The recent bicycle industry boom may have been the result of a Covid19 tailwind, but brands are using the profits to invest back into their businesses – to make them leaner, meaner, and hopefully greener in the future. Two such brands who have decided that a wholesale move to new and more sustainable premises is the answer are Spanish mountain bike brand Mondraker and the Swiss cycling shoe meisters at Suplest.
Both businesses have both been rewarded with record sales, as cycling became the ‘go-to’ responsibly distanced outdoor recreation activity during the global pandemic. Their established customer bases continued to buy into their favoured brands, while newcomers to cycling followed the emerging Covid19 trend of investing more into their active outdoor lifestyle purchases – often choosing premium brands, like Mondraker and Suplest, over the entry and mid-level ones.
Of course, a premises change doesn’t happen that quickly, and the seeds of location change were planted some time ago, nevertheless, the interim results of the ongoing global situation have proven the worth of making such a complex leap, both in finance and faith.
Mondraker just opened a brand-new, purpose-built building in Elche, Spain and as well as increasing the working space, and improving the overall working environment – to call it non-conformist would be an understatement - it’s certainly unlike most me-too commercial buildings, the buildings circular form, semi-domed roof and almost translucent exterior make it look more like an arts center of an Olympic Park sports facility. It’s one of the most visually arresting constructions that we’ve laid eyes upon.
Why choose such an unconventional shape? Simple. It plays directly to the brand’s overall stance on design. That is; Never be constrained by convention. The exceptionally light, open and airy spaces inside are more what you’d expect from Apple than the bike industry, bet then that alone is a telling signal about the technology and design considerations that underpin cycling in the 21st century.
Suplest, the Swiss cycling shoe manufacturer just moved locations to Burgdorf and in doing so gave themselves the opportunity to use their new location, an existing building, the location of a former brewery to add a fresh dynamic to the business. Robert Gehrig, Suplest co-owner ‘We were inspired by the shape of the building, and its likeness to a traditional Suplest shoe-box, so we rolled with the theme to make the building look like one of our own brands shoe boxes. We wanted to have a bit of fun with the look and to reflect our passion for what we do – making the very best cycling shoes available. We centered on making a light, open and spacious office where creativity and inspiration can germinate to form the ideas, we need to remain at the head of the global premium cycling shoe market. The large gently illuminated glazed sides - with our light brown tone to resemble our card boxes, create a warm and welcoming feeling – a sense that once inside is enhanced when you meet the incredible, focused team that are at the heart of Suplest’.
Both Suplest and Mondraker brands are clearly placing an emphasis on light, bright open working environments where collaboration and genuine teamwork are at the heart of driving the creativity that will allow them to remain at the tip of the spear in cycling design, well into the middle of the century.