That’s a Wrap! No More Regular Latz Report Newsletters

Man posing with bicycle in cycling attire.

Wollongong NSW It’s with mixed emotions that I share the news with you that this will be the final regular edition of The Latz Report newsletter. I’m writing this on Monday 2nd December as we finalise the December Latz Report newsletter, which will go out to our Premium Subscribers on Friday 6th December and to…

How’s Business? – December 2024

Bike shop store front

Welcome to How’s Business, brought to you by our sponsor Dirt Works Australia, where right now, you can get Sunringle wheelsets for HALF PRICE. With Christmas just around the corner for this month’s follow up question we asked, “What are your predictions for the upcoming Christmas and summer season. What will sell well and what…

12 Tips to Help You Succeed – Part Three

Person standing on top of mountain with hands in the air celebrating

Wollongong, NSW It’s taken me 38 years in business to learn these 12 tips, most of them the hard way! You certainly don’t have to agree with all of them, but I hope that at least some of them help you. I gave a detailed introduction to this series at the start of Part One.…

How Will Our Bicycle Industry Look in 10 Years’ Time?

Female riding a bike outdoors with virtual reality goggles on.

Wollongong, NSW With this being the last regular Latz Report newsletter, what better way to end an era than to play Nostradamus and make some predictions of how the future will look? I’m choosing a time span of 10 years – specifically how will the world look on Sunday 31st December 2034. That’s long enough…

How’s Business? – November 2024

Man standing in bicycle store

Welcome to How’s Business, brought to you by our sponsor Dirt Works Australia, where right now, you can get Sunringle wheelsets for HALF PRICE. We’ve been hearing that there are still very large specials available from wholesalers to retailers who are prepared to buy certain models of bikes or more than a certain minimum quantity…

Every Bike Shop Owner’s Worst Nightmare Happens in Melbourne

Interior view of a fire damaged bicycle store

Melbourne, Vic Gary Cookson, founding owner of Melbourne-based store Cargocycles has been doing it tough since he received a call in the middle of the night from his security contractor and then arrived to see his premises and stock destroyed. Subject to the outcome of police investigations yet to be finalised, it appears he was…

12 Tips to Help You Succeed – Part Two

Person standing on top of mountain with hands in the air celebrating

Wollongong, NSW It’s taken me 38 years in business to learn these 12 tips, most of them the hard way! You certainly don’t have to agree with all of them, but I hope that at least some of them help you. I gave a detailed introduction to this series at the start of Part One.…

How’s Business? – October 2024

Bicycle store street frontage

Welcome to How’s Business, brought to you by our sponsor Dirt Works Australia, where right now, you can get Sunringle wheelsets for HALF PRICE. If you read what our participating bike shop owners had to say this month, you’ll see that their answers range from “Worst ever!” to “Best ever!” with the rest mainly towards…

12 Tips to Help You Succeed – Part One

Person with arms in air with mountain background

Wollongong, NSW It’s taken me 38 years in business to learn these 12 tips, most of them the hard way! You certainly don’t have to agree with all of them, but I hope that at least some of them help you. Those of you who’ve been in the bike industry for at least eight years…

Retail Briefs – October

Internal above view of a bicycle store

Off Course As we reported here earlier this year, after 16 years trading as Commuter Cycles, the inner city Melbourne store rebranded as Off Course to reflect the much wider range of bikes that it now sells and services, including to gravel and adventure riding markets. After a long gap between visits, I recently dropped…