The Nature Holdings will take charge as the exclusive distributor in Korea for Brompton, the British premium folding bicycle brand. It plans to expand the "Brompton London" business, which has been centered on apparel, to bicycles and aims to achieve related sales of 70 billion won by 2030.
The Nature Holdings said on the 7th that it signed an exclusive bicycle distribution agreement in the Korean market with Brompton's U.K. headquarters for the license brand Brompton that it operates. The contract period runs from Sept. this year to Dec. 2031. The expected investment is 25.2 billion won, corresponding to the minimum bicycle order quantity.
Through this agreement, The Nature Holdings will exclusively import, distribute and sell Brompton bicycles in Korea. It plans to expand its business scope to include distribution of official parts and accessories, as well as official after-sales service (A/S) in the future.
Brompton is a premium folding bicycle brand that started in London in 1975. Backed by its original folding structure and high portability, it is sold in about 50 countries worldwide, and the business is expanding beyond bicycles into an urban lifestyle brand.
After signing an apparel license agreement with Brompton in 2023, The Nature Holdings has operated the fashion brand "Brompton London." With this distribution agreement as a turning point, it plans to develop Brompton London from an apparel-centered brand into a comprehensive mobility lifestyle brand that also encompasses bicycles.
Going forward, it will broaden its bicycle sales base through flagship stores and a dealer network, and link sales of apparel and accessories through its online mall and directly operated stores. It plans to upgrade its own mall and also enter Musinsa and Musinsa Global to expand contact points with younger consumers.
Brompton London has shown steady growth since its launch. According to The Nature Holdings, after sales began in July 2023, 2024 revenue rose 332% from the previous year, and last year it increased 92%. First-quarter revenue this year rose 36% from a year earlier.
The Nature Holdings set a goal of achieving 70 billion won in revenue for the Brompton London business in 2030. The figure includes bicycles, apparel, parts and accessories. It plans to increase annual Brompton bicycle sales from the currently estimated domestic market size of 3,000 to 4,000 units to more than 6,000 units, about double.
It will also expand its offline distribution network. Centered on key regions such as the Seoul metropolitan area, it will establish 10 to 15 hub stores and increase the total number of stores to 50 to 60. Park Young-jun, CEO of The Nature Holdings, said, "Brompton will become a core brand that accounts for more than 10% of the company's total revenue in five years."
Will Butler-Adams, Brompton's chief executive officer (CEO), who visited Korea that day, said, "Korea is a very sophisticated market with fast-changing trends," and "We decided to expand our collaboration, highly evaluating the brand management capabilities that The Nature Holdings has built up."
Butler-Adams said, "We are not a company that sells bicycles; we are a company that talks about happiness," adding, "Brompton's mission is to enable more people to enjoy healthy and happy lives through bicycles."
The Nature Holdings is a Korean lifestyle company that drew attention by successfully establishing the fashion brand National Geographic Apparel under license from National Geographic in the United States. In addition to National Geographic, it is developing brands such as Barrel, Mark Gonzales and Deus Ex Machina.