This month we feature our client tokyobike, an independent bicycle company founded in 2002 in the quiet Tokyo neighborhood of Yanaka. Based on the concept of ‘Tokyo Slow’ their bicycles are designed to explore the places we love and call home. With a tokyobike, it is as much about the journey as it is about the destination. Before we explore the company’s consistent growth and success, let’s first take a quick look at the history behind what makes tokyobike so unique in the market.
As mentioned, tokyobike was founded in the city of Yanaka, one of the very few neighborhoods in Japan left more or less untouched since WWII. With a modest concept to help consumers get from Point ‘A’ to Point ‘B’ without sacrificing convenience or space while at the same time offering more customization in way of design, tokyobike quickly became a highly sought after solution for the growing obstacles associated with over population. At the time of inception, the options available for an affordable bike with choices reflecting design sensibility were almost non-existent. By focusing on these key factors, tokyobike came to market with a lighter, durable alternative that also took up significantly less storage space than competing models.
Tokyobikes are chromalloy steel bikes with the single speed model weighing 19 pounds and their heaviest model capping out at 23 pounds. Because the bikes were designed taking into account the limited space of Japan, the four models offered accommodate every potential rider, but tend to attract consumers residing in city neighborhoods. Recognizing this trend, the company began to focus its growth through expansion. Slowly but surely, the tokyobike expanded within Japan, eventually ramping up to 3 shops and over 200 wholesale accounts in Japan alone.
By 2010, tokyobike was now available in many parts of Asia and their first shop outside of Asia, located in London, was an immediate success. Up to this point, much of the success of tokyobike has come not only from the quality delivered through their vehicles, but also the level of attention given to each customer and the consumer’s ability to market the product on their own. Fast forward to 2017 and you will find the company operating under many of the same principles defined during their humble beginnings.
With the success of their London storefront, an additional storefront was added in London, as well as European locations in Hamburg and Berlin. In 2015, tokyobike aimed their efforts at capitalizing on the growing market in the United States. With the launch of Citibikes in Manhattan, the amount of people choosing bikes as a mode of commuting is at an all-time high. Starting first with a pop-up shop in the Nolita neighborhood of Manhattan to garner interest, tokyobike applied their modest approach and attention to each client’s needs with great success. Shortly after the popup-shop opened, it became the first permanent location in the U.S.
Despite the global reach the company has attained, it is extremely important to the brand that each customer’s experience is localized. Whether you happen to walk into one of their thirteen store fronts globally, or contact the company through their website, providing every customer with the necessary tools and confidence to make an intelligent decision always comes first. In fact,Manhattan’s storefront quite often aids “walk-up” traffic and uninterested parties in their decision process to leave as satisfied and excited tokyobike owners. It is due to these experiences that clients are compelled to share their experience with friends, family, colleagues, ect. generating an influx of new customers on a daily basis.
So if you have not caught on yet, tokyobike is not just a bike company, it is a lifestyle brand that consumers have gotten behind in a big way. Relying on its community to spread the word, tokyobike stays extremely active on social media and through other traditional marketing outlets. Utilizing frequent newsletters, branding opportunities, contests, partnerships and events to stay in touch with their clientele, tokyobike continues to expand its efforts in USA. 
Complementing the storefront experience, online sales are strongest in cities such as: Washington D.C., Portland, Chicago and Los Angeles. Keeping the wheels turning, tokyobike officially opened their permanent storefront location in LA this past weekend! If you find yourself in LA come October 26, they are also holding an official opening event with details here: http://ow.ly/XS7330frKf3
With the means to reach every metropolis in the United States and no signs of slowing down, tokyobike aims to deliver quality at a fair price with a growing community to serve a more forward-thinking generation of consumers.
Be sure to stay up to date with everything tokyobike by heading over to their website and socials below:
Website: https://www.tokyobikenyc.com/
Facebook NY: https://www.facebook.com/tokyobikenyc
Facebook LA: https://www.facebook.com/tokyobikela
Instagram: http://instagram.com/tokyobike_nyc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tokyobike_nyc
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