Toronto E-Bike Maker Adapts Strategy Amid Trade War
Facing a potential trade war that could impact his business of selling electric bicycles to U.S. clients, Ben Taylor prepared himself for the worst. "All the effort we put into preparing for our U.S. launch, and just when we thought everything was set at 30 days—‘Alright, we're ready to begin sales in the U.S.’—we got hit with tariffs," explained the company's co-founder. Beachman , an electric bicycle manufacturer based in Toronto. There was certainly a night when the existential threat loomed large: 'Could I end up losing the company I've devoted so much time to?' In 2016, Taylor shared that he conceived the notion of designing a stylish and retro-themed electric bicycle. It took nearly three years until their serendipitous meeting at a local café with his neighbor, who would become his business partner, Steve Payne. This fortuitous encounter sparked their collaboration on bringing this concept to life. Taylor, the CEO overseeing sales,...