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Mango Bikes ceases trading, seeks buyer – blames weak poundMango logo.jpg

Mango Bikes ceases trading, seeks buyer – blames weak pound

Firm up for sale after being bought back by co-founder last month
by Alex Bowden
Tue, Oct 17, 2017 14:59
9

Mango Bikes has ceased trading and is looking for a buyer. Co-founder Ben Harrison told BikeBiz that the weak pound was to blame.

Mango was formed by Harrison and Jezz Skelton in 2012 while they were in university, the pair having seen an opportunity to deal with manufacturers and customers without distributors and retailers.

However, with the business relying so heavily on imports, it has struggled to deal with the falling pound in the wake of the referendum.

Last month the Gloucestershire-based firm was sold back to Harrison for a pound after racking up £250,000 in debt. At that time it was also announced that it would relocate to Newcastle.

Harrison had reportedly hedged some currency to withstand a short-term hit to the pound but hasn’t been able to hold out against its long-term decline.

Administrators RSM are now seeking a buyer.

In May, we reported that Vulpine was rescued from administration by Mango. The firm’s directors created WilChap 564 Ltd for the acquisition from which Harrison has since resigned. Vulpine now has a new design team and has relocated to Sheffield.

Mango Bikes
Ben Harrison
Alex Bowden

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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9 comments

Avatar
frogg | 7 years ago
0 likes

so low cost slave Chinese workers weren't low cost enough ?

"blames weak pound"    bwah bwah !!!

Avatar
Team EPO | 7 years ago
0 likes

Shame as I really enjoy the singlespeed they sell as my bike from the station to the office but as a bike it was more the colours than the spec / performance that appealed.

Avatar
Leviathan | 7 years ago
0 likes

Never heard of them.

Avatar
trevorparsons | 7 years ago
0 likes

I read the headline and for a few seconds thought that Sinner Bikes, creator of the Mango velomobile, had gone bust. Then I noticed the strange position of the orange stick man in the logo and was relieved. Shows my niche.

Avatar
davel | 7 years ago
3 likes

I say, missus, the pound can't be that weak if it only took one to buy Mango and Vulpine, eeeeh?

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littletel | 7 years ago
0 likes

Shame as I really enjoy my Point R - 4 out of 5 starts by Road CC - http://road.cc/content/review/209039-mango-bikes-point-r

I wondered why no one has responded to any emails over the past month!!

 

Avatar
kil0ran | 7 years ago
0 likes

I said at the time that it was an odd fit for them.

One of the directors was previously involved with Planet X so perhaps not surprising that Vulpine is heading to Sheffield.

Avatar
Yorkshire wallet | 7 years ago
1 like

Maybe they should have tried to sell abroad since the pound was weak.

Their bikes were just cookie-cutter crap anyway. Buy chinese frames in bulk, add no-name chinese parts, maybe stretch to Claris gearing, paint 'whacky' colours and say how original it all is.

£450 for this

FRAMESET Hi-tensile steel frame and fork, built to proven angles and dimensions. 1 ⅛” fork.
HEADSET FSA 1 ⅛” threadless A-head
RIMS 30mm road alloy rims. 700c. 20h front, 28H rear
HUBS High grade Chasewood 20/28H
TYRES Kenda tyre 700c x 25c
TUBES Kenda 700c 60mm presta valve
HANDLEBARS Alloy riser (570mm) or drop bar (440mm) with hoods.
STEM 75mm x 20mm rise/fall. 25.4mm clamp diameter (or 31.8mm w/ drop bar)
BRAKES C-Star dual pivot calliper rim brakes. Integrated lever/shifter.
CRANKSET Chasewood 3 piece forged 6061 aluminium, 175mm length, 50T x 34T.
BOTTOM BRACKET Sealed bearing 68 mm x 108mm
SHIFTERS Shimano Claris STI shift/brake combo.
FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano Claris, 2 speed
REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano Claris, 8 speed
CHAIN KMC Z72
CASSETTE SRAM PG-830, 11-32
PEDALS MB cartridge bearing, ABS injection moulded
SADDLE MB embroidered comfort saddle with CR-MO rails
SEAT CLAMP 28.6mm alloy
SEATPOST 25.4mm x 300mm

 

Call Planet X crap all you want buy there's been way better builds nearing that money for sale on there.

Avatar
Freddy56 | 7 years ago
4 likes

Sounds like an almighty scam.

How could they buy what was left of Vulpine if they were racking up debt?

I invested in Vulpine and lost it, but it is Ok as ye takes yer chances. But now this.....

Mango are still taking orders and if you look at their facebook page, they are not delivering Bikes!

 

Everyone involved appears shoddy

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