maintain and work with the prevailing group set and wheels that you simply’ve received.
Mike Pryde: And that’s a extremely attention-grabbing level that you simply made as a result of we truly noticed by way of COVID once we have been in a position to proceed delivering product all through COVID, that numerous the purchasers who couldn’t discover group units, who couldn’t discover wheel units, they have been completely happy to undergo that improve course of by simply altering the body units. So, our enterprise truly flourished by way of COVID and we did very effectively. And I believe this concept which you can even have a brand new bike with out the complete expenditure of all of the teams set and the wheels turns into a extremely form of interesting prospect for a client.
Pez: So, then Mike, how does CHAPTER2 as a boutique model actually profit customers?
Mike Pryde: Once we designed and developed the CHAPTER2 enterprise, we needed every thing to have that very private boutique, virtually customized made really feel to it, however but it’s at a good worth. If you go in your native group journey, everyone is driving one of many bikes from the Tour de France, from the large 4 that everyone knows of, and people clients are leaping off these huge manufacturers and shopping for our bikes as a result of they like it. They get the concept they’ll have one thing very distinctive and really private and in our opinion, at the very least at a very reasonable worth. The beauty of CHAPTER2 is that you simply actually can have every thing, proper?
You possibly can have the very best wheel set which you can afford, the very best group set, and there isn’t any individual within the background attempting to choose and select each part. I imply, I do know from years and years of biking, whenever you purchase a brand new bike, the very first thing that folks do is that they throw the saddle away. I imply, why would you desire a saddle that any individual else has picked for you when it’s such a private factor?
Pez: Carbon bikes now have been round for getting near round 20 years or so, and the manufacturing strategies have developed to a spot the place nearly anybody has entry to the identical manufacturing capabilities and even design concepts that everybody else does. So, the bikes have form of levelled out just a little bit when it comes to aggressive benefit, however that doesn’t cease new manufacturers from getting concerned and providing one thing totally different. So, what does CHAPTER2 supply for customers that’s totally different from the opposite manufacturers?
Mike Pryde: What we’ve been in a position to create is a product that not solely fits these guys which can be on the lookout for efficiency and pace, but in addition any individual that appears for one thing that has a certain quantity of status and differentiation for these espresso store rides. So, I believe we’ve succeeded in each ranges.
Pez: One factor I actually like in regards to the bikes is the way in which you guys have completed them, there’s some actually lovely coloration decisions, some actually lovely creative designs impressed a number of the indigenous artists over in New Zealand. You will have entry to all of those bikes and also you’ve ridden all of them. What’s your favourite? Which one do you want the very best?
Mike Pryde: We’re attempting to design actual bikes for actual individuals. And what that actually means is that if you happen to take a look at {the marketplace}, there’s numerous huge manufacturers, they’re closely invested in tour groups, racing on the world tour and stuff like that. If you’re designing a motorbike for an elite athlete, racing on the highest stage, and designing one thing that truly is extra relevant and sensible for regular individuals, it’s a really totally different proposition. And in addition with that in thoughts, we’ve designed the Koko, which is our aero street bike. And that is one thing that I believe I’m significantly personally very pleased with.
Pez: So, Mike, you’ve traveled all around the world with crusing and driving, you’ve spent numerous time in america. What have you ever realized significantly in regards to the U.S. market that’s totally different and that you simply assume you guys can actually adapt to or supply one thing recent to?
Mike Pryde: Truly partaking with not solely the customers, however with our sellers, is definitely in all probability probably the greatest elements of my job. Whether or not it’s on-line by way of our dwell chat or whether or not it’s a face-to-face assembly, assembly individuals and serving to them clear up issues is one thing that I actually get pleasure from doing. And truly because of that course of, our dealership has been rising steadily within the North American market.
Pez: So, Mike, for viewers who’re watching at residence and residing someplace right here in North America, what are a number of the greatest retailers right here that viewers can go into and truly discover CHAPTER2 bikes?
Mike Pryde: In North America, we’re in Wrench Science in Berkeley, California. We’ve received a extremely nice supplier known as Swiftfoot Cycles in Prosper, Texas. In Canada, we’ve Blacksmith Cycles in Toronto, and in Vancouver the place you might be, we’ve received Veloholic, and likewise Salita Cyclery. And they’re nice sellers they usually actually construct a number of the most lovely CHAPTER2s that you simply’ll see anyplace. However truly, the opposite factor that’s actually attention-grabbing to learn about our enterprise is that any client can truly stroll into any store in America or in Canada and ask for a CHAPTER2. And the bike store simply must contact us, we’ll ship all of them the main points and details about easy methods to grow to be a supplier, and we’re right here to assist.
Pez: Nicely, thanks very a lot for speaking to us. All the time a pleasure. Trying ahead to see extra of CHAPTER2 over right here in North America, and hopefully I’ll get to journey one other a kind of bikes myself fairly quickly.
Mike Pryde: Thanks, Pez!
• See extra on the Chapter2 web site.
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