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RevZilla, Cycle Gear partnership gets new parent company

News release

Investment funds managed by J.W. Childs Associates, L.P. today announced the recent closing of an investment in a newly formed holding company, Comoto Holdings, Inc., dedicated to motorcycle enthusiasts alongside the founders and equity holders of RevZilla Motorsports, LLC. Comoto Holdings will have equity investments in both RevZilla and Cycle Gear, Inc., two of the nation’s leading retailers of apparel, accessories and parts for motorcycle enthusiasts. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

RevZilla and Cycle Gear will continue to operate as independent sister companies with headquarters in Philadelphia, PA and Benicia, CA, respectively. Joseph M. Fortunato, former CEO and Chairman of GNC, will be Executive Chairman of the new company.

Mr. Fortunato commented, “I’m extremely excited to work with Cycle Gear and RevZilla, two of the industry’s leading companies, both led by fantastic management teams, to accelerate their growth. We will leverage each team’s respective consumer insights and complementary skills in delivering a best-in-class experience to the motorcycle enthusiast.”

Mr. Fortunato will serve on the Board of Directors of Comoto Holdings as Executive Chairman, alongside several executives from J.W. Childs and two of the RevZilla founders, Anthony Bucci, CEO, and Matt Kull, COO. Mr. Bucci, Mr. Kull, and RevZilla founder Nick Auger will maintain their current executive positions along with the management team at Cycle Gear.

“Matt, Nick and I are thrilled about our new ownership in Comoto and the opportunity to complement our digital leadership and expertise with the seasoned leadership and retail acumen that Joe and J.W. Childs possess,” said Anthony Bucci. “Moving forward, RevZilla will only accelerate its ability to advance the experience of motorcycle enthusiasts in new and expansive ways.”

“Cycle Gear and RevZilla are leaders in the motorsports industry through their brick and mortar and digital expertise, respectively, and the opportunity for J.W. Childs to participate in both markets as each improves the community interaction and shopping experience for their enthusiast customers is an exciting endeavor,” said Jeff Teschke, Partner of J.W. Childs. “The investment is a great fit with our strategy of investing in leading specialty retailers and consumer brands and we look forward to participating in this next phase of growth at both Cycle Gear and RevZilla.”

Cycle Gear, founded in 1974, is an omni-channel retailer dedicated to motorcycle riders and enthusiasts, operating 113 stores throughout the United States. J.W. Childs acquired Cycle Gear in January 2015 with a strategic plan to build on the company’s long-standing reputation and loyal consumer base by accelerating Cycle Gear’s national retail presence, investing in an improved retail format and consumer experience, improving the merchandising assortment and availability of own and third-party branded products, and developing a best-in-class consumer experience at CycleGear.com. Cycle Gear offers its consumers the industry’s best third-party brands along with a portfolio of significant proprietary brands including Bilt, Sedici, Street and Steel, Trackside and Stockton Tools.

RevZilla, founded in 2007 by Anthony Bucci, Nick Auger and Matt Kull, is a rapidly growing, eCommerce retailer that provides motorcycle enthusiasts with premium apparel, accessories, and parts. The company, with more than $100 million in annual sales, is the leading digital retailer in the motorsports accessories category, known for an award-winning customer service experience provided by its Gear Geeks, a leading edge technology and media platform, as well as premium editorial content and product reviews delivered through formats such as RevZilla TV, Common Tread and its authoritative Gear Guides.

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2 Comments

  1. I have to ask; how Cycle Gear can consider themselves as “omni-channel”? And yes I had to look it up….here http://omnichannel.me/what-is-omnichannel/ It is basically defined as all things about your brand can be accessed anywhere, all social media, advertising, retail stores, websites. So when I shop at home and go out to buy the products, I can get the same experience, same price, same products EVERYWHERE. Hence the name OMNI. They are more Multi-Channel. I cannot (and don’t want to) buy BILT at my local Honda dealer….Heck I can’t even check stock at my local Cycle Gear store from their website.
    This all being said. It is a good thing to think about for all dealers. IF Cycle Gear can succeed in truly being omni-channel in 116+ stores they will rule. I challenge all motorcycle dealers with one location to be as OMNI as they can with their brand.
    Lola.

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