90’s SoCal kids, brothers Ely and Kevin grew up on bikes. From daily commutes to family trips, California was their playground, a privilege they don’t take for granted to this day. Retrospec began with the dream of bringing that simple joy to others. With an affordable one-of-a-kind aesthetic -- colorfully nostalgic, high quality, and a little bit of their founding grit -- they've done just that.
Beginning with just a handful of bikes in 2009, Ely loaded them in the back of his truck and sold them on consignment to local bike shops in Los Angeles. The pitch was to leave just one bike on the floor. If it didn’t sell, he’d pick it right back up. Not only did they sell, but the tables quickly turned with retailers coming to Ely first to get their hands on new bikes. With sustained growth throughout the first year, Retrospec hired its first clerical employees in 2010 and reached $1M in annual sales less than two years after selling that very first bike.
As Retrospec has grown, so has its catalog of ready-to-outdoor products. From an expanded bike line to kids' products, paddleboards to longboards, as well as a popular skate line and fitness collection, Retrospec has become the destination for the outdoor-curious to explore, discover, move, and make nature second nature in their lives.