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  • Interesting idea but I'd have to wonder about the commercial viability. Rent, rates, heating, lighting, insurance, accountancy, H&S plus staff, workshop space, tooling, training etc etc etc.

    However, if there are enough of you to put together a staffing package where you would provide trained women cyclists to a few existing shops, say one day a week to start with plus you market the female aspects for them. Post which days at which shops on lfgss for example. Have time with their marketing people to see how you can promote women-specific events and incentives. If you are really ambitious you might want to brand your ''cooperative" in some way that shops see supporting you as a sales benefit.

    Lady's evenings (hope that doesn't sound patronising) could be really helpful space for bike and clothing fitting. Imagine a parent with a young daughter cyclist who finds a yer typical shop a bit intimidating. Pick a shop and bomb the locale with notices. Even worth notifying local papers who are always short of copy. Perhaps you can utilise lfgss contacts for "support acts" such as Rollapaluza or polo, ways to lock your bike etc. http://www.goskyride.com/Breeze

    A scheme like that would leverage existing resources without necessarily needing extra investment from participating bike shops. Your mission, "should you decide to accept it", would be to grow your team of women cyclists willing to provide paid sales support and and to come up with some marketing plans. You probably won't need offices or much else to start with (meet in the pub!), maybe there's someone here can help out with some web design too.

    Good luck.

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