North West-based motorcycle wholesaler and parts and accessories distributor Reivers Wholesale has been sold, and the business and stock have been relocated to Pontyclun in South Wales. Nick Long, its new owner, has long term plans to offer Reiver’s service across the country.
Established by husband and wife team Nigel and Deborah Deardon in October 1992, Reivers has a long history of supplying northern dealers. For more than 30 years the company has represented many top workshop brands, including EBC brakes, Silkolene oils, DID chains, JT sprockets, Hi-Flo filters, Koyo bearings, NGK plugs, OptiMate chargers, Vee-Rubber tyres, Bike-It products and Yuasa batteries.
Now bowing out of the trade, Nigel Deardon said: “I would like to thank all the customers who have supported us, especially from the outset; too many to mention individually, but they know who they are! Also, all of our suppliers who were happy to have another distributor, even if it was way up in the frozen wasteland of the North.
Former Reivers boss Nigel Dearden is looking forward to running his 1980 TZ350G in the 2024 GP Originals series having sold the business on to Nick Long in South Wales“Two people, who back in 1992 were difficult to convince, were the late Eric Brooks, Silkolene sales manager, and Andy Freeman, boss of EBC. They both had doubts I could achieve results without stepping on other northern distributors’ toes, but eventually thanked me, because they both got extra business without any complaints.
“Now 70, I’m looking forward to the start of the 2024 race season with GP Originals and have just returned from the Aintree Club’s awards presentation night, having achieved two third places (open 500 and the Forgotten Era 500) in the 2023 Ace of Aintree championships with my 43 year old TZ350 Yamaha – never say never, and just get on with it!”
New owner Nick Long, who has a degree in motorcycle engineering, believes there is a gap in the market for the smaller wholesaler and plans to offer Reivers’ regional service levels, but on a national scale. Although a digital dealer portal will be launched later in 2024, Long insists there is still a place for good old-fashioned, knowledgeable customer service, where dealers can speak to a person rather than an AI chatbot. “With most of the small, regional wholesalers being snapped up by big foreign companies and investors, it leaves the choice for dealers at an all-time low. Historically, dealers had a range of distributors to source from, all representing different brands and with their own unique selling points. These days, you can count the number of parts distributors on one hand. So many acquisitions have taken place within the industry over the last two or three years, and the effect that has had on product and brand consolidation is massive. The end result means dealers and consumers have less choice, prices rise, and some great brands end up being mothballed.”
Reivers will carry on representing all the brands it used to and national next-day delivery will be part of the new service. “All the stock has been moved to our South Wales warehouse, so we are ready to go!” said Long.
Reivers
01697 343 240
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