webfact Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 British bicycle maker lands in BangkokWATCHIRANONT THONGTEPTHE NATIONBrompton BicycleBANGKOK: -- THE BOSS of British folding bike manufacturer Brompton Bicycle hopes to encourage more people to enjoy the freedom, fun and fitness aspects of cycling after opening its first store in the Kingdom.The bike market is expected to heat up after the official arrival of Brompton, which aims to see at least 15 per cent year-on-year growth here, on top of its current sales through local dealers."Brompton is not only an iconic hand-made folding bike from the UK, but we believe that it is a vehicle of freedom," managing director William Butler-Adams told The Nation last week after the grand opening of the eighth Brompton Junction store in the world.The store is located strategically in the business district on Sukhumvit Soi 24.Asked why Brompton wanted to add Bangkok in its portfolio, Butler-Adams - who was recently awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to the manufacturing industry - described Thailand as a "young market with massive opportunity".He said that Bangkok was similar to other big cities in Europe and Northern America - people were moving into the city for a better life and job opportunities - and unavoidably exacerbated traffic congestion and related problems.As a result, he said, local governments were putting more focus on bicycle infrastructure in cities in a bid to ease traffic congestion, reduce fuel consumption and public health costs."Bikes are part of the long-term social solution for urban living," he said. "Therefore, we believe in the long run that bikes are going to make a big comeback in the city."With more than 35 years of experience in folding bike manufacturing, he said that Brompton had been heavily investing in product innovation as well as research and development in order to create excellently designed products that met customers' needs.But he said that despite the company's high-quality bikes, there were a number of direct and indirect rivals in the Thai market, particularly local second-hand bike manufacturers and budget manufacturers from China.In response to this competition, Butler-Adams said that the company would make its products more affordable for Thai customers.To maintain its innovation edge, he said that the company had for the past seven years being working on delivering an electric folding bike but he admitted the task was quite difficult.Brompton employs 250 employees at his west London factory, where it produces 45,000 bikes a year - which make up 80 per cent of its total sales in 44 countries.Asia Pacific contributes 40 per cent of its total sales.After Bangkok, Butler-Adams said that within three month the ninth concept store would open in Chengdu, adding to the two stores currently operating in China.Brompton also has stores in Milan, London, Shanghai, Beijing, Kobe, Hamburg and Amsterdam.To hit the break-even point, Bulter-Adams said that there needed to be annual sales of at least 250 at each store.For its operation in Thailand, Brompton has Singapore-based folding bike specialist Mighty Velo as the authorised distributor.Steven Lim, director of Mighty Velo, said that his company had partnered with young entrepreneur Thitiwat Manoonpon to run the Bangkok store under the company name Brompton Bicycle (Thailand).Before establishing the Bangkok store, Mighty Velo appointed seven local dealers in Bangkok and one in Chiang Mai to sell the bikes.Last year, Lim said approximately 1,000 Brompton bikes were sold via local dealers.With more collaboration between its dealers and the store, Lim expects that figure to exceed 1,600 this year.He plans to recruit more dealers in Phuket and Hua Hin.Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/British-bicycle-maker-lands-in-Bangkok-30251687.html-- The Nation 2015-01-12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiSePuede419 Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 Those folding bikes are great for stowing away behind the seat of your private plane or jet. You guys all have private planes or jets, right? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Somtamnication Posted January 11, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 11, 2015 (edited) That looks like a very PAINFUL pose! Edited January 11, 2015 by Somtamnication 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post casualbiker Posted January 11, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 11, 2015 Those folding bikes are great for stowing away behind the seat of your private plane or jet. You guys all have private planes or jets, right? Amazingly they are also great on trains and buses! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jeremy50 Posted January 12, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 12, 2015 Love cycling. I hope the shop does well, I will be checking it out. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai at Heart Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 I know this man from school. He has worked wonders with this company. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Beetlejuice Posted January 12, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 12, 2015 I would not advise riding a bicycle on the roads of Thailand unless you have a death wish. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Goshawk Posted January 12, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 12, 2015 British bikes ? if it aint Raleigh . . . i aint happy. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherOneAmerican Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 'Second hand bicycle manufacturer' what's one of them then? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sawan Chan 7 Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 Sukh soi 24 is not the central business district. The Nation getting desperate for news, especially if this is front page stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chainarong Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 <script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script> Those folding bikes are great for stowing away behind the seat of your private plane or jet.You guys all have private planes or jets, right? Yeah ,the learjet is getting a tad old its 5 years since I got a new one, thinking of trading up to a modified 767 from an old mate up in China. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyBowskill Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 (edited) Not sure he put much thought into his wardrobe for the photo shoot.......He looks a mismatched t!t. Edited January 12, 2015 by JeremyBowskill 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhunAussie52 Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 Brompton Bicycles Thailand http://www.onefineday-bicycle.