mark st1
Plastic Manc
- Location
- Leafy Berkshire
Who ? Where ? I know that's a big area you've stated but I'm intrigued now.
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Who ? Where ? I know that's a big area you've stated but I'm intrigued now.
srw
It's a bit more complicated than that...
Yeah - it's terrible for the consumer that well-thought-out shops, offering a wide range of good quality product at fair prices and backed up with decent services should be successful.
Glow worm
Legendary Member
- Location
- Near Newmarket
And it gets worse. I've just taken my rear wheel to my lovely LBS (Elemental Bikes) in Newmarket for a spot of truing, and it looks like they've closed down as well. I can't believe it- such a great shop. I can't find any info online so if anyone knows more, please let me know. It could be a refurb, but it looks pretty terminal from the street and their phone line has gone dead. Such a great shop with superb staff and I wish them all the very best.. 
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
As has been hinted, an LBS needs to evolve. It can no longer have a business model based on Arkwrights, it needs refreshing and business opportunities exploited. This takes guts and acumen. Without the buying power of the big boys and girls what can an LBS offer that you can't get online?
srw
It's a bit more complicated than that...
Small brands, niches, specialist builds. Which means that they need a strong online presence and focus on a wider area than just their locality.
As an example, none of the big retailers will ever touch tandems - far too complex and specialist and a tiny market share. But JD tandems in Ilkley and SJS in Somerset are examples of LBSs who have decided to specialise in that niche, and as a result get repeat custom from the whole country.
Cubist
Still wavin'
- Location
- Ovver 'thill
Possibly. Things like offering an all in one service to MAMILS, ie a full bike and clothing package, a service schedule thrown in (but factored in obviously). They aren't gong to make money out of the financially astute avid fettler, but there are still people who want their bikes looked after for them and who are willing to part with disposable income for the privilege. How many have put aside space for coffee etc and welcome the tyre kickers? Offering bits at cost plus a small margin in order to turn stuff over quickly? If they insist on charging full retail and fitting they will go to the wall, so how about offering a fitting service for your internet bargain without banning you for life for mentioning Chain Reaction?
All the posts have fair points to make regarding Specialised Cycles, other LBSs and the big chain shops. As Steve once said to me ' How do you make a small fortune running a cycle shop - ? ' You start off with a big fortune - !
My own experience of Halford's and Evan's is that the staff are generally enthusiastic, but lack in depth knowledge about anything more that about three years old and provided it is one of the current ' popular ' models of bike. Example in case being that I went into the newly opened branch of Evan's in Norwich and asked for a chain speedlink remover. For the uninitiated, it's a gizmo that looks like an odd pair of pliers. They didn't have one in stock, so from their t'net catalogue, I was shown an image of a crank remover - ! Oh dear - !
Went to Specialised the next day, asked Andy for same and he immediately produced one straight off the display. I rest my case.
My own experience of Halford's and Evan's is that the staff are generally enthusiastic, but lack in depth knowledge about anything more that about three years old and provided it is one of the current ' popular ' models of bike. Example in case being that I went into the newly opened branch of Evan's in Norwich and asked for a chain speedlink remover. For the uninitiated, it's a gizmo that looks like an odd pair of pliers. They didn't have one in stock, so from their t'net catalogue, I was shown an image of a crank remover - ! Oh dear - !
Went to Specialised the next day, asked Andy for same and he immediately produced one straight off the display. I rest my case.
Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
You said he has five shops. Doesn't that count as a chain of shops? I thought a LBS was just that,a local bike shop not five owned by the same bloke. Maybe he could call his business Local Bike Shop and open branches all over the country.
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slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
It's not just bike shops, it's the whole High Street. Look at the recent carnage in mainstream retail. The nearest equivalent to bike shops that I can think of is fishing, a hugely popular hobby. There used to be several fishing tackle shops in towns in Cornwall, and they were just wonderful places to visit, with great stock and run by enthusiasts. Mostly gone. Amazon, Ebay and online sheds completely undercut them, and I shared some responsibiliyy for their demise by using a keyboard rather than visiting them in person. The whole nature of retail has changed, and if you have high overheads like commercial rents etc, it's blooming hard to make a living.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
^^^^^^^^^^+1
Ditto HiFi shops, Leicester used to have 5-6 decent places where the Guys (and a couple of Gals) knew their stuff. Now all we've got is 'Richer Sounds'.
Ditto HiFi shops, Leicester used to have 5-6 decent places where the Guys (and a couple of Gals) knew their stuff. Now all we've got is 'Richer Sounds'.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
Could well have done, I know most of the 'staff' probably attended the same charm school and have about the same level of 'product knowledge' (not much, but they know what they've been asked to sell)
ozboz
Guru
- Location
- Richmond ,Surrey
There is a stark difference between the bike shops in this area , Richmond , Surrey, ( taking in Kingston, Putney, Twickenham , Chiswick , Mortlake , Brentford , Isleworth etc ) the products they sell and in the knowledge or attitude of the people that own or manage them ,
I went in an LBS about 4 weeks ago in St Margarets , passed it many times to and fro work but parking restrictions put me off going in , anyway I was doing a bathroom upgrade around the corner so took a walk up to see about a wheel problem , after about 3 visits I have had the wheel sorted , £12 , and will be getting some TRP's for my MTB and more than likely ,a new Merida CX In a month or two
He is doing very well , and traded through where a couple of bigger more high end shops have seemingly failed ,
I went in an LBS about 4 weeks ago in St Margarets , passed it many times to and fro work but parking restrictions put me off going in , anyway I was doing a bathroom upgrade around the corner so took a walk up to see about a wheel problem , after about 3 visits I have had the wheel sorted , £12 , and will be getting some TRP's for my MTB and more than likely ,a new Merida CX In a month or two
He is doing very well , and traded through where a couple of bigger more high end shops have seemingly failed ,
cardiac case
Guest
- Location
- Suffolk/Essex border
I have 4 LBS's within 10 miles which have sprung up in the boom.
I predict that they will all go soon after the boom peaks.
I have used only one because they fit for free although their prices are higher to cover this. (mudguards)
When I bought my last bike I went into town to the Cannonade dealer as he had all models and sizes
so I could sit on and try them.
When I wanted a Brooks I could buy local if I ordered it but a big family owned shop in the third nearest
town had all the models and the competition.
Buy online just to save 50p ? Nooooo.
When I get that poor I'll have Tesco Value Baked Beans for tea, and with the money I save I'll go to a bike shop.
Paul G
I predict that they will all go soon after the boom peaks.
I have used only one because they fit for free although their prices are higher to cover this. (mudguards)
When I bought my last bike I went into town to the Cannonade dealer as he had all models and sizes
so I could sit on and try them.
When I wanted a Brooks I could buy local if I ordered it but a big family owned shop in the third nearest
town had all the models and the competition.
Buy online just to save 50p ? Nooooo.
When I get that poor I'll have Tesco Value Baked Beans for tea, and with the money I save I'll go to a bike shop.
Paul G
