Terry Precision Cycling moving from Rochester, NY -> Burlington, VT (Rutland: buying, price)

[Sherylcatmom]

Could Terry Bicycles Be the Next Burton Snowboards? | Seven Days


Funny. I haven't had a bike in years. On Sunday I'm buying one from a friend.

[momnh]

Terry is a great brand. I used to work for a competitor years ago. I think they will do well with what they have planned.

[mustmove]

1. Burton pay is crap, not much to aspire to in my book.
2. The woman behind this was driven out of her last job by the investors so I'm suspicious of her business acumen.
3. They will have to charge more for the same thing- she admits the cost of doing business is higher in VT, the product will have to cost more, will it be worth it? Do enough bicycle people care enough to pay a premium for the bikes to be built in a new location? I'd bet the Rochester bikes are going to be better than the first batches off the line in VT due to disruption and new employees. Higher price lower quality that is not the way forward.
4. I'm guessing the profit is in the clothes and if they branded new designs, manufactured the stuff overseas, it might work. Might.
5. How many places have a shorter bicycle season(for normal bicycle fans not the rare bike nutters) than VT?
Good luck, be a shame if the disruption kills the company.

[momnh]

I am guessing you don't know much about the bicycle industry. Terry is a national brand, just like Trek is (not as large but purchased from coast to coast, especially their seats). VT's short summers won't have anything to do with it.

And venture capitalists drive people out for a lot of reasons, and as much for bad reasons as for good (for instance, if their values don't align and the VC is completely profit driven). You can't make a judgment from that.

But I should have expected you to come here and dump all over this.

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by mustmove

1. Burton pay is crap, not much to aspire to in my book.
2. The woman behind this was driven out of her last job by the investors so I'm suspicious of her business acumen.
3. They will have to charge more for the same thing- she admits the cost of doing business is higher in VT, the product will have to cost more, will it be worth it? Do enough bicycle people care enough to pay a premium for the bikes to be built in a new location? I'd bet the Rochester bikes are going to be better than the first batches off the line in VT due to disruption and new employees. Higher price lower quality that is not the way forward.
4. I'm guessing the profit is in the clothes and if they branded new designs, manufactured the stuff overseas, it might work. Might.
5. How many places have a shorter bicycle season(for normal bicycle fans not the rare bike nutters) than VT?
Good luck, be a shame if the disruption kills the company.

I doubt Rochester, NY, has much more of a bike season than Vermont.

As usual, in forecasting the worst case scenario, you didn't disappoint. I hope your life has more joy in it than your posts indicate. Why not visit a forum that improves your mood instead of this one, which obviously foments more bitterness?

[mustmove]

Article says they will employ 15-16 people calling them a National brand like Trek is a stretch. Looks like they are a value added reseller of clothing that makes bicycles on the side. Nothing wrong with that, hopefully a new clothing line will make them lots of money and provide jobs in the third world garment industry.
PS you folks are funny.

[momnh]

Again, I don't think you know much about the bicycle industry and how it is structured, especially around the supply chain. Having appeal and selling on a national basis doesn't have to connect to the number of employees. I worked for a MAJOR national cycling brand that only had 25 employees. My point is that the company's success won't be dependent on the local economy like you seem to think. But maybe it will because they will be able to employ all those super high qualified people around here that are out of jobs.

[KoZmiC NinJa]

Originally Posted by momnh

Again, I don't think you know much about the bicycle industry and how it is structured, especially around the supply chain. Having appeal and selling on a national basis doesn't have to connect to the number of employees. I worked for a MAJOR national cycling brand that only had 25 employees. My point is that the company's success won't be dependent on the local economy like you seem to think. But maybe it will because they will be able to employ all those super high qualified people around here that are out of jobs.

I agree with the stuff you say here momnh.
Terry is a niche marketer who I thinks cache will only improve
with the move to VT. Sort of like Indy Fab in MA
Vt. is a cycling state regardless of the weather. On any cycling
forum in the world you will hear about how great VT is for touring
and training. In the market Terry is competing in this can only be a plus.


I rode from Proctor to N. Clarendon, almost every day year
round when I was here, on a fixie and single speed most of the
time

[Sherylcatmom]

A biking experiment in progress: Rutland Herald Online

"Surprisingly, in Missoula, Mont., where the winters are fierce, bicyclists account for almost 6 percent of commuters."

I'm picking up my bike today, purchasing from a friend who upgraded. Maybe next year I'll be putting studded snow tires on it, too.

[KoZmiC NinJa]

Originally Posted by Sherylcatmom

A biking experiment in progress: Rutland Herald Online

"Surprisingly, in Missoula, Mont., where the winters are fierce, bicyclists account for almost 6 percent of commuters."

I'm picking up my bike today, purchasing from a friend who upgraded. Maybe next year I'll be putting studded snow tires on it, too.

Awesome, SCM !!!

I found some of Rutlands city infrastructure to not
be too bike friendly, specifically the areas around the
Fairgrounds and hospital, but you learn your way around
and some cases during rush hour, you can make better time
than a car. The two most undiserable elements I battled
with other than brutal cold, was the salt-cinder-water muck
that splashed on the bike tore up drivetrains like they were
made of tissue paper....thats why I went to one-speed stuff.
Also, when the snow melts, you will find the cinder dumps are
full of old screws, nails sheet metal etc, etc....I could get two
flats on one ride sometimes til the roads cleared themselves.
So, use flat-proof tires, tube tuffies and carry a kit and pump

The Schwinn guy on the corner of Strongs & Main was always
good to me, a little expensive but supporting community is
good

Be safe !!