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=3&Itemid=6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowboat Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 Wonder what sort of duty will be incurred. Do not know of any bicycle manufacturers in Thailand, so perhaps not so much. Riding a bike around old Bangkok is quited okay; China Town, around government house, Samsen road, Hwa Loompong, all they way to Chongnongsi. The least pleasant place is around Sukhimvit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Cashboy Posted January 12, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 12, 2015 Some points: 1) I drive a Honda Wave motorbike in Bangkok. If you are stationery at traffic lights with a few other motorbikes for any length of time, you sure know the air from fumes are unhealthy. 2) The whole reason that Thais drive cars in Bangkok is because they want to show they are rich and stay un-sweaty . The Brompton would not achieve either of these objectives in Bangkok. 3) Most Thais do not want to walk for 100 meters let alone cycle anywhere. Enthusiastic cyclists in Bangkok would not be riding a Brompton but more likely opt for a Hybrid Mountain Bike / Road Bike. If I was manufacturing a bike for Bangkok and typical Thai people, it would be a strong reliable simple Hybrid Mountain Bike / Road Bike with 5 gear block (12 to 24 ) with 35 mm strong city tyres. The basis is already available in even in Big C. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhunAussie52 Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 (edited) Wonder what sort of duty will be incurred. Do not know of any bicycle manufacturers in Thailand, so perhaps not so much. Riding a bike around old Bangkok is quited okay; China Town, around government house, Samsen road, Hwa Loompong, all they way to Chongnongsi. The least pleasant place is around Sukhimvit. The bikes on there website are priced at 74000-85000 Baht Only 3 models listed! Edited January 12, 2015 by KhunAussie52 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manarak Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 up and down the soi... anything else is suicidal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bkkgooner Posted January 12, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 12, 2015 I would love to cycle home from work every day but I just don't want to die so young 85,000 baht for a cicycle? - He can piss off back home 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony5 Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 To hit the break-even point, Bulter-Adams said that there needed to be annual sales of at least 250 at each store. No doubt Brompton bikes are not way overpriced and the manufacturer only take moderate profits on the bikes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaorop Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 they are competing with the 10s of thousands of secondhand japanese imports, that every man and his dog across the country is now selling but i dont see the little wheel folding bike ever becoming a huge market little wheels and big holes = horrible ride and slow, kids dont want them, men dont want them, not to many ladies like to ride, grannies and pops are happy with what they use now. the current market that i see is 30+ yr old males buying imported front suspension 26" wheel cross training type bikes. good luck to them, but i dont see them turning profit out of that store anytime soon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manbing Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 This little advertising copy seems to have a flat tire judging by the comments above. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitawatWatawit Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 ^^^ Where in Pattaya is "every man and his dog" selling second-hand Japanese bikes? I'm interested to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnie Brasco Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 (edited) Many inner city Bangkok commutes would actually be more convenient by bicycle. Bangkok's hot. Install more showers for bike commuters. Edited January 12, 2015 by Donnie Brasco 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impulse Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 Those folding bikes are great for stowing away behind the seat of your private plane or jet. You guys all have private planes or jets, right? Amazingly they are also great on trains and buses! If you can afford a Brompton, you're not taking any buses. Trains, maybe. But Trinx and Chevrolet 7,500 baht folding bikes fit just as well as a 75,000 Brompton. Add up all the expenses incurred in operating a bicycle shop in a high rent place like a BKK tourist area. If they can break even selling 250 bicycles (less than 5 per week), that says something about their markup. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherOneAmerican Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 (edited) I would love to cycle home from work every day but I just don't want to die so young 85,000 baht for a cicycle? - He can piss off back home The s/h bicycle shops in CM stock dozens of the foldups for between 2,000 and 3,500 bht. Can't see much demand for these expensive British ones. Edited January 12, 2015 by AnotherOneAmerican 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezzra Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 He's going to get the shock of his life when he sees that they sell bicycles for a 2,000 baht, although from China but still can do they job, that is until they get stolen.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJP Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 I work with a really fat guy that went over the handlebars of a Brompton. Hell of a state. He was in one hell of a state. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko45k Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 The Chinese will get the contract I think! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckamuck Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 Not sure he put much thought into his wardrobe for the photo shoot.......He looks a mismatched t!t. Except for the large bulge in his pants, he looks like an Aussie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caveat Emptor Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 That looks like a very PAINFUL pose! If he tries speaking in that position I wonder what octave it will be in ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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