3point5.com Teams with GT Bicycles

Fulfilling a goal of expanding its reach in the cycling market, Web-based retail training company 3point5.com recently contracted with Pacific Cycle to train sellers of GT Bicycles.

GT manufactures BMX, road and mountain bikes. The company is owned by Pacific Cycle, a leading supplier of bikes in North America.

GT is the most recent of many brands to partner with the Web training company, which trains and tests retail salespeople and handles employee purchase programs. 3point5.com has experienced rapid growth as it expands into new markets, including Outdoor, Tennis, Golf, Hunt, Fish, Snow- and Action Sports.

A retail salesperson recently took 3point5.com’s one-millionth “Edu-Game”, the company’s interactive, entertaining product-knowledge tests. The online training campus represents more than 50,000 registered “Pros” and sales professionals, 250 manufacturers and over 5,000 retailers.

Other bike industry companies contracted with 3point5.com include rack-maker Saris, CycleOps, which manufactures power meters, trainers and stationary bikes, apparel-maker Pearl Izumi and GORE BIKE WEARâ„¢.

Easton, which manufactures high-quality bike components, has also contracted with 3point5.com and will be going live with training on the site soon.

Working with 3point5.com will boost product training efforts by allowing retail salespeople to train on their own schedule, and at their own pace, said Steve Reeds, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Pacific Cycles IBD division.

“Online training is the future of retail, and we’re excited to be on the cusp of that effort,” Reeds said. “By heading up our Web training effort, 3point5.com will enhance the work of GT’s force of sales reps in our growing network of dealers.”

About GT Bicycles
Built on its race-proven performance products, GT Bicycles has been designing and manufacturing technologically advanced bikes in the road, mountain and BMX categories since 1973. For more information about GT Bicycles, please visit www.gtbicycles.com.

GT Bicycle’s parent company, Dorel Industries (TSX: DII.B, DII.A), is engaged in the designing, manufacturing and marketing of a diverse portfolio of powerful consumer brands, sold through its Juvenile, Recreational/Leisure and Home Furnishings segments. Headquartered in Montreal and with significant operations in the United States and Europe, Dorel employs approximately 4,700 people in 15 countries. Annual sales are US$1.8 billion and are made in over 60 countries worldwide.