Evans Cycles

'right-on social justice keyboard warrior'? Seriously? Are you sure she isn't a snowflake as well? It's not like you to be so embarrassingly childish.

Bit harsh, that's your opinion though, and I have mine. Being courteous goes a long way and yes, so mind your language...

Yes this too, former owners are private equity guys so you'll think that they have everything figured out, they didn't and it was a bad bet.

The turning point must have been the Wiggle and the CRC 'merger' when the 2nd acquisition was made, why wasn't this referred to the competition commission?

And yeah, from therein Evans just could not match online sales.

This!

The only lbs near me that I think would be worth saving, doesn't need saving, it's thriving.

The last bike shop I worked in was run by a racist, sexist, sad middle aged man who thought he could look cool by having a new bike every couple months and who bought his mates by giving them discounts that amounted to selling stuff at less than trade price.

It was nobodies responsibility to bankroll him by spending money in the shop.

Yes this too, former owners are private equity guys so you'll think that they have everything figured out, they didn't and it was a bad bet.

Thing is, before I left, it was fine, the problem is that they're not returning enough money back to the investor (last I remember, they need to make at least £2 millions before the end of the years... in 2017).

It’s a huge punt for Ashley but he can do what he’s done with House of Fraser and trim the worst performing parts of the estate.

He can make supple chain savings and turn the screw on landlords and suppliers a bit harder.

But he won’t invest in the brand. It will become a Sports Direct discount model. Forget being able to expect availability of parts etc. Maybe it was heading there anyway, I’ve never been impressed with the range or service in Evans.

If a massive consortium of independent stores got together could they come up with the money to buy Evans out of receivership? Advantage being A the same as Ashleigh; the opportunity to buy a load of stock at knock-down price and B the opportunity to take out a large competitor. If Ashley’s bid pays off it wouldn’t be helpful for indies.

I believe it was referred to the competition commission but because Halfords still has such a huge market share (they don’t differentiate BSOs from the enthusiast market) it was allowed to go through

Where would they get the cash from? None of the bike store owners I know are doing particularly well.

Not sure it would solve the issue of bricks and mortar stores struggling to compete with online anyway.

Bike shops need to focus on services given that the online retailers will always beat them on price, the issue is what services and how to monetise them- bike fits, custom builds, coaching, organised rides, a sponsored club- all the stuff that takes dedication and expertise to create, and that is very hard to create from a three ring binder of retail store processes.

Although isn’t an additional problem that landlords aren’t often that any more. They are landowners, often funds lent to by insurers and pension funds.

On a side note independent shops need to diversify. I have no idea how they are doing or how the Giant element plays here but the Cadence (in Crystal Palace) model seems more viable. A cycle centre which includes yoga, spin classes, cafe, fitness testing, bike and parts retail, servicing, club, foreign travel.

Cadence (in Crystal Palace) model seems more viable. A cycle centre which includes yoga, spin classes, cafe, fitness testing, bike and parts retail, servicing, club, foreign travel.

Your average start up does not have this sort of cash/backing.

Which is why you focus on one or two things at first and do them well.

No I take your second point, but it would annihilate a significantly sized high street competitor. On your first point, it would be a case of raising the money

I get that but it doesn’t actually have to be all one business either just because they share a roof.

Ha!

Love all the armchair pundits on twitter saying 'how could Evans fail, cycling is booming, look at all the mamil's getting in the way of my 4x4 in Surrey'

Without making the connection that most of those guys are not buying there bikes through bricks and mortar shops anymore - the cycling industry is facing the exact same problem as other high street retailers - Rise of online shopping habits, expensive rent/rates for physical shops

Feel sorry for the staff facing the axe, but might be a Silver lining for London, if they choose to close a few of the stores (seems over-saturated in central) it will give LBS's a bit of breathing space, even if just for an increase in workshop jobs could give a much need boost in the short term.

Hey man, I'm dipping my toes into bike mechanics too, so yeah obviously hoping for the best outcome too!

The mistake for high street brick and mortar retailers is that they still think they're selling the actual item/product. No one sells an actual physical product anymore, they sell an experience.

Recurring sales only comes with good service/experience over time, the feel good factor that yeah, they're not trying to just sell me a bike, they're helpful, attentive and catered to my needs.

Evans is just ridiculous to the point that most of their staffs just want to get you to the till asap and close the sale. They offer price match too but guess what? They don't match the in store price to their own website! What utter shambles in mis-management

Hence my preference for independent shops - they make the effort and yeah, value your customs.

When I was living East, I'll go to Skinny Eric's (now Frankenbike), BikeWorks (new smaller operations opposite the arches by Cambridge Heath Station), Push Cycles or Hackney Peddler (now moved from Hackney Downs arches to
Stoke Newington High Street).

Nowadays it's SeaBass Cycles and did pop into Cycle PS quite a few times before they shut.

–agree that there's maybe a small benefit that will be had for LBSs, but I can't help thinking that LBSs are invisible to most punters who would walk into an Evans store without a second thought. For better or for worse, there's implicit trust that you have with brands like Evans especially if you're not invested in 'shop local', the same thing that sends you to Sainsbury's instead of the local greengrocer, fishmonger, butcher, street market &c.
Also: Going to a local bike shop is a bit like trusting a tradesperson; you go on reputation, but if you don't know any better, you probably assume you're going to be ripped off.

No one sells an actual physical product anymore, they sell an experience.

please

It’s a just a slightly quicker way of saying just coz you’ve got a deal to sell bromptons doesn’t mean every man and his dog isn’t going to be selling them tomorrow so you’d better differentiate

I was planning on buying a Pinnacle Neon 1 to replace my knackered commuter as it ticks almost all of my boxes (1x, 700c, no-DBAD, flat bars, mudguards/rack compatible, under £400, <10kg) and I can't find a viable alternative.

Do I give Ashley some money or should I wait for a deal, get it for cheaper and then donate the money saved to a good cause?

I wouldn't be concerned about repairs or after-sales care as I can do that myself.

One the one side it's giving money to Ashley, but then it's helping keep Evans going a bit longer and I was about to buy the bike had Evans not been bought by him.

It's unlikely that Ashley is much worse than the venture capitalists who owned Evans previously. Main difference is Ashley is a public figure, the other lot are anonymous.

On that subject, it would be interesting to see the numbers of the previous owners. I wonder how much was paid out in fees and charges before they wrote off most of the debt and left others to sort out the mess?

Yup, you put it better than I did, thanks!

And what @vilms5000 said too, Evans is like a Tesco, you just go in get your stuff and go, no service. Want service? Your local grocers or market will definitely do that or even Waitrose or Marks and Sparks to a certain extent.

But most just want convenience and cheap and yeah, self service checkouts, buy and go.

Could Evans have survived had they had better customer service? Probably, but that's only one of the many other problems they faced.