The History Of Manufactured Bicycles Economics Essay

Brompton Bicycle is a bicycle manufacturer based in Brentford, London, in the United Kingdom and largest volume bicycle manufacturer in Britain by Andrew Ritchie in 1976. Models are named using a code containing two letters either side of a number to describe the handle bar type, number of gears and factory attached fixtures. An optional suffix is appended to show the inclusion of titanium upgrades. In Britain the club’s membership is changing, with 35-40% of Brompton customers now women. The average rider’s age has also dropped below 40. It’s getting profit in uk .

Brompton Bicycle is a British company that specialises in folding bicycles, commonly known as “Bromptons”. Bromptons are popular among bicycle commuters, especially in the UK, the Netherlands, and Japan. Fast and compact folding is seen as the Brompton’s key competitive advantage. The Brompton design has remained fundamentally unchanged over three decades, although it has been steadily refined. The Brompton was conceived as a product that increases people’s independence and freedom, means peple can use this cycle wherever they can use. Approximately 22,000 bicycles are produced by the company each year of which 70 percent are exported to asia and Europe. The compact dimensions of most folding bikes allow easy transport in public transport where travelling with a normal bike can be difficult or forbidden. We can this cycle in different style handlebar like c type handlebar, m type handlebar, s type handlebar and p type handlebar.

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brompton_Bicycle

PEST ANALYSIS OF BROMPTON BICYCLE:

Political factor:

The number of people cycling on London’s major roads has nearly doubled since 2000 and Transport for London (TfL) is targeting a 5% mode share for cycling by 2025. South West Trains, part of Stagecoach Group, has joined forces with Brompton Bicycle in a bid to encourage passengers to cycle as part of a fully integrated low carbon journey combining bike and train. Every one like this bikes because it is efficient to ride but can be quickly folded into a package smaller than an average suitcase, so people can take wherever they like.

Economic factor:

Though exports account for around 75 per cent of its output, it continues to manufacture all of its  bikes in the UK. It’s getting profit here.

Social factor:

Brompton bike got a award, Mr Ritchie, who was awarded the prize that recognizes a lifetime contribution to design, has spent 21 years perfecting the Brompton, which is manufactured in Britain and sells around the world. At a reception celebrating 50 years of British design genius at Buckingham Palace.

Technological factor:

When transporting a Brompton Bicycle, for instance by Plane, Train, Car or boat it would be beneficial to have a protective case-like product that would protect from typical transit damage and be used to store the bike in any of its likely environments. There is a need for such a protective case to also double as a fully functional bike trailer that will attach to the rear of the bike and be used to transport light to moderate loads.

-http://www.stagecoachgroup.com

SWOT ANALYSIS OF BROMPTON BICYCLE:

strength:

Brompton bicycle is Generally travel free and without booking restrictions on rail, bus, underground, ferry or air services. It’s that freedom to travel anywhere with your bike that gives folding bikes a magic quality. A folding bike can open up entirely new ways of travelling. It’s have many colour with extra tall frame to fit tall riders.

From 1976, Brompton was in business, although growth was infuriatingly slow. Today, the Brompton Bicycle Ltd turns out 100 precision-crafted bikes a day from its cosy, familial factory in Kew.

It sells them in 27 international markets, as well as servicing the needs of the 200,000 passionately dedicated Brompton users already on the road. Bromptons have been ridden from London to Cape Town and around the South Pole, but they’re at their most perfectly useful in an urban environment. Brompton is the last major manufacturer making bikes in London – a true, two-wheeled, capital success story. It has succeeded, according to managing director Will Butler-Adams, by focusing on its roots.

Brompton remains in London because the business is the staff and the staff are here. They make something fashionable. People like the Brompton because it’s fun and it fits into their lives. In London, the bike is moving from being an issue of personal choice to being a corporate and political city solution. On the corporate side, Brompton already leases a fleet of bikes to South West Trains at Waterloo, and Mr Butler-Adams has plans to provide package deals including bikes, training, storage and insurance to other companies. Brompton’s nearby neighbour in west London. The British Design Council, which annually awards the prize for the respective designer’s lifetime achievement, argued that the foldable Brompton bike manufactured by the engineer in the UK and sold throughout the world won for its lightness, portability, smoothness of ride, and the sense of freedom it bestows. Brompton Bicycle should produce 25,000 bikes this year, achieving sales of £7m- £8m, and Ritchie expects it to grow 25% a year under the leadership of managing director Butler-Adams. Exports to markets such as the Netherlands, America, Germany, Japan and Scandinavia account for about 60% of its sales.

weakness :

All seat pillars are available in both steel and aluminium versions. With the standard seat pillar, the Brompton and Brooks saddles can be up to 995mm from the ground. If your inside leg is more than 33″/84cm, you will almost certainly need either of the longer seat pillars; the telescopic pillar is suitable for an inside leg of more than 35″/89cm, or for a taller rider wishing to minimise the height of the folded bike. So for the shorter people it can be difficult for ride. It’s not adjustable as other bigger cycle.The merits and drawbacks of small and large wheels alike can be argued into the late hours.

Opportunities:

The Brompton is the only bike in the world to combine such ready portability with a first-class ride, and it creates countless new opportunities for using a bicycle. Malcolm Shepherd, Chief Executive of Sustrans said: “Cycling England has been a crucial conduit for funding which has touched the lives of millions of people by making it possible for people to cycle for everyday journeys. And Brompton bikes are suitable for the every journey.

Here are so many bike company competitor for the Brompton bikes. Alldays & Onions, Bickerton- folding bikes. Boardman bikes, british eagle, claud bulter, dawes, etc.. bicycles are here. Like Brompton bickerton is also a folding cycle. It can be a main competitor. The Bickerton, also called the Bickerton Portable, was a portable, aluminium folding bicycle designed by Harry Bickerton and manufactured in the UK between 1971 and 1991. The bicycle was entirely made of aluminium profiles. Its riding properties were poor, partly as the aluminium parts could never be properly locked in place. In its weight and folded package size it broke new ground and it is cited by Andrew Ritchie as one of his inspirations in creating the highly successful Brompton bicycle. So the Brompton is better than any cycle thats why70% Brompton bike are exporting to asia and Europe.

Threats:

The iconic UK folding bike maker Brompton is a curious company.  Though exports account for around 75 per cent of its output, it continues to manufacture all of its  bikes in the UK.

Brompton bicycle’s many parts are custom made which may bring delays and extra costs for repairs from other than authorized dealers. The bike may be less suited to long rides as most models have restricted gears. Brompton manufacture the basic frame in one size only. Riders requiring a bottom bracket to saddle top height of more than 715mm/28″ can select an extended seat post to give a maximum saddle height of 775mm/30.5″ . There is also a telescopic seat post option which gives greater height still and does not compromise the size of the folded package, although it adds substantial weight.

-http://www.bikesandtrailers.com/folding-bikes/brompton.html

Before doing any business first we have to do pest analysis in that country which is following

PEST ANALYSIS OF BANGLADESH:

Political environment

Bangladesh is a densely populated and poor nation in South Asia. Bangladesh gained its independence in 1971, following India’s intervention in a rebellion against West Pakistan .In the years since independence, Bangladesh has established a reputation as a largely moderate and democratic

majority Muslim country. The Bangladesh National Party and the Awami League traditionally have dominated Bangladeshi politics, with the AL in government since January 2009. Bangladesh was ruled by a military-backed caretaker government led by Fakhruddin Ahmed for

approximately two years prior to the return to democracy that was ushered in by the December

2008 election. The current Hasina government came to power in free and fair elections with an overwhelming majority in parliament.

Economic environment

The economy of Bangladesh is constituted by that of a developing country.Its per capita income in 2008 was est. US$1,500. According to the International Monetary Fund, Bangladesh ranked as the 48th largest economy in the world in 2009, with a gross domestic product of US$256 billion. The economy has grown at the rate of 6-7% p.a. over the past few years. Most Bangladeshis earn their living from agriculture. Although rice and jute are the primary crops, maize and vegetables are assuming greater importance

Social environment

Roughly 80% of its population lives on less than $2 a day. Its population is largely Muslim and its geography is dominated by its low-lying riparian aspect. There are many dialects of Bengali spoken throughout the region. The dialect spoken by those in Chittagongand Sylhet are particularly distinctive. In 2009 the population was estimated at 156 million. Religiously, about 90% of Bangladeshis are Muslims and the remainder are mostly Hindus.

Technological environment

The Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organisation operates remote sensing facilities using both French and American satellites and applying meteorological and geographic data to such basic problems as water management, soil fertility, forecasting, and agricultural census work. In 1986 it became the first non-American organization ever to receive an award for excellence from the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which provided training for Bangladeshi scientists and grants of equipment and technical assistance. The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission operates an experimental nuclear reactor and also conducts important agricultural research on seeds, parasites, storage of harvested crops, and irradiation.

