News
2020 Yearbook Coming Soon! Last Chance to Update Your Listing
We aim to be publishing The Latz Report Yearbook 2020 by the end of next month. If you’re a wholesaler or any other bike business that sells products or services to retailers, then today (Friday 29th May) is your last chance to update your free listing. Due to economic and logistical impacts of the coronavirus,…
Australian Bicycle Imports Down for March 2020
Bicycle imports into Australia were down for the month March with the total of 38,942 being the lowest March figure for any of the past 10 years. It’s reasonable to assume that at least part of the reason for the low figure was disruption of factories, particularly in China, due to Covid-19. Although the March…
Do You Take Personal Responsibility for Your Business?
The world of business can be brutal. There’s no safety net. It’s survival of the fittest. If you have a tendency to sugar coat the facts or worse still, avoid them entirely, then there’s a strong chance that they will come back to bite you. You need to take personal responsibility for your actions and…
New Dates and Bigger New Venue for Handmade Bicycle Show Australia
After two successful years at the historic North Melbourne Meat Markets, the Handmade Bicycle Show Australia (HBSA) is moving to a new venue and later dates for 2020. The HSBA will now be held from Friday 16th October to Sunday 18th October at Seaworks, Williamstown, Vic. Williamstown is a historic waterfront suburb of Melbourne on…
It’s Not Just Bicycles and Toilet Paper in Short Supply
Recently my wireless keyboard started doing thisssssssssss, as they have a habit of doing after 12 months or so in our throw away society where new keyboards start at under $10. So I visited my local Office Works and walked across to the computer and peripherals section, that I hadn’t visited since the pre-virus era.…
‘Bicycles Are the New Toilet Paper!’ Aussie Dealer Comment Goes Global
When Australian bicycle shop owner Grant Kaplan of Giant Sydney made this throwaway line to a journalist last month, he probably didn’t expect it to go global. But in a world that’s bored, desperate for some good news and starved of some comic relief his quote has gone global. Grant’s exact quote, according to The…
From Corporate Servicing to Cobweb Removal
Thomas Treloar’s business The Rolling Fix has established a profitable niche over the past seven years. Unlike most other mobile mechanics who go house to house, Thomas usually works in the underground car parks and bike parking facilities of the large office towers in Sydney’s CBD. Working with major corporates and building managers to a…
Shimano Cycling Sales Down 15% for Jan to March
For the quarter ended 31st March 2020, Shimano’s net sales from the bicycle components segment decreased 15.4%, compared like-for-like with the same period last year, to 58,868 million yen, (A$841 million) while operating income decreased 26.1% to 10,298 million yen (A$147 million). In Europe, Shimano noted strong retail sales of completed bicycles, particularly e-Bike’s, but…
French & UK Governments Subsidising Bicycle Repairs
The French government is tackling the travel challenges of the pandemic lockdown directly by offering its citizens €50 (A$85.50) to spend getting their bicycles repaired. Members of the public can spend up to €50 at registered mechanics as part of a €20 million (A$34.2 million) scheme. That cash total will also be used for cycle…
Colnago, Italy’s Iconic Brand, Sold to Abu Dhabi Investment Fund
Abu Dhabi fund, Chimera Investments LLC, has announced the acquisition of the majority of Colnago’s shares. In their statement, the fund, which is headed by Dubai’s royal family and also owns the UAE Emirates Team World Tour pro cycling team that is equipped with Colnago bikes, publicly thanked “Ernesto Colnago, master of the design and…