It’s being reported that Stanton Bikes has called in the administrators.
As a brand with a committed fanbase, this will no doubt be a source of sadness among many, although the past few years have clearly been difficult for the Peak District company – as it has been for many in the bike industry. The current economic downturn only places further pressure on businesses, especially smaller and independent enterprises.
Efforts to bring the building of bikes into the UK combined with supply chain issues saw customers waiting for long periods for bikes. However, it appeared that these difficulties had been overcome and Stanton had announced they were ‘back on track’.
Dan had big ambitions for the company, hoping to bring manufacturing back to the UK, eliminating advance orders, model years and end of season sales. Instead he hoped to bring greater sustainability and efficiency to building bikes, by building them to order and in small batches to meet customer requirements. Less waste, fewer unsold bikes at the end of a year, and much less world wide freight. Anyone that appreciates independent thinking and an effort to do good things will be saddened by this news.
Update, Thu 17 November:
Dan has just issued the following statement on the Stanton Instagram account:
Dear friends,
11 years ago Stanton Bikes became a business built on the popularity of the first frame I ever made. It wouldn’t have happened without the faith and support shown by others in what I do, people who love the culture of MTB as much as I do. I appreciate it now as much as I did when I first started.
So, now I find myself in the heartbreaking situation of seeing the business I built falling into administration, I want to be as open as I can with everyone.
Like many businesses that want to grow, particularly in manufacturing, we rely on financial backing. The last 2 years have obviously been extremely difficult to navigate and the exposure to severely unpredictable market forces has tested everyone to the limit. We find ourselves in a situation where our backers are looking to minimise their portfolio exposure. Meaning that we need to look for a new source of investment and that’s the task that the administrators have been brought in to achieve.
As things stand, Stanton Bikes Ltd is now under the control of the administrators. It is operating as a business but is in the hands of the administrator not mine. The main thing me and the staff here care about is making sure the handful of customers who have frames boxed up and ready to go get their frame as fast as possible, and the 8 customers waiting on bikes get their new trail weapons shipped too. Goodwill and trust are hard earned and it would be the worst outcome for me and the staff to see that damaged.
What’s slowing that down is the shifting of the business from our ownership to the administrators’ ownership. The switching of accounts and contracts with suppliers and shippers is taking a deal of time to sort out and put the necessary things in place to keep business as usual.
Thank you to everyone who has been in touch with messages of support, it keeps us going and lets us know that you’re there for us whatever the outcome. What binds me, the staff here, our customers, and the wider MTB community together is our love and passion for the scene. These ‘key metrics’ might not show on a balance sheet but sometimes it’s the things you can’t count that count the most.
Keep the faith,
Dan Stanton
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