Posts by Phil Latz
Current Tariff Legislation is Hurting our Industry
Several major product categories that are sold within the Australian bicycle industry are subject to import tariffs. These are federally imposed taxes paid for by the importer. But because importers need to make a sustainable profit, they must pass these higher prices on to the retailers and that ultimately makes these goods more expensive for…
Cell Bike Brand Re-emerges in Australia
Cell Bikes are remembered in Australia as arguably the first major online retail company and discount bike brand. Cell Bikes declined as brand and business, before closing, then being acquired by Bicycles Online, the Sydney based importer and online retailer of bicycle brands including Polygon and Marin. Now the Cell Bikes brand has re-emerged in…
TEBCO Gives Dealers Full Technical Backup
– Sponsored Content – The Electric Bicycle Co (TEBCO) celebrating it’s 20th anniversary, meaning it’s the first ebike specialist company in Australia. Ask founder Tony Morgan for the secret to two decades of success and he has no hesitation in answering, “Our in house workshop capability is absolutely paramount,” he said. “We get people calling…
Two Australian Designed Products with World Class Features
– Sponsored Content – Australian bicycle industry veteran Trent Fitzgibbins is passionate about designing state of the art products at great value prices that help dealers to sell through, 52 weeks of the year. Trent has designed products for many brands and companies over the years, but this article will focus upon two of the…
How’s Business? December 2019
Welcome to our popular monthly How’s Business feature in which we ask a selection of bicycle shop owners and managers across Australia and New Zealand, ‘How’s business?’. Being our December newsletter, for this month’s follow up question we asked, ‘How is Christmas shaping up and do you do laybys for Christmas? Western Australia John Carney…
Great Value & Margins from Europe’s Largest Tyre Manufacturer
– Sponsored Content – You may be interested to learn that the largest manufacturer of tyres within Europe is not one of the best known brands (who primarily manufacture in Asia) but Mitas, who have been making tyres, solely in Europe since 1908. Mitas are based in the Czech Republic, where they manufacture all of…
Why We Deserve Government Support
I’ve always been an analytical type of person. Show me the numbers! Then I’ll make decisions based upon the data There’s nothing exceptional in that. It’s what every good bike businessperson does day in and day out when they’re deciding what to order, what prices to charge and a host of other decisions. Theoretically our…
TMO Sports Trials Innovative Social Media Based Marketing Strategy
After many years with a previous distributor, Continental Tyres moved their Australian bicycle tyre distribution to TMO Sports in November 2017. Continental also updated their mountain bike tyre range about 12 months ago. Continental has been a very strong road tyre brand here for many years, but TMO Sports was finding it tough to gain…
Bafang Booms While Continental Closes
Continental Bicycle Systems recently announced that it is pulling out of the e-bike market. Continental has been making motors and drive system electronics. The company first announced this decision to its staff of about 100 employees. Production is to be phased-out in the first quarter of 2020. Antje Lewe, Spokeswoman ContiTech and Head of External…
First ‘Production Ready’ 3D Printed Carbon Bicycle Frame Launched
There have been various announcements and samples of 3D printed bicycle frames for five years now. But until now, no-one has claimed to have a 3D printed frame that is production ready. The frame at the centre of this new claim was developed by Italian technology company Atala which is 50% owned by the Accell…