LBS expanding but moving out of town

[IanSmithCSE]

Good afternoon,

In Worcester we have two LBS owned by the same people.

On one side of the city centre they sell mostly mountain and road bikes and on the other side of the city and really on the edge of the city they sell Pashleys and Bromptons and other non road/mountain bikes.

Both shops are quite small for bike shops and the owners have decided to move both shops to one different location, about 3 or 4 miles out of the city centre in premises previously occupied by a Vauxhall car dealership (to give you a rough idea of size).

https://worcestercyclecentre.com/worcester-cycle-centre-elgar-cycles-relocation/
Well, we’ve been listening – not to the media but to our customers – about what requirements a modern bike shop needs to provide in 2021.

It seems there are plenty of customers who still appreciate the benefits of a visit to a specialist enthusiast-staffed retailer rather than going online. Whether it’s your first bike for many years, a custom build, getting a helmet that fits, setting up your suspension, or discussing a mechanical issue with your gears, it’s reassuring to know there’s an experienced bunch of staff who can help you out.

My used plastic bike came from them but I have never bought much else from them as they don't have much of a consumables or accessories range, at least in term of those thing that I would like to buy.

In practice the new premises are not walkable to from the city centre or accessible by bus and will have very limited passing foot traffic, I remember having to go out to Twyford to the Peter Hare shop when I was still at school but he pretty much only sold to enthusiasts.

Is this an inspired decision or have they let a few hardcore customers lead them down the wrong road?

Bye

Ian

 

[Darius_Jedburgh]

My LBS is seriously considering doing the same thing. He is in a town centre location. No car parking at all.

He has been offered a unit some 2 miles outside the centre. 25% bigger premises and 25% less rent.

New premises will have a massive free car park. He reckons walk in trade of any value is minimal, and car parking provision will easily make up any loss.

Regular cyclists won't notice the difference.

 

[fossyant]

Car Parking and you can cycle to it.

 

[Richard Fairhurst]

I can't blame them at all - it's the way the bike shop market is moving. I don't know the Elgar Cycles shop, but Worcester Cycle Centre in the city centre isn't an ideal location. As you say, they don't have much space for accessories - a few times I've been in there only to find they're out of stock of whatever I wanted. Out of town shops, like Cotswold Cycles near us, have much more space to play around with.

But it's a shame that there's no safe cycle route from Worcester to Hallow. It's one of those roads where a roadside path should be a no-brainer. (Particularly if you could then bash a traffic-free route through from Grimley up to Holt Fleet.)

 

[IanSmithCSE]

Good afternoon,

But it's a shame that there's no safe cycle route from Worcester to Hallow. It's one of those roads where a roadside path should be a no-brainer. (Particularly if you could then bash a traffic-free route through from Grimley up to Holt Fleet.)

Interesting that you say that, I use the main road a lot and never have a traffic problem, it always seems a lot less busy then you might expect it to be.

If you carry on on that road to Tenbury It is also nicely hilly ride, enough for a work out but not too tough, or you can turn off halfway along at Abberly and go through Stanford Bridge, a 60mph hill, and come back via Bromyard.

Bye

Ian

 

[Drago]

The only way that it is not walkable is if you gave no legs. There is a footway on the A443.

If you actually want to walk it, you will.

What you mean to say is that it's jolly inconvenient to you personally to walk it. And it probably is highly inconvenient.

Businesses can't win. If they're in the town centre motorists moan about limited parking, residents complain about increased congestion, danger and pollution, and business owners themselves compalin about disproportinately high rents. If they move out of town then the townies moan they habe to get in the car, or its too far to walk, or its no longer on their doorstep.

Its probably not the ideal solution, but looking at the angles its probably the least-worst one. They run and make a profit from more cycle shops than either you or I do, so the likelihood is that they have more experience, kbowledge and insight on the matter than you or I do as well.

 

[matticus]

The only way that it is not walkable is if you gave no legs.

If you actually want to walk it, you will.

What you mean to say is that it's jolly inconvenient to you personally to walk it.

Well yeah, ... but to get anything done to the bike, that 3 miles could become 9 miles total. Multiply by all the people that live in the city, you've added a lot of miles/shoe-leather/time. So that some other folks can drive there more conveniently.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Car Parking and you can cycle to it.

Not if your bike is broke

 

[Sterlo]

Wish we had something around here. There are a few small shops but nothing major, we've got a trek to find anything half decent.

 

[Richard Fairhurst]

Interesting that you say that, I use the main road a lot and never have a traffic problem, it always seems a lot less busy then you might expect it to be.

Sure - it's fine for confident cyclists like you or me. But the significant 60mph stretch isn't great for kids, or for newer, wobblier cyclists who are maybe thinking about upgrading their old bike. Plus a lot of cars don't stick to the 30 in the Worcester bit, of course.

(I've now been reminded of the argument over on another forum where someone was very cross with me for suggesting that there might be anything less than cycle friendly about City Walls Road. )

 

[Drago]

Well, time will tell matticus. If theyre there in a year and doing ok, then its the right decision. If theyre gone bankrupt, it was the wrong one.

Theyre a business, there to make a profit, not for the sole concenience of certain goegrapgically placed residents, and they'll follow the dollar accordingly.

Paying 2 lots of town level rent, 2 lots of business rates, 2 lots of utilities, 2 lots of insurance, etc, was probably eye watering, and brings no tangible gain.

Now they've quite likely more than halved each of those - even if they lose a bit of buniess, with such a significant saving their bottom line is probably still healthier because of the move.

I've set a reminder in Outlook to check in a year, but despite the downsides I suspect their business will be more profitable and more reslient because of it, and maximising the bottom line is the only reason for running a business.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

If it's as said a old car dealership, there's likely to be space for a cafe, or at least coffee & cake, if they can make that a place to visit assuming we're ever allowed out again it sounds like good business sense to me

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Wonder if they will have lots of second hand bikes on the forecourt with price stickers on the handlebars.

One careful owner, full service history, air conditioning, 30 speed - comes fully loaded, the Carrera Ghia. Then punters can haggle over free mudflaps and a can of oil with their purchase.

 

[matticus]

Well, time will tell matticus. If theyre there in a year and doing ok, then its the right decision. If theyre gone bankrupt, it was the wrong one.

Given that almost all cyclists (Worcs isn't That London) own cars, I expect they WILL do very well! The sheer £££££££s tend to be against city-centre locations.

 

[matticus]

I've set a reminder in Outlook to check in a year,

Crikey, I missed this. That's dedication!