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a very strong brand
Also choice = convenienceThese are key takeaways for me.
LBK, SeaBass, CyclePS, SBC, HubVelo are strong young independent brands if they sustain.
I am guessing all local shops have abandoned sales (due to online) and focussed on service already.How do you (not you specifically) explain the growth in general commuter cycling yet closing down of shops? Low spenders?
Also, I have made some panic purchases in Condor too, they tend to stock the most obscure stuff in London.
amey-
my experience is that there was a boom in the buying about 2/3 years ago, a lot of people wont spend money until the bike goes wrong, the amount of folk that would come in the shop pissed off that they had to spend £100-£200 on maintenance after 2/3 years of commuting.
Most commuters are not going everyday so that influx of repairing and maintenance money isnt necessarily coming in, could that be a reason?
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It could also be the cycle to work scheme where you save on the tax. So it’s the made monies available via another mean Ie not physical cash.
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I am guessing all local shops have abandoned sales (due to online) and focussed on service already
This in spades. My lbs was even talking about not even stocking full bikes anymore, they just sit on the shop floor not being sold. Servicing and consumables are where the money is made these days
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A lot of commuters buy from Evans, Halfords, Cycle Surgery etc etc “highstreet brand names”, shops with history and multiple branches/perceived security, not little independents.
And a lot of people now treat a bike as a consumable, £300-400 on c2w, so about 250-300 after “savings”. Many would rather scrap or sell the bike every 2-3 years and get a shiny new one.
Not saying this is always the case but it’s definitely a thing.
Manson7am
musa
Turkish
TM
It's a very strong brand, so they will attract all kind of people looking for a new bike, who aren't necessarily clued-up, and/or happy to pay extra for the perceived "premium" experience.
Also choice = convenience, and they have no competition in that respect.
And the shop will also sell to people who would usually buy everything online but need that super rare spare for their 1998 Veloce shifter, or need that Stages cover today etc... There's a lot of last minute purchases in there.