Posts by Phil Latz
More Than Just Handmade Bikes at HBSA 2021
As the name suggests, the stars of the Handmade Bicycle Show Australia (HBSA) are the frame builders who craft works of art that people can ride every day. But a growing contingent of other exhibitors also take the opportunity to show their wares to a keen public audience, sprinkled with quite a few bicycle shop…
Will Lug & Carrie Help or Hinder IBD’s?
There’s a new bike business in town that operates with a significantly different business model to traditional bike shops. Lug & Carrie customers don’t buy their bikes, they subscribe. In return for a weekly subscription, they get a new fully assembled ebike delivered to their home by a trained staff member, plus some initial training…
How’s Business? June 2021
Welcome to our monthly chat with a widely varied selection of bicycle shop owners and managers spread throughout Australia and New Zealand. Both from these conversations and many other conversations and visits we’ve been making since our previous monthly newsletter, it appears that, for now at least, the bicycle stock shortage has been easing. But…
Adelaide City Bike Shop Closes
Claude Altin has run bike shops under the name of Megabike in a succession of Adelaide locations for many years. Recently he decided to retire and close Megabike which in its final location has been in Rundle Street, the main shopping street in the city centre of Adelaide. Their last day’s trading was Saturday 15th…
Is Wiggle About to be Sold?
There is more money than ever looking to purchase bicycle industry companies and, following the recent sale of Canyon, it appears that Wiggle, the global mail order company that does significant business in Australia, might be next. Financial media giant Bloomberg has reported that Wiggle could be in the sights of acquisition specialists as part…
First Look Outside Melbourne’s Newest Bike Shop
On Monday 24th May, Melbourne’s newest bike shop opened its doors for the first time. Glow Worm Electric Bikes Melbourne is a sister shop to the long established Glow Worm Electric Bikes in Sydney which was founded in Marrickville in 2009. The new Melbourne store is also in an inner-city location at 1/73-77 Wellington Street,…
Brompton Australia Struggling to Meet Surging Demand
Many Australian bicycle dealers dismiss the ‘funny looking little folding bikes’ from Brompton as something of a novelty. But they may be surprised to learn that Brompton now employs over 300 staff. They were already making 50,000 bikes per year pre-covid, all in London, UK and they’re aiming to reach 100,000 per annum production within…
Widely Respected Veteran Retiring After 42 Years in the Bike Industry
David Hofner is retiring from his current role at GPI Apollo after over four decades of unbroken service to the Australian bicycle industry. During this time, he worked for just three companies, only moving when each of the first two businesses closed. “I started in the bicycle industry in 1979 with Cycles Australia,” David recalled.…
The 2021 YearBook is Here!
Thanks for your positive feedback to the 2021 Latz Report YearBook that has just arrived in stores. Due to the emergence of Covid-19, the 2020 edition of this much-loved trade directory was only produced as an online virtual flipbook. Feedback after its release showed that there was still great demand in retail stores and workshops…
Shimano Sales and Profits Soar
Given the extent of the bike boom and consequent component shortages, it would surprise few in the bicycle industry to learn that Shimano’s sales and profits are up. But the recently released official figures show staggering increases for a company in a mature industry that’s celebrating it’s 100th anniversary this year. Shimano sales in its…