ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Wiggle and Chain Reaction gone into administration.
- Thread starter Kell
- Start date
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T4tomo
Legendary Member
At or to...?
There is a subtle difference!
at obviously, but quite gently... risk & reward and all that.
Seems their problems continue..
Road CC: Chain Reaction Cycles announces closing of flagship Belfast store
bonzobanana
Guru
I've been looking at the web site occasionally in the last few days and can't see the great offers that were there previously. Prices seem to have gone up a bit. I wonder if Halfords or Frasier group are looking to buy at a pittance from the administrator so are playing the waiting game. I guess that would be the clever thing to do but obviously the business gets into a more distressed state as time goes by losing skilled staff etc. I noticed the £20k they owe Haribo in that news report. When I got those in the past they went straight in the bin, absolutely vile blend of boiled low grade sheep skin and carcases plus chemical additives. I do eat some crap don't get me wrong but I don't sink that low.
This is a pity. I particular feel for the guys in there. I done a few of their bike workshop evenings which were very good. I ended up staying in touch with one of the mechanics over the years. Really feel for him. I'm in Belfast later today so might take a wee scoot over.
I went into the Belfast store yesterday. It was a sad sight, looking almost like it'd be looted. It's more thrift store now than the high end bike store it used to be with stuff lying everywhere in piles. The clearance prices though - no where as good as their prices on line.
I spoke my mech mate and he'll come out of it not too bad. It's certainly a sombre end of a long affinity with CRC for him and others like him.
I spoke my mech mate and he'll come out of it not too bad. It's certainly a sombre end of a long affinity with CRC for him and others like him.
Shame - while I have limited sympathy for these big, corporate-owned concerns you can't deny the crappy human aspect. Hopefully your mate finds a decent alternative!
a.twiddler
Veteran
Reminds me of the last days of Wilko. Amongst the empty shelves and closing down discounts, the staff having to put on a brave face when dealing with customers.
DCLane
Found in the Yorkshire hills ...
- Location
- Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
Looks like Mike Ashley's Frasers Group is set to buy them: https://road.cc/content/news/mike-ashley-set-take-over-wiggle-chain-reaction-306867
He already owns Evans Cycles, ProBikeKit and others. Not good news imo. Expect cheap kit, his own brand items in there, and the end of decent service.
He already owns Evans Cycles, ProBikeKit and others. Not good news imo. Expect cheap kit, his own brand items in there, and the end of decent service.
Fastpedaller
Über Member
Monopolies commission?
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Looks like it's gone through, staff made redundant 
Yeah, looks like game over tbh. I wonder what will happen to the associated brands - Nukeproof being the biggest / most well-known / best regarded..?
figbat
Slippery scientist
- Location
- South Oxfordshire, UK
I recently sent off a fork and shock for servicing. I threw a spare Wiggle bag in the box just because I had a few lying about and I thought it would be a nice touch for whoever did the work. The fork came back needing to be sorted again though, maybe they were after another?
bonzobanana
Guru
I'm in Yeovil so have seen the TriUK store go into Mike Ashley hands and more recently turn into an Evans store. I used to go into Tri UK when independent and to be honest looked at the bikes but would never buy anything from them and the shop was always empty it seemed and more recently l have done the same now its Evans and still haven't bought anything and its still empty but then all my local bike shops seem empty on weekdays when I normally visit them.
I don't know what sort of job Mike Ashley will do with Chain Reaction/Wiggle. He likes to protect his margin and typically doesn't do free postage. I've bought some cycling stuff from Sports Direct including bikes and generally very pleased with what I got for the price I paid. I generally only buy when there is a sale on.
I think I would have preferred Halfords took them over but I'm glad someone has and hope it does well and employs a lot of people. It feels like Mike Ashley is buying up retail shops expecting better times perhaps improved legislation that makes the high street more competitive. I'm curious what his plan is for the brand. I think he often streamlines logistics and and lowers costs and just expects to return to profit by doing so but doesn't really come up with any new ideas for the businesses he owns in how they sell goods its more background improvements.
I don't know what sort of job Mike Ashley will do with Chain Reaction/Wiggle. He likes to protect his margin and typically doesn't do free postage. I've bought some cycling stuff from Sports Direct including bikes and generally very pleased with what I got for the price I paid. I generally only buy when there is a sale on.
I think I would have preferred Halfords took them over but I'm glad someone has and hope it does well and employs a lot of people. It feels like Mike Ashley is buying up retail shops expecting better times perhaps improved legislation that makes the high street more competitive. I'm curious what his plan is for the brand. I think he often streamlines logistics and and lowers costs and just expects to return to profit by doing so but doesn't really come up with any new ideas for the businesses he owns in how they sell goods its more background improvements.
Hacienda71
Mancunian in self imposed exile in leafy Cheshire
- Location
- Wilmslow, Cheshire
He's only buying the ip rights and names so the rest is gone. https://singletrackworld.com/2024/0...l-falls-through-mike-ashley-buys-name-and-ip/
