Distributor news
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (BRAIN) — Quality Bicycle Products stopped shipping from its Minnesota distribution center following a fire Jan. 16 in a trash compactor connected to the building. No one was injured in the fire, but inventory and shipping materials were exposed to smoke.

PETALUMA, Calif. (BRAIN) — While 16 wildfires have burned more than 94,000 acres across California this fall, bicycle manufacturing structures have escaped harm so far. But some industry and retail employees have been affected as of Monday.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (BRAIN) — The industry escaped another potential tariff threat — this time on European hubs and cassettes — likely thanks to testimony in Washington from Matt Moore, QBP's counsel and chair of the legal and legislative committee for the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association.
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (BRAIN) — QBP is now distributing Fox dropper posts, forks, shocks and service parts.
LEVIS, Québec and LEXINGTON, S.C. (BRAIN) — HLC is now offering an online fulfillment service to retailers in the US and Canada.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (BRAIN) — The U.S. distributor for cycling shoe company Sidi resumed operations Monday after an F-16 fighter jet crashed into a section of its warehouse four days earlier.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (BRAIN) — While the rest of the industry battles over market share in the enthusiast market, Midway Bicycle Supply is finding growth providing parts and accessories to nonprofit shops and other programs that serve consumers in need of lower-priced bikes. Those operations, as well as some mobile service and service-only shops, often can’t establish accounts with larger distributors.
GREENVILLE, S.C. (BRAIN) — Michelin has expanded its relationship with HLC to distribute the tire maker's full product lineup in the U.S. market. Products became available from HLC's U.S. distribution centers starting Monday, March 18.
HLC is already Michelin's exclusive distributor for Canada.
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (BRAIN) — Quality Bicycle Products will move its annual Frostbike dealer event out of Minnesota for the first time next year. The 2020 event will be held in Denver from Jan. 31-Feb. 2.
LEVIS, Québec (BRAIN) — HLC has named new directors of sales and marketing for the U.S. and Canada. The distributor, previously called Hawley-Lambert, said it is working to establish a more "country-specific" focus.

LOUISVILLE, Colo. (BRAIN) — The Flagg family, which owns SmartEtailing and is led by QBP founder Steve Flagg and his wife, Mary Henrickson, has purchased Wheels Manufacturing, a U.S. manufacturer of service and repair parts.

RICHMOND, Calif. (BRAIN) — Cycle Monkey on Monday announced a new partnership with Nicolai Bicycles to bring the German mountain bike brand’s line of handmade custom and standard-size aluminum framesets to the U.S. market — selling consumer direct and also offering sales to interested dealers.