BikePedia links consumers to ‘At My Local Bike Shop’

BikePedia, the pre-eminent free online resource for bikes, parts and accessories announces a tie-in with amlbs.com (At My Local Bike Shop), the sole source for consumers to find item availability at their local bike retailers. BikePedia carries detailed information and manufacturers specifications for over 250,0000 items.  BikePedia sees over 500,000 unique visitors a month. During the summer season, more than 20,000,000 pages are viewed.

With its tie-in to amlbs.com, BikePedia gives its consumer audience a way to convert their research of a particular bike item into finding who has that item in-stock, at a store nearby. Retailers will be able to get more shoppers into their store and sell their unique inventory more easily with a free listing on amlbs.com.

“We wanted to expand the consumer experience in addition to driving traffic to local bike shops and amlbs.com does exactly that” said Adam Durazo, the creator of BikePedia.

“Linking to BikePedia is an exciting step for us in building awareness with bike shoppers.  We believe that all bike shoppers do a great deal of research online for the items they are seeking to buy, and we know that BikePedia is an important resource for that community”, said Beverly Garrity, General Manager of amlbs.com.

 About BikePedia

BikePedia is the only dynamic and complete catalog for bicycle products and specifications. Designed for consumers as an encyclopedia for the most current products available to products dating back to 1993. www.bikepedia.com

About AMLBS.com

Amlbs.com is an innovative consumer website serviced by Vendor-Link Cycling (VLC) that provides secure solutions for retailers to show they have specific product in-stock. The Silicon Valley based company is dedicated to improving the industry’s supply chain efficiency and supporting retailers by sending customers to their stores. Amlbs.com listed retailers automatically enroll with VLC which is instrumental for stores to receive better product fulfillment from their suppliers by reporting demand data 

Giant Bicycles Enhances Retailer Supply

Giant Bicycles Enhances Retailer Supply with Vendor-Link Cycling

Advantage for Giant Retailers Signing on with Program

NEWBURY PARK, CA (March 6, 2012) – Giant Bicycle retailers can now experience quicker inventory replenishment of Giant bikes and GEAR.  Vendor-Link Cycling (VLC), the business intelligence solutions company for the cycling industry, is teaming up with Giant Bicycles, the world’s leading provider of high-quality bicycles and frames with over 1,000 dealers in the US. There is no cost to Giant retailers who will quickly see tangible benefits of providing real-time sell-through data to VLC and Giant.

“In the short time I’ve been at Giant, the comment I’ve heard most often from our retailers is ‘Giant’s entire product line is strong — if you could consistently get it to me when I need it, I’d buy more,’ recalled John Thompson, Executive Director of Sales at Giant USA. He continued, “The partnership with Vendor-Link Cycling is a powerful step in our goal to improve supply performance to our retailers. Our lead times are the shortest in the industry and with Vendor-Link’s real-time sell-through data we’ll be better informed of what bicycles to build and how many. The retailer wins, the rider wins, and Giant executes fulfillment at the highest level”

“Giant is a world class company with integrated manufacturing that clearly understands the enormous benefits of real-time demand based data and the impact this will have on servicing their retail network and expanding their reach.” noted Raz Alon, CEO of Vendor-Link Cycling. “Very soon the independent bike dealers enrolled with VLC will start experiencing far lower levels of stock-outs and much higher service levels from suppliers using VLC. Those suppliers not on with VLC will be at a disadvantage.”

It’s free and convenient for retailers to participate. Once enrolled, no effort is required for a retailer. Enroll directly or get more information at www.vlcycling.com.

About Vendor-Link Cycling. Vendor-Link Cycling provides cloud-based business intelligence reporting to bike industry suppliers and retailers. As an industry-wide solution, Vendor-Link Cycling provides suppliers with SKU-level, real-time sell-through, inventory information and smart reports allowing suppliers and dealers to increase profitability, improve planning and forecasting. With Vendor-Link Cycling bike retailers have access to a Dashboard that provides performance benchmarking against other retailers nationally. Vendor-Link Cycling is headquartered in Los Altos, California. Visit www.vlcycling.com for more information.

About Giant. Giant, the world’s leading provider of high-quality bicycles, has been devoted to cycling culture and sport since 1972. Today, Giant combines innovative technology and manufacturing expertise to create products that are perfectly suited to every type of rider. Committed to inspiring adventure in all cyclists, from casual to competitive, Giant aims to promote the cycling lifestyle all around the world. For more information, go to www.giant-bicycles.com.

