Features
Cycle Tourist Numbers up 40% in Popular Cycle Region
Victoria’s High Country has experienced a 40 per cent rise in cyclists touring the region in just 12 months, cementing the North East as one of the world’s top trail cycling destinations. This represents an extra 40,000 cyclists coming the region since Victoria’s state government invested $12 million into the North East Cycling Optimisation Project.…
Letter from America – December 2019
What Should Our Industry be Doing about Climate Change? Nothing brings an issue into sharper focus than a study in contrasts. Let’s consider three individuals: American President Donald Trump, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. In early November Ms. Ardern gave a 10-minute speech in New Zealand’s Parliament—a rousing…
Inside 99 Bikes’ Unique Team Structure
– Sponsored Content – 99 Bikes now employs a staggering 430 team members across 45 stores and head office positions. We recently spoke to three 99 Bikes team members to find out more, starting with 99 Bikes’ co-founder, Matt Turner. Contrary to some misinformed external perceptions, 99 Bikes not only prefers to employ people on…
How Much do You Know About Mass Merchants?
Depending upon who you talk to, Mass merchants account for anywhere between about 60% and 75% of Australia’s bicycle sales, as measured by volume. Due to their much lower average price than independent bicycle dealers (IBD’s), their share of sales as measured by dollars would be significantly smaller. But in a market where a competitor…
Are You Fully Selling Road Disc Benefits?
Disc brakes for road bikes have finally reached a tipping point in terms of market acceptance. The most surprising thing is not so much that this has actually happened, but by how many years road bikes have lagged behind mountain bikes. Some of these delays have been caused by the very slow and cautious approach…
Letter from America – November 2019
SANTA FE, New Mexico If there’s anything that can be said about the U.S. bicycle industry, it’s that data on its performance as an economic cog in the national marketplace is a mixed bag of numbers. And, frankly, no one can say with any definitive authority whether the overall industry—whether among dealers or suppliers—is growing,…
Three Ways You Can Capitalise on the Bicycle Tourism Boom
The global bicycle tourism industry is worth three times more than the bicycle product industry. If you own a bike store, it’s worth paying close attention to this experience-based side of the industry. You’ll want to stay abreast of the radical transformations of the bicycle tourism industry and its ever-growing audience, including cyclists from all…
Six Tips to Make Your Customers Want to Spend More Time in Your Store
You may not have heard of the term ‘Third Place’. The First Place is your home, the Second Place is your regular work place, be that an office, factory, delivery vehicle or whatever. Third Place is a relatively new buzzword that refers to places that people like to spend time in. The longer people spend…
Bike Shops Have a Bright Future in Our Internet Age!
I have no doubt that the future is bright for independent bicycle dealers (IBD’s) throughout Australia and New Zealand. But it’s not bright for all IBD’s… just well managed ones. Why? For many reasons. But let me start by comparing two industries that have several things in common. For well over a century both of…