Retail director Mark Smith said Active’s undisclosed stake has made funds available for the 31-store chain to expand. “We could more than triple our stores. We could have about 100 in the long term,” he said.
Next month, Evans Cycles will relaunch its transactional web site, which will have strong interactive elements and could eventually host reviews and forums.
Smith said that Evans Cycles’ sales have been aided in recent years by high-profile drives to reduce the number of cars on the road – particularly in London – and people improving their fitness levels.
In February last year, Evans began looking for partners and was understood to have held provisional talks with Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley.
Nick Evans, who led the transaction on behalf of Active, has become executive chairman of the retailer, and the rest of the management remains the same.
No comments yet