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Wiggle claims it has become the UK’s largest online cycle retailer

Reports 19 per cent rise in sales compared to previous year

Online cycle retailer, Wiggle, has reported a 19 per cent rise in sales from £141m to £168m for the year ending 2nd February 2014. With Chain Reaction recently reporting a six per cent drop to £144.9m in the 12 months to 31 December 2013, Wiggle is now claiming to be the biggest in its market.

There were signs of Wiggle’s expansion recently with the news that the firm had signed a lease on a 323,000 square foot unit at a logistics facility at Bilston near Wolverhampton. Stefan Barden, CEO of Wiggle, alluded to this when commenting on the latest news:

“The underlying performance of the business in the year has been strong, with fast growth in Europe and clear evidence of further market share gains in the UK. The product offering continued to evolve, with further enhancements made to consolidate the company’s leading customer service proposition.

“The momentum has continued into the current financial year with major projects underway to not only drive profitable growth but also provide the capacity and infrastructure to support and manage it. We remain passionate about our business and confident in our ability to deliver the long term growth strategy.”

The strongest performance was seen in the UK and Europe with sales in the rest of the world being held back by the strength of the Pound.

More recently, the retailer has also established a handful of bike repair and servicing centres at business parks. Speaking at the time, Wiggle’s business development director, Stephen McAlister, said:

“We want to expand our services beyond product sales to after care and maintenance work to improve our overall offer to customers and to do this we need a physical space.”

However, it has not all been smooth roads and freewheeling for the firm in recent times. Last month we reported on allegations of plagiarism brought against it by Anna Glowinski, founder of women’s cycle clothing business Ana Nichoola. After investigating, Wiggle published a detailed response, rejecting the claims.

Wiggle officially began trading in May 1999 out of a back room of Bikes @ Butlers, a Portsmouth bike shop and national mail order service. It now sells to more than a million customers in 70 countries worldwide.

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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20 comments

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ronin | 9 years ago
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I always collect the Haribo's and them send them back when I have a return. Shame they can't send me something I like...perhaps once they get bigger they'll upgrade their Customer Relationship Management system so I'll be select my preference.
I spend too much on cycle stuff anyway...time to reduce the amount then I'll have enough to buy my own sweets.

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urbane | 9 years ago
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I used to buy most of my stuff from Wiggle, but the range shrank fast, so found Chain Reaction; the prices and range at Chain Reaction still shame them, even with my Wiggle discounts, so I still buy less from Wiggle.

Sweets are not enough to get me to buy stuff, value for money and range are; same applies to the mostly overpriced junk which Firebox sells!

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Das | 9 years ago
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Yup no complaints from me either. TBH the text message thing from Royal mail and DPD is brilliant. Oh aye and the Haribo's too.

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tritecommentbot replied to Das | 9 years ago
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Yeah I love those texts, especially DPD with the delivery window.

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postmandick | 9 years ago
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I find that Wiggle delivers on time and to the correct house via Royal Mail who knows just where to hide my goodies..... and as a previous correspondent said you just throw your Haribos one way whilst squirrelling away my latest must have cycle gear from the eagle like gaze of the wife ........  105

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Chris James replied to postmandick | 9 years ago
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postmandick wrote:

I find that Wiggle delivers .... via Royal Mail

They certainly used to, but my last few deliveries have been via DPD. I don't know if it varies depending on box size or f they have switched couriers.

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Chuck replied to Chris James | 9 years ago
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Chris James wrote:
postmandick wrote:

I find that Wiggle delivers .... via Royal Mail

They certainly used to, but my last few deliveries have been via DPD. I don't know if it varies depending on box size or f they have switched couriers.

I had a couple from Wiggle come by courier and for me that is a right PITA. If I think it might be courier I have it sent somewhere other than home otherwise I'll never get it! They seem to have gone back to Royal Mail though- they'd have gone to the bottom of the list otherwise.

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mrmo | 9 years ago
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surprised that CRC are so big, looking at stock it seems ever more like end of lines rather than trying to sell everything. More often than not items i look at aren't available in a full range of sizes etc.