Andy Tompkins joins Vendor-Link Cycling

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Vendor-Link Cycling is a fast growing company with a great value proposition to suppliers, distributors and retailers. The keystone suppliers that are using its service and the significant adoption among retailers are a sharp indicator of the direction this industry is going and of Vendor-Link’s potential. Conversations I’ve had with retailers and suppliers reinforced the notion that visibility into actual inventory levels will have a huge impact on profitability opportunities with reduced stock-outs and improved fulfillment resulting in the right products being on-hand at the local bike shop.” He added, “I see the same opportunities in several other sectors of the active sports industry, which could benefit using Vendor-Link’s real-time sell through data as well. “

About Vendor-Link Cycling. Vendor-Link Cycling provides cloud-based business intelligence reporting to bike industry suppliers and retailers. As an industry-wide solution, Vendor-Link Cycling provides suppliers with SKU-level, real-time sell-through, inventory information and smart reports allowing suppliers and dealers to increase profitability, improve planning and forecasting. With Vendor-Link Cycling bike retailers have access to a Dashboard that provides performance benchmarking against other retailers nationally. Vendor-Link Cycling is headquartered in Los Altos, California. Visit www.vlcycling.com for more information.

Specialized rolls out Vendor-Link Cycling to it’s 1200 dealers

Palo Alto, California — January 16, 2011. Vendor-Link Cycling (VLC), the business intelligence solutions company for the cycling industry, has announced a partnership with Specialized Bicycle Components.

The partnership will benefit the 1200+ Specialized dealers across the USA by providing access to VLC’s real-time, sell-through and inventory reporting, and allowing the California-based leader in performance bicycles and equipment to more accurately meet demand.

“We have dealers who are already connected with Vendor-Link, and their feedback has given us great insight into how this service can benefit our dealers around the country,” said Mike Abbott, Specialized COO.

“Now, every Specialized dealer will be able to experience the benefits that VLC offers, helping shop owners and managers take their business analytics to the next level. The partnership will also allow Specialized to service our dealers even better than before by being more responsive to consumer demand and more effective with product availability and inventory management.”

“Specialized is one of the leading bicycle brands in the world, and Vendor-Link Cycling is delighted that our real-time sales and inventory service is playing a part in the success of the Specialized brand and their dealers’ businesses”, noted Raz Alon, CEO of Vendor-Link Cycling.  

VLC is packed with tangible benefits and is free to bike retailers. With access to smart and simple analytics from their own store’s POS data through the Retail Dashboard feature, dealers get critical insight of their store gross margins compared to other retailer’s nationwide, enabling smarter business decisions. A real store demo of the Dashboard can be accessed via http://dashboard.vlcycling.com/dashboard/landing.html.

About Vendor-Link Cycling. Vendor-Link Cycling provides cloud-based business intelligence reporting to bike industry suppliers and retailers. As an industry-wide solution, Vendor-Link Cycling provides suppliers with SKU-level, real-time sell-through, inventory information and smart reports allowing suppliers and dealers to increase profitability, improve planning and forecasting. With Vendor-Link Cycling bike retailers have access to a Dashboard that provides performance benchmarking against other retailers nationally. Vendor-Link Cycling is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Visit www.vlcycling.com for more information.

About Specialized: Specialized was founded in 1974 by riders for riders. Since then, the Morgan Hill, CA based company has grown into one of the world’s most successful bicycle companies with market leading performance bicycles, accessories and an ever-expanding domestic and international dealer base.

Serfas and Cervélo aim to better service dealers and improve inventory management with Vendor-Link Cycling.

Palo Alto, California — November 29, 2011. Vendor-Link Cycling (VLC) announced that Serfas, a market leader in cycling accessories, and Cervélo Cycles, the world’s biggest manufacturer of triathlon and aero road bicycles, will be using Vendor-Link Cycling’s real-time sell through and inventory reporting service.

“Our reps can now concentrate on educating store managers, buyers and staff on product features versus focusing on inventory and ordering,” says Ray Kuipers, Serfas CEO. “In excess of 1,200 dealers have already embraced our drive for better service with updated inventory data by adopting our scanning program. VLC complements the scanners and is the next step for us. Now with real-time inventory access to our accounts, we can replenish in a timely matter, and assist our dealers by becoming their warehouse, implementing ‘just in time ordering’.”

“We are eager to get our dealers on-board with VLC so we can get them exactly the bikes they need, when they need them” commented Brian Dillman, General Manager of Cervélo.

