Posts by Phil Latz
Passion on Display at Handmade Bicycle Show
Williamstown, Victoria Flowing from the Covid pandemic and resultant international trade disruptions have been calls for more products to be made in Australia. When it comes to bicycles and related parts and accessories, the vast majority of products are imported, but what our local manufacturers lack in scale, they make up for with passion and…
Lusty’s Big New Adventure
~ Sponsored Content ~ When it comes to Australian bicycle industry importers and wholesalers, Lusty Industries is a relatively new kid on the block. But perceptions can be misleading. It’s already about 17 years since Johnny McLean and his partner Helen started a home based business from scratch. Now, after a decade in their most…
How’s Business? – May 2022
Welcome to our monthly chat with dealers from across Australia and New Zealand. From a range of previous conversations we’ve been having with wholesalers and retailers over recent months, it seems the pendulum has been swinging in relation to which categories of bikes are now in shortest supply due to covid. The initial surge of…
Lekker Bikes Opens Much Larger Sydney Showroom
Alexandria, NSW On Thursday evening 28th April, Lekker Bikes held a grand opening party for its new Sydney Brand Store. Lekker is a Dutch brand that actually started in Australia. We spoke with Saskia van Lier, who is Lekker’s Commercial Director, responsible for Australian operations. “We had a very tiny boutique in Surry Hills,” Saskia…
2022 Yearbook is Here!
Thanks to Your Support, We Made It!
Wollongong, NSW Nine months before my 60th birthday was due to arrive on 17th March 2022, I decided to do something significant to mark the occasion. That was, to try to ride from Melbourne to Sydney and hopefully raise over $20,000 for two cycling-related charities I’ve long supported. Well, my 60 or Bust! charity ride…
How’s Business – April 2022
Welcome to our monthly chat with dealers across Australia and New Zealand. For this month’s follow up question, we returned to the elephant in the room that we’ve deliberately avoided for the past few months of How’s Business columns – stock. In some ways, it’s hard to believe that we’re now approaching two years since…
Why I’m Asking For Your Help
Just over two weeks ago I turned 60. Fortunately, I’m not asking you for donations towards a mobility scooter or a deposit on a room in aged care accommodation. But being a bit of a planner, early last year I started thinking about what I might do to mark this significant life milestone. Whatever I…
How’s Business – March 2022
Wollongong, NSW Welcome to our monthly chat with bicycle shop owners and managers from across Australia and New Zealand. One universal theme in their comments is that stock shortages are still impacting their businesses and most feel that the light at the end of the tunnel, whilst visible now, is a long way down the…
Pre-Order Your 2022 YearBook
Wollongong, NSW We have begun updating the YearBook for the latest companies, products and brands in the industry and expect to release the 2022 Latz Report Yearbook in late April. The YearBook is a four-way, cross-referenced system that allows a reader to find the details of the companies who stock a particular product line, or…