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lstelie | 9 years ago
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Hello,

A former loyal CRC customer I now shop more at Wiggle simply because their website is clearer, they have a lot of promotions..
CRC may have a larger choice but they new site is not very convenient (at least for my needs)

But I also shop at CRC and bikecomponents (a german site very good for technical stuff)

Luc

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Chuck | 9 years ago
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I thought they were the biggest already!

I like them but don't use them exclusively- CRC, Merlin and Wiggle are my first ports of call and then I just go with whoever has what I want cheapest once postage is taken into account.
Nothing to choose between them on speed and service IME.

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theloststarfighter | 9 years ago
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I've purchased from Merlin, Wiggle, CRC and Tredz over the last few months. Received good service from all of them. Of course I didn't have a problem with any of the orders and it's when something goes wrong that you find out about their customer care and if they'll go out of their way to help. Choice, price and good reviews on the products help direct where I spend money. Wiggle have created a good 'brand' image with sponsorship and the sportives hopefully they'll continue to do so and also always value their customers.

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madhouse | 9 years ago
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Must say that the Haribo comes in handy for distracting the wife from the contents of said parcel. Equally as far as she's concerned they use unfeasibly large boxes for a few small items (after I've hidden the good stuff using the aforementioned distraction technique).

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twowheeltoys | 9 years ago
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I am surprised CRC are still turning over that kind of business with the ever increasing competition. Their range of complete bikes in the last year or two (in the UK at least) has been quite restricted. I know that their ownership of other import companies restricts their selling some brands without upsetting the high street retailers; but apart from their Vitus brand there was not a lot of choice this summer in the road range. Wiggle’s range of bikes in the road section puts CRC’s to shame.

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truffy | 9 years ago
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I've never had problems with CRC asking me to review stuff. I don't think I've ever bought anything from Wiggle, although that's not to say I wouldn't, just haven't. I can live without Haribo TBH.

Odd fact: wiggle.co.uk allows me to select prices in any currency, including CHF; wiggle.com is limited to GBP and four flavours of dollar.

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bikebot | 9 years ago
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I'm building a bike this week (as you do...), and have parts coming from three different retailers plus bits from ebay.

Wiggle got here the fastest, the only complaint I can make is that for some reason they used a comically large box.

And I've eaten the Haribo.

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johndonnelly replied to bikebot | 9 years ago
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bikebot wrote:

And I've eaten the Haribo.

Are you complaining that you've eaten the Haribo?

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bikebot replied to johndonnelly | 9 years ago
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johndonnelly wrote:
bikebot wrote:

And I've eaten the Haribo.

Are you complaining that you've eaten the Haribo?

Yes.

I put them aside as a reward, to eat after finishing the bike build, but somehow I accidentally ate them.

Yes, by accident.  44

Now I'll have to order something else to get another packet...

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dirk1978 | 9 years ago
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It's the Haribo. It's all in the Haribo, seriously.

Not only that, the 1-2 day delivery on standard shipping.

Oh, and them using DPD with text and email updates.

Won't use anyone else unless there's stock issues or a massive price difference.

Unless they get cocky and start using Yodel and some middle manager comes in and reckons they can save £500k a year by not giving away Haribo. Then I'll use someone else.

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Chris James replied to dirk1978 | 9 years ago
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dirk1978 wrote:

It's the Haribo. It's all in the Haribo, seriously.

Not only that, the 1-2 day delivery on standard shipping.

Oh, and them using DPD with text and email updates.

Won't use anyone else unless there's stock issues or a massive price difference.

I get stuff faster from Belfast via Royal Mail than from Bournemouth via DPD.

I also find DPDs texting my home phone number (not mobile - I need to change my Wiggle setup!) at 6 in the morning twice, and then texting me again (twice!) to tell me they have delivered when I already know quite irritating. And Royal Mail is more convenient for me if I miss the delivery, so I have gravitated back to Chain Reaction for stuff I need quickly. Although CR have always had a MTB bias.

Ribble are cheap and have great stock, but can be a day or so slower than the other two.

Merlin have some great prices and are very rapid too. Wiggle are still good though, and their prices seem keener recently.

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Accessibility f... | 9 years ago
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Good. I started using Wiggle after CRC would not stop emailing me requests to review my purchases. And CRC only grudgingly let me know how to unsubscribe from those emails (there's no link on their website, or the emails themselves). I won't use CRC again.

Also, Wiggle = free Haribo.

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