Knowledge (XXG)

Wiggle Ltd

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On 27 October 2023 a notice was published to The Gazette announcing an administrator for the Wiggle Limited business following a period where the parent company's key financial backer pulled the plug on financing. This eventually resulted in most of the staff being laid off in February 2024, and in
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The WiggleCRC Group formed after the Competition Commission approved the merger and Wiggle bought 100% of the Chain Reactions Cycle equity from the Watson family for £62m. A key driver of synergies was the closure of CRC's Northern Irish warehouse and distribution infrastructure whose volume was
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In late 2016, Stefan Barden was replaced by Will Kernan as the new Group CEO - Kernan was previously the CEO of The White Company, and before that MD and COO at New Look. In January 2019, it was stated that Kernan was to be replaced by Ross Clemmow, a former Debenhams director.
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In 2018, a Chain Reaction Cycles' employee was critical of the group's actions after the merger; citing continued redundancies, shift patterns and a perceived shift of operations away from Ireland to Wolverhampton.
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The Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles brands remain distinct, with their own websites. Proforma turnover was over £360m in 2017 and Wiggle was the largest pure-play online sports retailer in Europe.
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Group Proforma sales are now believed to be about £500m, and it was announced that the Bike24 brand and websites will continue alongside the Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles websites.
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In 2015, Andy Bond stepped down and Brian McBride joined as chairman. McBride was formerly the CEO of Amazon UK and is the chairman of the online fashion clothing retailer
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took a 42% stake in the company. After a further three years of 40% growth, Livingbridge bought the remaining 58% in 2009, including Dall's remaining 26% stake.
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In 2015, the company consolidated its 3 owned and 1 rented warehouses in Portsmouth to a newer larger 320,000 sq ft facility in Wolverhampton.
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In September 2013, after the sale of the business, Cobbold stepped down and Stefan Barden (former CEO of Northern Foods) took over.
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was announced in 2016: by this time No1 and No2 largest global online players in the cycle and tri sports product categories.
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in December 2009. By 2011, projected annual revenue was £118m following strong international growth helped by a weak pound.
984: 508: 400: 1009: 614:"Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles are set to merge: So how did we get here and what does it all mean? | CyclingTips" 1061: 456: 1179: 765: 212: 201: 197: 639: 248: 161: 1139: 959: 934: 269:
2, Bike 24, for a reported £100m, giving access to German suppliers and a potential 'Brexit hedge'.
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Wiggle started trading in May 1999, with an initial investment of £2000 from Dall and Harvey Jones.
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Between 1999 and 2009, Wiggle experimented with online retail, and experienced strong growth.
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In October 2017 it was announced that WiggleCRC had bought a German competitor and market no.
342:"'Once the warehouse is clear, it's game over' – WiggleCRC lays off almost entire workforce" 193: 111: 566: 346: 157:, having been bought after WiggleCRC went into administration with losses of £97 million. 30: 909:"Local bike shops look away now - reports of worsening losses at Wiggle are exaggerated" 172:
The origins of Wiggle trace back to a local bike shop called Butlers Cycles, located in
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integrated into Citadel in Wolverhampton; this process was concluded in December 2017.
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for £180m. Wiggle was now one of 6 European online sports retailers, and no 2 in the
154: 1087:"Brexit and the bicycle: What does the UK's departure from the EU mean for cycling?" 513: 285: 186: 1036:"WiggleCRC acquires German rival Bike24 in reported £100m deal - Cycling Weekly" 479:"'Staycations' and weak pound have boosted British trade, says Bank of England" 218:
After an auction in December 2011, Wiggle was acquired by venture capitalists
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Previously Wiggle was part of the WiggleCRC group, which included
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March 2024 the brands started to operate as part of the
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In 2011, Livingbridge considered taking the company
1062:"WiggleCRC makes £100m move on German rival Bike24" 799:"Wiggle poaches The White Company boss Will Kernan" 138: 130: 122: 95: 78: 68: 52: 44: 36: 26: 850:"Ross Clemmow succeeds Will Kernan as Wiggle boss" 1010:"WIGGLE-CRC TO OFFER TAILORED GLOBAL RETURNS" 114:products. Outdoor and casual sports apparel. 8: 960:"CHAIN REACTION CYCLES LTD - Filing history" 185:By 2006, Wiggle was turning over £11.8m and 21: 665:"Wiggle appoints Brian McBride as chairman" 985:"Data: Top 25 pureplay retailers by sales" 20: 640:"Humphrey Cobbold leaves Wiggle CEO role" 1170:Internet properties established in 1999 1140:"Wiggle Limited appoints administrator" 423: 421: 297: 1175:Online retailers of the United Kingdom 477:Monaghan, Angela (18 December 2011). 7: 1165:Retail companies established in 1999 536:"Wiggle cycles to flotation or sale" 562:"Bridgepoint buys Wiggle for £180m" 560:Felsted, Andrea (7 December 2011). 764:Leroux, Marcus (7 December 2011). 369:Sibun, Jonathan (6 October 2010). 14: 935:"WIGGLE LIMITED - Filing history" 874:Carey, Brian (5 November 2017). 823:Stevens, Ben (3 February 2017). 766:"Business big shot: Will Kernan" 340:Will Jones (21 February 2024). 134:SIGNA Sports United (NYSE: SSU) 126:£400+ Million (WiggleCRC Group) 16:European online sports retailer 1185:1999 establishments in England 106:, components and accessories. 1: 1160:Companies based in Portsmouth 399:Wood, Zoe (22 October 2011). 308:Tom Davidson (7 March 2024). 187:Livingbridge private equity 1201: 964:beta.companieshouse.gov.uk 939:beta.companieshouse.gov.uk 429:"Wiggle founder rides off" 226:to Chain Reaction Cycles. 153:is an online brand of the 247:The merger of Wiggle and 192:Livingbridge brought in 213:initial public offering 144:c.900 (WiggleCRC Group) 593:forum.cyclingnews.com 249:Chain Reaction Cycles 162:Chain Reaction Cycles 457:"2012 Annual review" 40:Online sports retail 915:. 29 September 2017 540:The Daily Telegraph 434:The Daily Telegraph 318:. cyclingweekly.com 220:Bridgepoint Capital 140:Number of employees 110:shoes and apparel. 84:Huw Crwys-Williams 23: 1142:. 27 October 2023. 1016:. 14 December 2018 745:. 20 December 2018 620:. 15 February 2016 1042:. 23 October 2017 1014:Post & Parcel 350:. 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Index

Private
Portsmouth
CEO
Triathlon
Bicycles
Running
Swimming
Tools
Frasers Group
Chain Reaction Cycles
Portsmouth
Livingbridge private equity
Humphrey Cobbold
CEO
Andy Bond
public
initial public offering
Bridgepoint Capital
UK
ASOS
Chain Reaction Cycles
Frasers Group
Evans Cycles


"What the story of Evans Cycles can tell us about the future of Wiggle"
Cycling Weekly


"'Once the warehouse is clear, it's game over' – WiggleCRC lays off almost entire workforce"

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