Decathlon and Chinese investment group have bought stakes in Brompton. Don't panic!

In the classic British television programme ‘Dad's Army’ one of the main characters, Corporal Jones, would often shout, "Don't panic!" at moments when many people were doing exactly that. I couldn't help but think of him when the news broke at the end of June that Brompton had sold stakes to two outside groups. Predictably, the doom-and-gloom brigade were quick to declare the sky was falling.

Decathlon is a French sports retailer with a number of warehouse-style shops here in the UK. They're pretty good, and I wouldn't be surprised if, in the future, you'll be able to buy Brompton bicycles, parts and accessories from them. The Chinese investment group has backed a wide range of companies, and with China being Brompton's biggest market (and, incidentally, one of the biggest audiences for my humble Sunday offerings), the investment makes a great deal of sense.

I suspect bicycle manufacturers are having a tough time at the moment. There is a huge amount of choice, and selling bikes in the current climate can't be easy. In truth, the industry has had its challenges before, during and after the pandemic, when demand rose dramatically for a while as people found themselves spending much more time closer to home. If this investment gives Brompton's headquarters some breathing space, helps them sell more bicycles and secures the company's future, surely that can only be a good thing.

The naysayers also claim that this marks the beginning of the end for Brompton bicycles being made in Britain. For that, I'd point to the pen manufacturer Lamy. You may have read a recent blog post where I mentioned finally acquiring a grail pen, which happened to be a Lamy. I own more Lamy pens than any other brand and have always admired what they produce, particularly their more Brutalist-inspired designs. The company was bought outright by Japan's, Mitsubishi Pencil Company in early 2024. Despite that, Lamy pens are still made in Germany, and there has been very little change in the products the company makes.

So, for me at least, "Don't panic!" seems entirely appropriate. Hopefully, this investment simply means that Brompton will be around for many years to come.

Until next time, stay safe out there, people!