Recently, I heard news that Suingsport is sponsoring a figure who has been notorious for malicious comments and aggro in the Dossa cycling community for years. Everyone knows that the bicycle market is narrow. Industry insiders cannot be unaware of the community atmosphere or the reputation of key figures. Ultimately, Suingsport seems to have only chosen this figure because of their performance, despite knowing their 'past' and 'attitude'.
While companies are free to sponsor whomever they choose, presenting a figure who has stirred up discord and discomfort in the amateur community as the 'face of the brand' is deceptive to enthusiasts. It is disappointing that importers who have relied on influencer fame rather than product heritage or objective data for promotion now seem to be saying 'ability trumps character'.
If even this controversy is considered part of noise marketing, it only reveals the true level of the importer in question. As enthusiasts, our response is clear: we must exclude products from companies that devalue their own brand from our wallets. The company should seriously consider how they will be viewed by enthusiasts in the future regarding the brands they handle.