– http://www.traderscity.com/board/countrytargetedleads/Bangladesh.html

PEST ANALYSIS OF INDIA:

Political environment

After India’s independence on August 15, 1947, India received most of the subcontinent’s 562 widely scattered polities, or princely states, as well as the majority of the British provinces, and parts of three of the remaining provinces. Muslim Pakistan received the remainder. Pakistan consisted of a western wing, with the approximate boundaries of modern Pakistan, and an eastern wing, with the boundaries of present-day Bangladesh. India is a Sovereign, Secular, Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary form of Government. The Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November 1949 and came into force on 26th November 1950. India exported US$21.8 billion worth of merchandise to the United States in 2006, up 16.1% from 2005 and up 84.7% in just 4 years.Indian imports from the U.S. rose 26.3% to $10.1 billion in 2006, up 146% since 2002.

Economic environment

The economy of India is the eleventh largest economy in the world by nominal GDP and the fourth largest by purchasing power parity. Following strong economic reforms from the socialist inspired economy of a post-independence Indian nation, the country began to develop a fast-paced economic growth, as free market principles were initiated in 1990 for international competition and foreign investmenIndia’s per capita income is $1,030, ranked 139th in the world, while its per capita (PPP) of US$2,940 is ranked 128th. India’s large service industry accounts for 55% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while the industrial and agricultural sector contribute 28% and 17% respectively.

Social environment

Current Population of India in 2010 is around 1,150,000,000 (1.15 billion) people. Hinduism accounted for 80.5% of the population of India. Islam (13.5%), Christianity (3.0%) and Sikhism (2.3%) are the other major religions followed by the people of India. There are 29 language in india.

Technological environment

The Indian software industry has grown from a mere US $ 150 million in 1991-92 to a staggering US $ 5.7 billion in 1999-2000.  No other Indian industry has performed so well against the global competition .The annual growth rate of India’s software exports has been consistently over 50 percent since 1991.  India’s software exports would be around $ 6.3 billion, in addition to $ 2.5 billion in domestic sale.

-http://www.stylusinc.com/business/india/business_india.htm

PEST ANALYSIS OF NEPAL

With thousands of readers from over fifty countries visiting the Nepal Home Page every week, it is an excellent platform to promote your Nepal related businesses.

political environment

An isolated, agrarian society until the mid-20th century, Nepal entered the modern era in 1951 without schools, hospitals, roads, telecommunications, electric power, industry, or civil service. Import and export is encouraged by the government in order to promote good business and encourage growth which will hopefully result in a higher employment rate, higher salaries and a better standard of living for all in time The export-oriented carpet and garment industries have grown rapidly in recent years and together now account for approximately 70% of merchandise exports. Nepal’s merchandise trade balance has improved somewhat since 2000 with the growth of the carpet and garment industries.

Economic environment

Agriculture remains Nepal’s principal economic activity, employing 80% of the population and providing 37% of GDP. Only about 20% of the total area is cultivable; another 33% is forested; most of the rest is mountainous. Rice and wheat are the main food crops. The lowland Terai region produces an agricultural surplus, part of which supplies the food-deficient hill areas.

Social environment

Nepal’s current population is 28,563,377. According to the 2001 census, 80.6 percent of Nepalese are Hindu, 10.7 percent are Buddhist, 4.4% are Muslim[1], 3.6 percent are Kirat (an indigenous religion with Hindu influence), 0.5 percent are Christian, and 0.4 percent are classified as other groups such as Bön religion.

Technological environment

Nepal has been a late starter in modem science and technology. In pursuance of self- reliance, it developed technological capabilities in some specific areas such as agriculture, civil engineering, architecture, metallurgy, water management, medicine, textile and paper manufacture, dyeing and food technology.

by – (http://www.visitnepal.com/business)

PESTEL ANALYSIS IN SRI LANKA

POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT

Socialistic predilection in Sri Lanka was unswerving, but as time passed by it gave room for investment overseas in 1978. Board of Investment operates as a sovereign legal bureau with investment in foreign countries as a focus. BOI is authorized to yield grants to organizations that meet the basic eligibility standards on minimal investment, employment and exports. When the organization fails to meet the standards then its projects have to be sanctioned by the respective departments of the government. BOI also deals with the 10 zones of free trade, which is known as the export-processing zones. BOI possess the authorization to relieve any confinements on the FDI Eleven huge privatizations were accounted for 34% of the FDI. Nevertheless due to the instable political conditions and conflicting ethnicity the advancement on this issue is been decelerate for years. The president sketched out regarding anti-privatization economical scheme in his electoral pronunciamento known as „Mahinda Chintana‟. Various enterprises of the state which designing itself to be privatized were not approved, this includes the airports and banks. Privatize. Organization was planned to be regulated by the government which will turn the loss into a profit-making organization.

ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT

Sound rates of growth has been steady in Sri Lanka despite if its intense violence on ethnicity. Rich private demand of requirements, core industrialization, primarily the intensive labour textile industry and the advancement of domestic tea manufacturing hiked the growth rate of the economy. The well-disposed FDI policy of the government ensued the zooming inflows of capital. The deceleration in the global issues activated an acute condensation in the activities of the economy in the year 2001. Subsequently there was a recuperation in the sectors of the industries that is impelled by a firm external demand and an increased growth rates in the sectors relating to service resulted in a sizeable enlargement of economical activities though the tsunami that hit the sectors of agriculture was critically damaged. Deficits in the fiscal aspects are an important issue to the government, which has been diminishing in the years past. The current fiscal obligates to cut back deficits. There are many industries that imparts in great value to the GDP that engages greater population of the manpower, this comprises of the industry in tourism, and the service industries. When taking industries into consideration, it is the textile industry that yields greater sum of revenues in export.

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

Sri Lanka holds a populace of 20,238,000, of which Sinhalese constitutes about 74%, Sri Lankan Moors constitutes about 7.2%, Sri Lankan Tamils constitutes about 3.9% and the Indian Tamils constitutes about 4.6%. When religions are taken into consideration the Buddhists comprise a major share of 69.1%. Sri Lanka is prominently a rustic area that holds 79% of the population. The populace medial age is 30 and 7.8% constitute for an age group of 65 and over. The health index of Sri Lanka is fairly good when compared to other countries in Asia. The government has an expenditure of 46.3% from the 4% of the aggregate GDP for medical expenses of the country. The expected life span is 73.4yrs of the aggregate populace.

TECHNOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT

The telecom sphere was improved to an incredible extent in terms of liberalizing right in the

90‟s. Act of Sri Lankan Telecommunication of 1991 founded the Sri Lanka telecom also known as the SLT, it awarded the permit to function in the global system.

-http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/srilanka.html

After analyzing the market we have found out that there is huge market opportunity in Sri Lanka to sell folding bikes. Due to low price there are more chances that Brompton folding bikes can become the market leader successfully after some time because of many reasons such as low cost, already operation exist in Sri Lanka and due to climate condition. If we talk about local competition, it is very less. The local players get the help by the government also where the government has distributed a project to provide good cycle facility supply to those households.

I’m a manager of this product and i want to make profit that’s why I’m going to launch this product in south asia. I will launch this product in sri lanka and will export in 3 other countries, they are Bangladesh, india and Nepal. It will be better to launch this product in south asia because there labour cost will be low and we can sell this cycles in low cost. Brompton bicycle’s cost in uk is £600 and over. Here, labour cost is expensive than south asia so we can’t export from here. In south asia there is a scope for this product. There is a great number of people who are using bicycle but they aren’t like Brompton they can’t fold, they are difficult for their journey. so it will be a new kind of cycle in south asia. I can make a profit. It will be cheaper so most of the people will buy it. I can make a market over there.

Here are different types to entering new market they are:

Export

Joint venture

FDI

Strategic alliances

Among these methods i’m going to use joint venture method because it will be better for my profit if i will export from here it will cost expensive. First i will go sri lanka and will talk in srilankan embassy, i will choose one cycle company as my partner over there and i will do good business over there and will make profit.

4PS ABOUT THE PRODUCT:

Product: my product is folding bicycle.

Price: labour cost will be low so per cycle it will cost £90.

Place: i will open my company in Colombo kingdom of sri lanka because there i can gget more facility than other place.

Promotion: The literacy rate is 92% in Sri Lanka which is considered as a good rate. To sell the Brompton folding bikes every company more emphasizes on direct marketing such as event or trade show and personal selling. We will give this news first all over in sri lanka later 3 other countries by tv news and international news paper.

MARKETING PLAN:

Our product have made plan for Brompton folding bicycle for next five yrs. To increase our sale and profit we will spend half of our advertisement budget on personal selling because by this only we can aware consumers about our products and persuade consumers to buy the products.

PRODUCTION CAPACITY:

During the first year, product will be imported to Sri Lanka And later the demand of the product goes 3 other countries to have a manufacturing Unit can also be considered. This will result in better pricing of the product will result in more sales and Profits.

BUDGET:

Selling expenses:

Staff salaries, Sales support and distribution staff expenses are included. The total expenditure is

£ 1210000.00

Sales and advertisement:

For radio advertisement =£5000

Newspaper/magazine =£6000

Tv ad =£25000

Sales promotion =£250000 including customer awareness program

Customer oriented =£200000

Trade oriented =£750000

Support line =£600000