From the Magazine

HILDEBRAN, N.C. (BRAIN) — DeFeet founder Shane Cooper fondly remembers when the brand's socks were "the currency of the trade shows" in the 1990s as industry types would trade them among themselves.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — E-bike sales in the U.S. have grown 300% in the past five years. More and more retailers are saying, "E-bikes are our future." Despite the rosy glow around the category, there are concerns among the movement's leaders. So let's take a look at the five challenges that lie ahead.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BRAIN) — With Clint Spiegel leading an Industry Nine manufacturing tour, you'll need to hustle to keep up. His enthusiasm for what he and his team accomplish daily obviously puts a spring in his step. He's not so much in a rush as he is just excited to show and tell his company's story of quickly becoming one of the bike industry's most iconic and innovative brands.

Leading bike and accessory companies are increasingly using the U.S. patent system to protect the appearance of their new products. In the U.S., patents come in two flavors: utility patents, and design patents — with the latter gaining popularity as a form of intellectual property in many industries, including our pedal-based one.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — For our September magazine edition, we asked our State of Retail panel members: Describe your store's social media usage and how it’s changed since the pre-COVID period?

FRANKFURT (BRAIN) — Stateside brick-and-mortar retailers don't get the warm and fuzzies at the mention of Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles, two UK-based e-commerce sites that were once notorious for selling discounted components into the U.S. market.