STORCK Bicycle goes South Africa: STORCK opens a new studio in Cape Town with partner Cycling

Picture: STORCK Studio Cycling Friends in Cape Town, South Africa

• Cycling Friends und STORCK engagieren sich gemeinsam in sozialen Projekten.
• Cycling Friends, a company focused on bike rental and cycling tours, is now an official STORCK sales partner.
• STORCK shareholder Stefan Lohwasser manages the business in Green Point, Cape Town.
• Cycling Friends and STORCK are actively involved in social projects together.

A few weeks ago, STORCK Bicycle introduced its new distribution partner in Santa Clarita, California. Now the German premium bicycle manufacturer surprises with the next step of its international expansion: In April 2021, the STORCK Studio Cycling Friends opened its doors in Cape Town, South Africa. Behind the cycling tour operator is Stefan Lohwasser, who joined STORCK Bicycle as a new shareholder last year.

The region around Cape Town is excellent for road cycling and mountain biking. For a few weeks now, Lohwasser has been offering his guests high-quality STORCK bikes to buy or rent. An excellent infrastructure with good road surfaces as well as the combination of flat and hilly landscape offer a diverse and exotic alternative to the typical cycling hot spots. No time lag, but the summer months of December to February, which are only affected by moderate temperature changes due to the location on the Atlantic Ocean, make the destination especially attractive for ambitious cyclists from Europe, who are already in the intensive training period in winter.

Just like tourism, bicycle sales have also boomed in recent years. Stefan Lohwasser already has experience in the business. The success of his company Cycling Friends, which was founded in 2019 and is the largest bike rental company in South Africa, can be attributed not only to his many years of financial and sales expertise but equally to his passion for cycling. "The Bike Café integrated into the store invites you to a come-together in the middle of the big city, a place to feel good and enjoy - and to find your dream bike," Stefan Lohwasser says enthusiastically. Since South Africa has long since ceased to be an insider's tip, the professional store with a rental, bike tour offers and café is an enrichment not only for Cape Town.

STORCK Bicycle expects a large increase in customers through the cooperation. Even before the official opening, the team around owner Stefan Lohwasser could hardly keep themselves busy with enquiries and advance orders. STORCK's managing director Dr. Todor Lohwasser considers the new opening a gigantic opportunity: "Cycling Friends is incredibly well networked in the region's cycling scene thanks to its team - STORCK can only benefit from this. We know from experience that our products are excellently welcomed in South Africa. So where could a partnership be more attractive to further build our growth story?"

The new studio fits perfectly into STORCK's concept store strategy - but the partnership project is also a matter of the heart. Through numerous social projects, Stefan Lohwasser actively wants to give access to cycling to those for whom it is not a matter of course. This intention gave rise, for example, to the Cycling Friends Pro Racing Team, which has already been able to prove itself successfully in the South African championship.

 
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