Pro-Lite Oz importer Deon Attard has carried the Pro-Lite brand for six years, the value-for-money wheelsets have been the real highlight for the brand that also has bikes and accessories. The Mackay, Queensland based importer announced that Pro-Lite Oz has become Kotavelo and they are transitioning to sell their own-brand Kotavelo wheelsets.
“After more than 6 years with Pro-Lite, it was a natural progression for me to start our own brand. We really wanted to invest heavily in our product development and marketing and it made sense to do that with our own brand rather than continue to build up someone else’s” says Deon Attard. “We also want to take the business model we have found to be so successful in Australia and roll that into other countries and for this we have international patents pending for our brand.”
Customers of Pro-Lite in Australia will continue to be supported with stock and spares. The Pro-Lite website shows Australian online retailers Cell Bikes and Cycling Express listed as distributers for the Pro-Lite brand for the Australian region.
The new Kotavelo brand will continue the approach which saw Pro-Lite wheelsets become popular among cyclists in Australia, “I don’t want to have the most expensive or the most exotic products, I want the best value for money,” Deon says. “I want the best wheels we can make just before the price shoots up to drop another few grams – the sweet spot where you can get great products for affordable prices, they are the kind of products I use personally and the kind our customers are looking for.”
An an own-brand, Deon is looking forward to freedom to drive product development and marketing and extend the brand to reach new overseas markets. Cyclists familiar with the Pro-Lite range can expect Kotavelo to provide a similar range with 6 models of wheels including a disc brake road wheelset targeted at 1570 grams and retailing for ca. $500. Kotavelo starts shipping to Australia in Q1 2016.
For updates, visit: kotavelo.com.au