VLC is packed with tangible benefits and is free to bike retailers. Retailers get access to smart and simple analytics from their own store’s POS data with the Retail Dashboard. Retailers use the Dashboard to get critical insight of their store gross margins compared to other retailer’s nationwide, enabling smarter business decisions. A real store demo of the Dashboard can be accessed via www.vlcycling.com.

About Vendor-Link Cycling. Vendor-Link Cycling provides cloud-based business intelligence reporting to bike industry suppliers and retailers. As an industry-wide solution, Vendor-Link Cycling provides suppliers with SKU-level, real-time sell-through inventory information and smart reports allowing suppliers and dealers to increase profitability, improve planning and forecasting. With Vendor-Link Cycling, bike retailers have access to a Dashboard that provides performance benchmarking against other retailers nationally. Vendor-Link Cycling is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. See www.vlcycling.com for more information. 

About Serfas. Southern-California based Serfas, has been the market leader in bicycle accessories for almost 20 years. Known for their ergonomic saddles that started the low-pressure revolution in this category, they continue to expand by offering complete accessory lines for all cyclists. Unmatched customer service to their retailers has built a reputation and success for Serfas, allowing for their continued innovation and improved products to the market. Their goal remains the same: to provide value added products that everyone can afford for the bicycle retailer shelves, and for all levels of cyclists! For more information visit www.serfas.com.

About Cervélo. Phil White and Gérard Vroomen founded Cervélo in 1995 when their design for a new time-trial bicycle failed to garner interest from traditional bicycle manufacturers. Today, Cervélo is the largest time-trial bike manufacturer in the world and partner of one of the world’s top pro road cycling teams, Team Garmin-Cervélo. Cervélo is recognized internationally as one of the most innovative and fastest growing bike manufacturers. Readers of VeloNews, CycleSport, Inside Triathlon and Slowtwitch (all publications for serious cyclists and triathletes) all vote Cervélo as the number one as brand they intend to purchase in 2011. For further information visit www.Cervélo.com.

Vendor-Link Cycling adds Easton-Bell Sports as premier account

Palo Alto, California — October 24, 2011. Vendor-Link Cycling (VLC), the business intelligence solutions company for the cycling industry announced that the Action Sports Division of Easton-Bell Sports (EBS) will be using VLC to improve dealer service as well as planning and forecasting. The brands using VLC will be Giro Cycling, Bell Bike, Easton Cycling and Blackburn. With VLC, EBS Action Sports will have access to real-time sell-through and inventory data of their products from dealer accounts. EBS Action Sports reps will be able to help bike retailers reduce lost sales with smarter inventory planning and speedier fulfillment.

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Dealers now have access to Vendor-Link Cycling’s Dashboard

Palo Alto, California — November 16, 2011. Vendor-Link Cycling (VLC), the business intelligence solutions company for the cycling industry, announced that its Retail Dashboard is now accessible for enrolled retailers. The Dashboard provides real-time visual metric reporting of your store’s point-of-sale (POS) data. 

Information that used to be available only to the mass market is now obtainable for a specialty bicycle retailer, changing the competitive landscape. After enrolling with VLC, a retailer will see smart reports such as Days on Hand, Stock Outs and Total Lost Sales for their store. More Dashboard reports on Comparative Performance for Gross Profit and Gross Margin, give critical insight of how a store compares to retailers nationwide. VLC Dashboard enables specialty retailers to make smarter business decisions. The more you know the easier it is to increase profits. One of the Dashboard’s advantages is that it does calculations for you, making it easy to quickly assess how well you are doing. Conveniently, VLC is a web-based application giving users the freedom of access from anywhere on any browser. Retailers enroll for free, with no obligation. You can see how it works today, with the Dashboard’s live demo online at www.vlcycling.com.

“It is not often that one is offered a true “Win-Win” proposition, but as I see it Vendor-link is just that. It is a no brainer win for the retailer based on the fact that it is free, and it affords even the smallest retailer to access reports like Stock Outs, Lost Sales, and Gross profit, ” said Jeff Selzer, GM Palo Alto Bicycles and NBDA Board member. “It’s also a win for the industry by giving vendors real time data allowing them to improve the entire supply side of the business, in short having the right product at the right time, in the right quantity.” 

 Jay Townley of Vendor-Link Cycling commented, “Bike shops enrolled with VLC are exited about what they discover using the Retail Dashboard. They are saying it’s easy to use and find it helps uncover areas where they can improve their current operations. There isn’t anything like this available to bike shops now, and the VLC Retail Dashboard is setting a new standard for business tools in the specialty retail channel.”