Still family-owned and family-run, British distributor Oxford Products has developed from the humblest of beginnings into the UK's largest distributor of two-wheel aftermarket products - creating an internationally recognised and respected brand in the process.
Now into its 50th year, the Oxfordshire, UK powerhouse brand packs an impressive punch, boasting a range of around 12,000 motorcycle and bicycle products, each one designed, developed and tested in-house at the company's R&D centre, just one part of the 150,000 sq ft campus. In the UK, the company also distributes several thousand product lines from some key global brands. And it all started in 1973 with the humble top box…
"Motorcycling was somewhat different in those days," begins Oxford founder and Chairman, Alec Hammond, who back in 1973 was a 28-year-old sales manager working in the pharmaceutical industry. "There were massive numbers of folk riding to work, and luggage hardly existed."
Around that time, Alec was introduced to a UK-based inventor who had created a range of high-quality top boxes, but had no idea how to get them to market.
"I agreed to show some samples to a few motorcycle dealers whilst travelling in the course of my job," continues Alec. "The top boxes got a massive thumbs up from several dealers who clamoured to buy them. I became convinced that I could build a business in the motorcycle world, so I left my comfortable, secure job and pushed the supplier to go into full-time production of the boxes."
From fibreglass top boxes, Alec quickly branched out into bodywork, and it wasn't long before the fledgling Oxford Fairings got into the sportier side of motorcycling.
"We got involved with racing fairly early on," says Alec, "sponsoring several riders with our fairings on Peckett-McNab Kawasakis. This evolved over time until I was running our own team in the equivalent of BSB and at the Isle of Man."
Although still very much involved with racing through the title sponsorship of the Moto Rapido Ducati BSB team, the Oxford of today is a far cry from those early days of marketing fibreglass fairings and top boxes.
In the early 1980s, Alec started manufacturing motorcycle locks, then came accessories - including the now legendary Hotgrips, which were born in 1983 and have remained a constantly evolving staple in Oxford's line-up ever since.
Oxford's huge range of products encompasses everything which makes life better on bikes: from apparel and helmets to accessories, hard parts, locks and luggage. Following decades of unprecedented investment in staff, product development and infrastructure, the company now employs around 170 people.
Having established an impressive growth curve, which has seen turnover doubling every five years, the company still has ambitious expansion plans - both in domestic UK and export sales terms.
Timeline
1973 - Present owner and chairman Alec Hammond starts selling GRP motorcycle top boxes out of the back of his car.
1974 - Oxford Fairings expands the product range and Alec starts recruiting staff to cope with business growth.
1975 - Launch of complete seat and tank unit for FS1E.
1976 - Track involvement begins with own race team: Les Burgan, Asa Moyce, Mike Hunt, Geoff Johnson all ride for Team Oxford.
1977 - The company expands its range and introduces first security device: Bike Guard.
1978 - Oxford produces carbon fibre bodywork for Mike Hailwood to use at the TT.
1982 - Relocation to Abingdon, business starts again almost from scratch, after fire destroyed the Botley, Oxford HQ.
1983 - Oxford "HotGrips" are born, the start of a legend!
1984 - Rebuilt business moves to new premises in Kidlington and sponsors Trevor Nation's first ever TT win.
1985 - International sourcing begins apace and Oxford quickly becomes market leader in bicycle security with the "Sentinel" range of U-locks.
1994 - Oxford launches its first Disc Lock, the "Quartz"; international sales growing.
1997 - Revolutionary "Oxford Lifetime Luggage" enables company to become UK market leader in soft luggage almost overnight, and globally recognised within two years.
1998 - Oxford is appointed exclusive UK distributor for HJC helmets.
2004 - Company moves to large, purpose-built premises in Witney, Oxfordshire.
2005 - Cycle products division launched.
2006 - Oxford creates new helmet brand: BOX helmets.
2009 - Oxford sponsors 125 cc GP race winner Bradley Smith.
2010 - Oxford appointed UK distributor for Alpinestars.
2011 - Title sponsorship of Oxford TAG Triumph British Supersport race team, to add to sponsorship of the Buildbase BMW BSB team, Bradley Smith in Moto2 and many more.
2012 - Company wins exclusive distribution for Muc-Off in the motorcycle market, Oxford Products USA launched, launch of B2B website, Oxford-sponsored Bradley Smith finishes stint in Moto2 and takes first steps into the MotoGP paddock.
2013 - The company's 40th anniversary is celebrated with its biggest ever line-up of new products and brands. Oxford Essential Rider Wear is launched. Wins "Large Business of the Year" in the Oxfordshire Business Awards.
2014 - British Prime Minister David Cameron officially opens the company's 100,000 sq ft expanded warehouse and office complex. Company wins 'Oxfordshire Business of the Year' award. Andrew Hammond wins 'Businessman of the Year' award!
2015 - Voted as 'Distributor of the Year' in British Dealer News and Motorcycle Trader, and second successive Motorcycle News 'Distributor of the Year' award. Major race sponsorship deals with TYCO BMW, Buildbase BMW and Quattro Plant Kawasaki.
2016 - Oxford passes the 100 staff milestone and a new sales team hits the road. Signs a 16-country distribution deal with Shimano Europe.
2017 - Oxford celebrates 40 years of involvement in racing. In-house design capability increases with development of a Product Test Laboratory. 25th Anniversary of Oxford Team Ducati's last appearance at the Isle of Man TT, celebrated by recreating the team for the 2017 - Classic TT with rider James Hillier.
2018 - Launch of 'Advanced Accessories' range. Launches its first range of cleaning and maintenance products under the name 'MINT'.
2019 - Launch of the Advanced Rider Series. Establishment of a number of exclusive Oxford Group stores. Product display systems and restock programmes continue to drive sales. Oxford Racing Ducati (and sponsored rider Tommy Bridewell) finishes the season in an amazing third place in the British Superbike Championship.
2020 - As the UK and global economies are hit by intermittent lockdowns, Oxford keeps its doors open at all times and swivels its focus to support on-line, export and cycle business. Oxford's cycle business doubles almost overnight, as coronavirus reminded us of the merits of pedal power. On-line sales boom and export sales defy Brexit. The company breaks sales records. In-house design capability increases with development of a Product Test Laboratory.
2021 - Company records its biggest ever annual growth. Race sponsorship continues at the highest level of BSB, with Tommy Bridewell finally bringing home Oxford Products Racing Ducati in second position and HJC rider Christian Iddon in fourth.
2022 - Oxford purchases a new building a short walk from its existing HQ and opens a new Design, Research & Development Centre equipped with new 3D printers, test laboratory and an expanded product team. An additional warehouse is built on the existing site, providing a further 3,500 pallet spaces to accommodate further significant expansion.
