The future is orange: Wiggle relaunches with fresh stock and reprised old branding

No sooner was it reported that Mike Ashley's Frasers Group were aiming to relaunch Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles than it has happened; both Wiggle and CRC are back online and appear to be in a position to ship stock. 

Interestingly the branding on the Wiggle site has reverted back to the old orange and black colour with the old logos; Frasers Group was clearly not a fan of the recent rebranding to teal, presumably surmising the original has more customer appeal. 

While the sites are both up and running, with items showing as 'in stock', products from WiggleCRC's in-house brands like dhb, Lifeline, and Brand X are yet to have their images added, and are 'Available from 4th April' in most cases.

What is notable is that the stock of products on offer on both sites has now been bolstered by items usually stocked by other outlets in the Frasers Group network, such as Evans Cycles and Sports Direct - namely Muddy Fox and Pinnacle bikes, which occupy the budget end of the cycling spectrum.

Having added a random item to the cart it appears customers can now use a 'collect in store' option and collect their items from any Evans Cycles store local to them. It does not appear that collecting from a Sports Direct is possible at this time.

It is unclear at this time whether the WiggleCRC fulfillment duties are falling on new staff, given that it was reported that "once the warehouse is clear, it’s game over. Wiggle and CR [Chain Reaction Cycles. ed.] will cease. The brands have been bought, but IP only – no staff or stock.", or whether staff from the Evans Cycles/Sport Direct network have stepped in to fill the void in the interim.

Mike Ashley is also reported to have purchased the WiggleCRC brands and IP for less that £10 million.

WiggleCRC timeline

• Wiggle and Chain Reaction websites to be imminently relaunched
  (Mar 22nd 2024)
  
• The end is near for Wiggle CRC as liquidators officially appointed
  (Mar 11th 2024)
  
• Frasers Group reportedly set to scoop up remnants of WiggleCRC
  (Mar 4th 2024)
  
• Wiggle CRC lays off almost entire workforce
  (Feb 21st 2024)
  
• Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles to switch off international stores
  (Nov 30th 2023)
  
• Wiggle CRC sales process officially begins
  (Nov 9th 2023)
  
• Wiggle CRC draws interest from a number of potential buyers
  (Nov 1st 2023)
  
• Wiggle CRC put up for sale as administrators step in
  (Oct 27th 2023)
  
• Wiggle CRC: Another SSU subsidiary files for insolvency
  (Oct 24th 2023)
  
• Wiggle CRC parent company announces restructure
  (Oct 12th 2023)