Posts Tagged ‘Highlight’
New Software Platform to Solve Compatibility Headaches
Rotorua, NZ NZ start-up Bike Matrix is preparing to pilot a new software platform aiming to be a go-to reference guide for bike part compatibility. The online system will enable shop mechanics and consumers to input the make and model of a bicycle and instantly see the array of compatible parts – saving them time…
High Quality Return for China Cycle
Shanghai, China A quantum leap forward in the quality of Chinese bicycle products was on display when China Cycle 2023 was held in Shanghai this month – the first time the event has been held since 2019 because of Covid restrictions. TEBCO managing director Tony Morgan reported back to The Latz Report when he returned…
Restored Partnership a Silver Bullitt for Cargo Conversion
Melbourne, Victoria While bicycle companies around the globe are looking down the barrel of a testing economic climate for the next few months at least, one Melbourne business has turned to a Bullitt as a solution. E-Cargo and commuter e-bike specialist Dutch Cargo last week signed as a distributor for Bullitt, a lightweight, front-loading cargo…
How’s Business – May 2023
Welcome to our monthly conversation with bicycle shop owners across Australia and New Zealand. In last month’s How’s Business column, Leighton Thomas from Geraldton Bikes commented that he was spending a lot of time on warranty claims on new bikes that had various faults. He suggested that we ask other dealers if they were also…
Continuing Very Low Bicycle Imports are Actually a Positive Sign
Canberra, ACT We’ve just received the latest bicycle import data for the months of January and February 2023. In summary, the number of bikes that were imported was way below average. In normal times, this might be cause for concern, but given our current industry situation of overstocks and discounting at both wholesale and retail…
NZ Success Story Brings Rush of New Energy for Ridley
~ Sponsored content ~ A New Zealand distributor putting Ridley firmly on the map in its home country has been granted the brand’s agency for Australia. Auckland-based Rush Velo, owned by former NZ elite men’s road cycling champion Darien Rush, introduced Ridley to NZ in 2019, focusing on the brand’s gravel range initially and gradually…
2023 Micromobility Conference Postponed – A Personal Letter from Phil Latz
Wollongong, NSW I’m writing to announce that we’ve decided to postpone the 2023 Micromobility Conference. We ran the first Micromobility Conference in November 2022 and although it was a great success in terms of fantastic speakers, encouraging reviews from delegates and many other positive aspects, it ran at a financial loss. It’s about a month…
What Does Our Bike Industry Future Look Like?
As we all know, Australia’s bike industry went through an unprecedented two-year boom from about March 2020 until it started to taper during 2022. During that boom, I wrote two opinion pieces here and here predicting what would happen next and then, early this year, this article in which I summarised which of those predictions…
How’s Business – April 2023
Welcome to our monthly conversation with retailers across Australia and NZ. It’s always dangerous to define any trends from a sample of, in this month’s case, just seven stores. However, it seems stores with less nearby competition, particularly regional stores, are finding things better than city stores where there are multiple shops nearby. We’ve been…
Hargroves Rebrand Completes 99 Bikes Purchase
Southhampton, UK Pedal Group has begun a rebrand of the UK retail chain, Hargroves Cycles, it purchased recently. The Queensland-based company last week began converting the four Hargroves outlets into 99 Bikes stores, consistent with its retail operations in Australia. Hargroves founder Peter Hargroves said on social media site LinkedIn the rebranding was an end…