Editor's Note:
This story has been updated to reflect comments from Tony Bunt, the owner of Ashland Bike Company.
ASHLAND — Fin Feather Fur Outfitters is rolling into the cycling world with its recent acquisition of Ashland Bike Company.
The outdoor sports retailer said the acquisition of the cycling shop will reach a broader customer base and add another outdoor sport to its offerings.
The Fin, in an announcement issued March 20, said it will continue to be focused on products centered around outdoor sports and adventures. It carries firearms, hunting and fishing accessories, knives, archery and camping gear, apparel and footwear.
The purchase will also “create synergies for the bike shop allowing them to have more access to customers, inventory and a huge support team.”
Fin Feather Fur, established in 1985, has grown to more than 300 employees over six retail sites, an online store and a distribution center.
“We are excited about the possibilities that this acquisition brings to the Fin and our valued employees and customers,” said Rees Vail, Vice President of Fin Feather Fur, in a prepared statement.
“By combining our strengths and expertise, we are well-positioned to reach a new audience, educating them about the cycling world.”
Tony Bunt and his wife, Michelle, established the store located along Main Street in downtown Ashland in 2017. Bunt started the bike shop after a career in education.
The bike shop will keep its current location and the name. And the bike shop’s products will not appear in the Fin Feather Fur stores. In fact, the opposite has happened. The bike shop, Bunt said, carries some hunting e-bikes and has now started servicing those.
All about the bikes
Bunt said he’s excited about the transition.
“We’ve already seen an increase in our brands that we have to offer and that will continue as we continue to grow,” Bunt said.
The shop carries Trek, Cannondale, Reid, Batch, Giant and Intense brands of bicycles in road, mountain, hybrid, BMX and e-bike categories. Ashland Bike Company also carries cycling apparel and gear, and operates a full-service shop.
The shop ended its relationship with Specialized in 2023 in favor of carrying brands that are still great quality but at a lower price point, Bunt said.
“The folks at Ashland Bike bring many years of experience and knowledge about the cycling world,” reads the Fin’s press release.
“If you need any type of service or repair to your bike, trust the Ashland Bike folks to be there to help you out.”
Bunt will continue to stay on as the bike shop’s manager and there will be no change to the store’s employee structure, according to the Fin’s press release.
Ultimately, Bunt said, Ashland Bike Company is all about the bikes.
“At the heart of everything, we’re going to be a bike shop,” he said. “And we’re going to get mechanics and great, knowledgeable employees that can take care of everybody’s needs.”
The bike shop’s three full-time employees will also be eligible for the Fin’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan, a retirement benefit program established in May 2017. The shop also employs two part-time workers.