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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Quality Bicycle Products say to the road? "I'm geared towards you.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from QBP)
Quality Bicycle Products (QBP)
TypePrivate
IndustryBicycle parts and accessories distribution
Founded1981; 45 years ago (1981)
HeadquartersBloomington, MN, United States
Key people
Steve Flagg, founder
RevenueIncrease$200 million USD (2014)[1]
Number of employees
690 (2015)
Websitewww.qbp.com

Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) is a large distributor of bicycle parts and accessories in the bicycle industry, based in the United States,[2] with revenues of $150 million in 2008.[3][4] In addition to wholesaling bicycles and components from other manufacturers, QBP owns and manufactures several brands of its own, including Salsa Cycles and Surly Bikes.

History

[edit]

Founded by Steve Flagg and Mary Henrickson in 1981, QBP operated from a small office in St. Paul, MN.[5] The company did $100,000 in sales during its first year.[6] In the second year sales reached $250,000[6] and in 1983 the company received half a million dollars in sales.[6] Early on, the company's main product was its mountain bikes, and QBP also specialised in importing hard-to-find mountain-bike parts from suppliers in Japan.[6] In 1984, QBP hired its first employee and sold $1 million in parts.[6] In 1996 QBP purchased a 67,000-square-foot (6,200 m2) warehouse on its current site in West Bloomington.[7]

QBP purchased Salsa Cycles in 1997, a California-based mountain-bike manufacturer. The following year, the firm entered the emerging single-speed bike market with its in-house designed Singleton chain tensioner. Later in 1998, this product and the new Rat Ride single-speed frame (soon renamed the 1X1) helped launch the company’s new start-up, Surly Bikes.[8] The company continued developing brands for under-served markets, adding specialty parts with Problem Solvers, value parts and accessories with Dimension, and high-end components with Winwood. It also became the exclusive U.S. distributor for Jagwire, a Taiwan-based manufacturer of bicycle brake and derailleur components, including pads, cables and, cable housing.[9]

Responding to the growing trend of bike commuting and “transportation-oriented” cycling, the firm created the Civia bike brand in 2007. The following year, the firm transformed Wheelhouse, its dealer-oriented wheel-building service, into Handspun, a consumer-oriented manufacturer of hand-trued and custom-built wheels. It also founded All-City, which offers single-speed and fixed-gear bikes, parts and accessories for urban bicycling.[10] In 2007 QBP received the first annual Carbon Buster Award from U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar.[11] The firm opened a second distribution center in Ogden, Utah in the spring of 2010, that has been awarded LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council,[12][13] the firm was named one of America's Top Work Places by Outside Magazine in 2011.[14] Later that year the firm opened a third distribution center in Middletown, PA,[15] and moved to a new facility in Lancaster, PA in January 2015.[16]

In 2015 Flagg retired from his position as CEO and was replaced with Rich Tauer, previously vice-president of marketing and sales. Flagg continued on as the company's chairman. That year the company opened offices in Taiwan, bringing the company to 690 employees.[5][17] In 2016 the company opened a fourth facility in Reno, Nevada.[18]

In April 2020, the company announced layoffs for 12 percent of its workforce due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[19]

Brands

[edit]

The company owns nineteen brands including Salsa, Surly, All-City, 45North, Handspun, Foundry, Civia, Whisky, MSW, Problem Solvers, Dimension, Mechanical Threads, R12, Q-Tubes, Buzzy's and iSSi. Through its Q-Active division, the company distributes products to independent skiing, running, and outdoor retailers. QBP entered a distribution agreement with Fyxation in 2011.[20][21][22][23] The company distributes both bicycles themselves and bicycle parts, in addition to outdoor gear.[24] In August 2023 it was announced that the brand All-City would be discontinued after the 2024 season.[25]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "How Quality Bicycle Products wheels in orders faster and more accurately". Archived from the original on 2015-10-29. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
  2. ↑ Zinn, Lennard (May 2009). "Putting the Quality in Your Bicycles" (PDF). VeloNews. Competitor Group Inc. pp. 91–92. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2010-01-02. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
  3. ↑ St. Anthony, Neal (September 20, 2008). "Parts come together". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, MN. Archived from the original on 2009-11-06. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
  4. ↑ D’Ambrosio, Dan (August–September 2010). "Industry Profile QBP" (PDF). Adventure Cyclist. Adventure Cycling Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2010-12-19. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
  5. 1 2 "Steve Flagg steps down as QBP president". Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. Archived from the original on 2016-01-25. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Gee, David (December 2007). "Pedal Power". Minnesota Business: 48–55.
  7. ↑ "ON THE HORIZON – QUALITY BICYCLE PRODUCTS". 8 April 2011. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  8. ↑ "Minnesota company keeps winter biking rolling". Twin Cities. 18 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "Jagwire names QBP its exclusive US distributor".
  10. ↑ "Bicycle Friendly Business: Quality Bicycle Products Platinum Level". League of American Bicyclists. Archived from the original on 2010-12-29. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
  11. ↑ "Senator Klobuchar's Carbon Buster Awards of Excellence". Senator Klobuchar. Archived from the original on 2010-11-05. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
  12. ↑ Staff, BRAIN (2012-07-05). "QBP earns LEED certification for Utah center". Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
  13. ↑ "More Companies Are Outfitting Warehouses With 'Smart' Lights". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  14. ↑ "49. Quality Bicycle Products". Outside Magazine. August 15, 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-12-30. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
  15. ↑ Staff, BRAIN (2011-12-05). "QBP's East Coast warehouse up and running". Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  16. ↑ Tim Stuhldreher (December 24, 2014). "Quality Bicycle Products to open Lancaster distribution center Jan. 5". LancasterOnline. Retrieved 2015-06-25.
  17. ↑ "Nobody shifts like they do at Quality Bicycle Products".
  18. ↑ TIM MEKEEL - Staff Writer (25 January 2016). "Quality Bicycle Products opens 4th distribution center in Reno". LancasterOnline. Archived from the original on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  19. ↑ Emily, Cassel (14 April 2020). "Bloomington bike parts company QBP, the country's largest, lays off 88 in mass video call". City Pages.
  20. ↑ BRAIN Staff (January 5, 2011). "QBP to Distribute Fyxation". Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. Archived from the original on 2015-03-16. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  21. ↑ Stephen Regenold (15 January 2016). "Expert Panel: 20 'Hacks' For Better Wintertime Biking". Gear Junkie. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  22. ↑ "Guy On A Bike: With QBP It Makes Sense To Ride To Work". 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  23. ↑ "QBP forbids sale of its brands through third-party online vendors".
  24. ↑ ThisisReno Staff (29 October 2015). "Quality Bicycle Products Opens Distribution Center Creating 50 Jobs". This is Reno.
  25. ↑ "All-City Cycles is Closing".
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