Philadelphia’s independent bike shops are about to experience a new kind of traveling salesperson. Terry Bicycles’ CEO, Liz Robert (formerly CEO of The Vermont Teddy Bear Company) is trading in her business suit for bike shorts and embarking on a pedaling excursion. Robert is loading her backpack with samples and sales catalogs and riding from bike shop to shop in metro locations around the country, selling the Terry line of cycling gear and testing Google Bike Maps as well as the developing bike infrastructure of our cities and towns.
Robert recently pedaled through Boston and surrounding areas, San Diego and neighboring coastal towns, and survived a 104 degree ride along the Rail Trail of Westchester County, NY. Her next bike tour is set for Philadelphia on Thursday, September 29 and Friday, September 30. She plans to ride from Wayne, PA to downtown Philadelphia on Thursday. On Friday, she’ll travel from Levittown to Doylestown visiting independent bicycle dealers.
Bicycle Julio, a small bike store in Chappaqua, NY was enthusiastic about Robert’s recent visit. ‘When she showed up on her bike, we naturally thought it was an outside rep for Terry, not the CEO,’ said Will Sierra of Bicycle Julio. ‘We think it’s great that she’s out there riding her bike to visit the independent stores because we usually don’t see the people who own the companies. It really helps develop a person-to-person relationship.’
Robert says her goal is to reaffirm her commitment to the independent bicycle dealers by helping them develop the market for women. ‘By visiting the shops, I learn about their challenges in developing an assortment of cycling apparel for and selling to women. Every shop is different with a unique set of challenges,’ said Robert.
During her 11 years as CEO of Vermont Teddy Bear (VTB), Robert developed the small Vermont based business into a nationally recognized brand. Sales grew from $16 million to nearly $75 million in sales in 2008 as she added PajamaGram and Calyx Flowers to the Company’s portfolio of creative and personalized gift products. After leaving VTB in 2008, Robert acquired Terry Bicycles and moved it from Rochester, NY to Burlington, Vermont in 2009.
Terry Bicycles is the Original Women’s Bicycling Company, founded in 1985 by Georgena Terry who pioneered women’s specific bike design with geometry proportioned to a woman’s anatomy. Georgena further revolutionized the cycling industry with the Terry saddle, the original bicycle seat with a cutaway, dramatically improving comfort for women first, then for all riders. Today, Terry is the one-stop-shop for all of a female cyclist needs and the only brand dedicated solely to women’s cycling. The Terry apparel line includes a full selection of bright, colorful prints and patterns that complement the high-performance fabrics and precise fit of all Terry jerseys and cycling bottoms. From serious gear to recreational pieces, Terry positions itself as a brand for enthusiasts, where technical performance and feminine style ride in tandem. Terry distributes its cycling products nationally via catalog and web, and through a channel of retailers including REI and independent bicycle dealers.
Terry Bicycles can be found online at www.TerryBicycles.com.