LÉVIS, Quebec (BRAIN) — HLC is making a CA$250,000 ($193,000) investment in its Wheel Shop, which the distributor said will help better supply North American dealers during a period of supply-chain challenges.
HLC said issues with the Asian supply chain, which North American dealers largely depend on, are making it more difficult and expensive to obtain replacement parts, especially wheels. According to HLC, Quebec-made Wheel Shop wheels will help dealers, consumers, and the industry.
"Dealers will have easier access to a broader line of products assembled in Quebec and won't have to deal with the Asian supply chain's delays and skyrocketing prices," said Dave Savard, HLC director of products. "It's a timely investment that will allow us to meet the growing demand from dealers."
With the investment, HLC has doubled its shop floor and will hire four more people in the next few months. The company distributes more than 170 brands — including SRAM, Shimano, and Garmin — as well as Evo, Megasoft, and Wheel Shop. It also provides North American customers with post-sales service.
"We are not immune to the labor shortage," Savard said. "But our work environment has been designed for innovative, passionate, smart people. We also offer great benefits with our people's well-being in mind, such as a flexible work schedule, great work-family balance and much more. We hope what we are offering will resonate with people in and around Lévis who want to make a difference."
In 2020, the company launched HLC Advocacy, an initiative to support causes and projects in the cycling world. So far, HLC Advocacy has invested more than $50,000 to help several nonprofits and their volunteers build trails, bring bikes or bike parts to people who need them, organize cycling events, and run fundraising campaigns.
