Monoprice Heads for the Mountains and Hits the Roads -- Launches New Pure Outdoor(TM) and Cycling Categories

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA--(Marketwired - April 27, 2016) -  Monoprice, an online retailer offering high-quality and affordably priced consumer electronics and accessories, announced today the addition of the Pure Outdoor and Cycling categories which target adventure seekers and cycling enthusiasts. Outdoor and Cycling are two fast-growing markets saturated with high retail channel costs and margins. Through its direct-to-consumer business model that eliminates retail markup, Monoprice will introduce premium quality gear and accessories throughout the year under the Pure Outdoor brand name at prices a fraction of the cost of those from industry competitors. Now customers will have access to an online shopping destination that caters to all of their technology needs, in addition to the hobbies and sports they love.

"Simply put, people are being overcharged, and that's not acceptable when a similar if not better product can be sold at a lower cost," said Bernard Luthi, president of Monoprice. "We're always in search of ways to diversify our business to offer great quality, fun and functional products at price points consumers can feel good about. These two categories presented an opportunity for us to seamlessly merge our experience selling gadgets with the activities that our team and consumers are passionate about. Our product lineup will feature gear for outdoor sports and recreation, as well as include a suite of popular cycling parts and gear to appeal to everyone -- from cruiser to commuter and racer."

Pure Outdoor

Monoprice's Pure Outdoor category will offer core outdoor products and basic essentials for tactical and recreational enthusiasts. A sampling of new products include:

• Carbon Cork Trekking Poles ($49.99 per pair) - Designed to meet the high standards of professional hikers, these four-season poles are suitable for hiking, backpacking and long expeditions, feature premium cork grips, and combine a lightweight carbon construction with a fast locking system to provide maximum adjustability and reliability without weighing hikers down
• Vacuum Sealed Water Bottles ($15.99 - $19.99) - To ensure liquid stays at a desired temperature in any environment, each bottle keeps contents cold for up to 24 hours and hot up to 6 hours. Available in 18 fl. oz., 32 fl. oz. and 40 fl. oz. sizes
• Power Cache 220 Solar Power Generator ($179.00) - Monoprice's first power inverter offers a lower price point, higher wattage, more charging ports and a longer warranty than industry name brands. Designed to collect, store and use power, this generator powers any AC plug or USB device with multiple ports-perfect for outdoor use or to serve as an emergency power source. Available in June.
• Portable Solar Panels ($24.99 - $39.99) - Available in 8-watt and 15-watt models, these panels collect solar energy and generate the power needed to keep USB devices like a power bank fully charged and ready for use at any time

Cycling

A rise in bicycle commuters, a heightened interest in retro cycling fashion, and growing DIY cycling and specialty accessories markets impacted Monoprice's decision to expand into the Cycling category. The category will offer premium bike parts and gear at more accessible prices. First-to-market products include:

• Carbon Clincher Wheel Sets (starting at $749.99) - These extremely lightweight wheels offer strength and durability. Made with the highest quality materials and Sapim CX-Ray Spokes Carbon Clincher Wheelsets, these wheels make premium performance and technology accessible to everyone. Available in 38 mm., 50 mm. and 88 mm. sizes
• An array of bike parts including Carbon Handle Bars with Internal Routing ($89.99), Carbon Fiber Seat Posts ($49.99), and Carbon Fiber Bottle Cages ($14.99)
• At launch, Monoprice will sell a variety of Electronic Bicycle Conversion Kits ($698.00 - $1,473.00), as well as road, all-terrain and e-bike Bicycle Tubes and Tires ($2.99 to $44.99) at competitive price points from select third-party vendors. In the future, Monoprice will switch gears, selling its own branded line of eBike kits, tubes and tires

For more information on Monoprice's new product offerings, please visit Monoprice.com.

About Monoprice, Inc. (DBA Monoprice.com)
Located in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Monoprice, Inc. is an e-commerce leader specializing in providing more than 6,500 high-quality yet affordable electronics and tech products. As an industry innovator, Monoprice fills a void in the consumer technology market by delivering exceptional products that are on par with the best known national brands at prices far below the retail average with incomparable speed and service. Maintaining a business philosophy that focuses on the needs of its customers, the company strives to bring simplicity, fairness and confidence to consumers and businesses shopping for big-ticket electronics and tech accessories. For more information about Monoprice, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and YouTube. Monoprice is a subsidiary of Blucora, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCOR).