1926 - Fowlers Founded
Founded by Frank and Alice Maude Fowler.
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Founded by Frank and Alice Maude Fowler.
Harry Fowler, the founders' son and Chairman until 2006, joins the business.
Motorcycle stock sold off to government at outbreak of war. Engineering production turned over to manufacture of aircraft parts from 1939 - 1945.
Motorcycle business re-instated and separated from engineering business.
James, Francis Barnett and BSA Motorcycles.
Marks the start of the wholesale division.
New showroom built at Grosvenor Road. Additional franchises secured for Ariel and Triumph motorcycles as well as Watsonian sidecars. New premises acquired to accommodate the added machines.
Further premises acquired and existing showroom doubled in size to accommodate expanding business.
Honda spares franchise awarded as an addition to existing wholesale activity.
Yamaha spares franchise awarded. Additional warehouse premises obtained for wholesale division to accommodate expanding spares operation.
Jock Taylor sponsored in World Sidecar Racing Championships.
Re-located both retail and wholesale divisions to prominent Temple Meads retail site in Bristol during July.
Jock Taylor (sponsored by Fowlers) wins sidecar World Championship!
The Weise team, comprising Jon Andrews, Stephanie Fowler and Fowlers UK agent, visited Korea and met Chang Park, with whose help a small but comprehensive range of leather, textile clothing & gloves was put together with around 25 products in total. At the end of the year, Weise successfully launched its new range to the trade.
Commenced wholesale accessory, helmet and clothing operation to complement existing spare parts distribution.
Purchased a warehouse to accommodate accessory wholesaling operation.
The concept year, the name Weise was chosen, and a suitable Logo was developed that could be applied to helmets, boots, gloves and a Clothing and Accessories range.
The name 'Weise' was chosen as most of the leading clothing manufacturers at that time were large German companies such as Hein Gericke and Detlef Louis. Also our biggest competitor in the UK at this time was the "Stein" brand of leather clothing.
The Weise Collection concept was to offer quality garments that provided comfort, safety and functionality in use.
Awarded Wholesaler of the Year by Motorcycle Dealer magazine.
Weise became involved with the ACU (Auto Cycle Union). A working group was established to improve rider safety, mainly in connection with racing leather suits, in which Weise played an active role in drafting a "manufacturing guideline" for the production of race leather suits. Weise was one of only a few companies to press ahead with the guidelines, incorporating many modifications in its suits, which afforded riders greatly enhanced safety.
Weise was one of the first manufacturers to incorporate CE protectors into motorcycle garments.
Cheltenham - opened new store previously housing a motorcycle retailer and successfully negotiated and obtained the Triumph and Ducati franchises.
Celebration of sale by Fowlers of 100,000th new motorcycle.
Wholesale Division awarded the Piaggio, Gilera and Vespa spares & accessory distribution contract for the whole of the UK.
Bristol dealership was appointed the first UK Piaggio Center specializing in Piaggio and Vespa scooters.
Weise is first shown to European Market at Milan Motorcycle Show
Weise distributor appointed in Spain.
Weise develops a Textile Suit to meet the stringent CE standard.
The unique and trademarked system entitled WRS® (Water Release System) was developed by Weise, which is still used on textile garments and gloves today. Sympatex® approved the WRS® system, commenting that it improved the function of Sympatex® in garments & gloves. Sympatex® have strict guidelines regarding the production of garments and gloves using their products and to gain approval using its WRS® system was a major step for Weise.
The first Weise Avance fully "CE" approved suit Level 1 is supplied to Pizza Hut following 2 years of intensive research and development into reaching the exacting requirements for this high standard of garment.
Commenced supplying the charity organisation, Riders for Health, with suitable garments for their riders in Africa, as well as motorcycle parts, a relationship that is still in existence today.
The Weise Advance suit is supplied to a well-known rider training organisation.
The refurbishments of the Bath Road, Bristol dealership were completed and an Open Day was held, which was attended and enjoyed by many thousands of customers.
Wholesale Division awarded the UK distribution rights for Derbi parts and accessories.
Honda Off Road and Sports Quad franchises awarded.
KTM Road franchise successfully negotiated.
Acquisition of warehouse lease in Mead Street, Bristol.
Bristol architects, Barton Willmore, appointed to draw up plans for the total refurbishment of the main Bristol dealership, which was to involve extending, structurally altering and completely re-fitting the premises.
It was to take 8 years of almost continual R&D for this suit to be awarded a pass by SATRA.
Specialist Triumph area incorporated into the main, first floor showroom.
August, at 94 years 'young', Harry Fowler passes away, having worked 6 days per week up to a few days before his death. Led by a Triumph motorcycle hearse, a cavalcade of hundreds of his friends, relations, customers and suppliers stops the traffic on its journey through Bristol to his funeral.
In March, a new Honda "solus" superstore opens in the building adjacent to the main dealership.
April: Wholesale and Retail Division call centres amalgamate within an extended and refurbished area with 36 work stations, including spare desks for future expansion. Under new management and with a recently-purchased telephone system, the 36-desk Contact Centre is designed to greatly enhance the service to retail and wholesale customers wishing to purchase motorcycle spare parts, accessories or clothing.
May: A specious new mezzanine floor is installed in the main warehouse to accommodate further expansion.
A third automated carousel is installed in the warehouse to accommodate an additional 23,000 spare parts, with the object of greatly enhancing efficiencies relating to time and space issues.
WEISE Avance II suit passes test
Following 8 years of R&D, the Weise Avance II Suit, Level 2, passes the stringent SATRA standard.
The Fowlers Off-Road centre was opened in September 2014.
January: A new warehousing facility in the north-east of the USA acquired, from where the distribution of Weise clothing and accessories to US motorcycle dealerships is to be co-ordinated.
March: Two US sales agents engaged to complement existing employed staff.
May: Awarded the Aprilia and Moto Guzzi franchises to complement the 9 existing marques available in our Bristol showrooms (Honda, KTM, Suzuki, Triumph, Yamaha, Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera and Derbi). A massive range of genuine spare parts and accessories are available for all the franchises held, as well as Kawasaki.
During its 25 years of development, the Weise brand has been awarded many accolades. Its best-selling, flagship jacket, the Dynastar, for instance, has been in production for well over 15 years (with various updates and improvements) and has been consistently cited as 'Best' and 'Recommended' buys.
Having started with just 25 products, the Weise catalogue now boasts well over 100 items in its range and has outlived the vast number of its former competitors. Over the years, Weise products have been exported to more than a score of countries in Europe as well as to far-flung Australia, Southern Africa and the USA.
Awarded 'Wholesaler Of The Year 2014' by British Dealer News.
RiDE Magazine awarded the WEISE THRUXTON JACKET a RiDE RECOMMENDED award.
Fast Bikes awarded the Gear Gremlin Seat Buddy Best Buy of 2015
Awarded in October.
Awarded in August.
Awarded 'Wholesaler Of The Year 2016 Award' by British Dealer News.
Awarded 'Wholesaler Of The Year 2015 Merit Award' by British Dealer News.
Awarded in April.
Awarded in October.
Awarded 'Wholesaler Of The Year 2017 Merit Award' by British Dealer News.