Posts by Phil Latz
Bike Industry Links at Disability Expo
We recently attended the ATSA Expo in Melbourne where we met several exhibitors with direct bicycle industry links and others with strong overlaps. ATSA stands for Assistive Technologies Suppliers Australia – it’s the trade association for an industry whose mobility equipment stores segment alone is estimated to have a turnover in excess of $669 million…
Where to Advertise
Today’s media landscape is more diverse than at any time in our history. That means that you have more options than ever to choose where you advertise. But which ones are right for you? In this episode, we’ll take you through all of the main options, divided into two groups: ‘new media’ and ‘old media’.…
Advertising
These Five Shops Are Looking Well Stocked – For Now At Least
In this age of random Covid hot spots and unexpected lockdowns, I’ve chosen not to risk too many road trips. Not because of health concerns, but just to avoid the potential disruption of having to quarantine and get tested through being in the wrong place at the wrong time. On Friday 26th March I finally poked my head out of the burrow, and headed to Sydney where I…
Industry Guru Gives His Assessment of Future Product Supply and Demand
Many members in the bicycle industry have either met or know of the American bike industry veteran Bob Margevicius. As well as being long time Executive Vice President of Specialized, he’s also renowned as an enthusiastic cyclist and supporter of the bike industry, former New Zealand resident and the Vice Chair of the BPSA (Bicycle Product Suppliers Association) in the USA. …
Leon Cycle Offers Dealers an Ebike Growth Partnership
Radical Changes Proving Successful for TMO Sports
For many years the wholesaler now trading exclusively under the name TMO Sports was better known by the name of its sister company, Velo Vita. But things started changing early last year when the lease for their combined warehouse / office space in the inner southern suburbs of Sydney was up for renewal. This area is possibly the most tightly held and expensive industrial real estate…
How’s Business? May 2021
Welcome to our monthly chat with bicycle shop owners and managers across Australia and New Zealand. As always, we start by simply asking, ‘How’s business?’ This months follow up question was, ‘How do you think the coming winter season is going to compare to last year’s?’ Troy Reilly of Sprung in the centre of Launceston, Tasmania said: Mate, business…
Major New Developments Including Ownership Changes at MTB Direct
On 8th April 2021, MTB Direct, Australia’s leading online retailer of mountain bike parts and accessories, announced that they have partnered with SPS Commerce and its Australia-based team of experts to advance their supplier collaboration and drive new efficiencies. Since being founded in 2012 MTB direct has experienced double-digit annual growth and exceeded 350,000 e-commerce orders. “Mountain biking is an increasingly…
Bike Counter Data Shows Clear Covid Spike
We’ve all seen increased cycling activity during Covid lockdowns and heard about the surge in demand for bicycles and related equipment. But it’s interesting to see some hard data that precisely measures cycling activity, even if it’s only a snapshot from six locations around Australia. The two charts accompanying this story relate to the same six bike…