A bike shop for women

I know I've been (and will continue to be) busy with school for the next while, but I've had an idea put in my head about trying to raise the funds to open a bike shop that is specifically for women.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a shop that not only does dutch and classic bikes, but also sells high end wsd road bikes and ladies racing kit? A real place where you can actually go and try on road or mtb mits to see what actually fits and what is just dyed pink?

I don't entirely know how I am going to go about doing this, but I wanted to put the idea in motion and see if anyone has experience with fundraising startup costs for small businesses.

No idea about shops/businesses, but might be worth chatting to Debbie Burton from Minx Girl.

A real place where you can actually go and try on road or mtb mits to see what actually fits and what is just dyed pink?

And give advice, presumably. My best friend is going from riding ~10 miles a day at the moment, to doing London-Paris, and it would be awesome to have somewhere like this to point her for saddle advice, gloves etc.

Also, is there a difference between fitting bikes for men and women (I.e is the knowledge base different?, obviously the geo, setup would be different) as this might be another advantage.

I was thinking about dropping both them and Cyclodelic a line. Also Ananichoola, who seems to be moving more towards racing kit.

Good idea. Julie at SheActive also... they do more running than cycling stuff but they have a real life shop.

And give advice, presumably. My best friend is going from riding ~10 miles a day at the moment, to doing London-Paris, and it would be awesome to have somewhere like this to point her for saddle advice, gloves etc.

Also, is there a difference between fitting bikes for men and women (I.e is the knowledge base different?, obviously the geo, setup would be different) as this might be another advantage.

I've been in the trade off and on for ages, I already know a fair amount about geometry and fit for both clothing and bikes (that's also part of why I wanted a ladies forum on here).

oh and also Notting Hill Bicycle Workshop which I think is owned by a woman (though I may be imagining that)

It sounds like a great idea to me Nhatt. Most of the women I know at work that cycle, do get treated in a less than helpful or honest way, when they pop in to the local bike shop. I think if it was well advertised, the traffic through such a shop would be huge.

Go for it.

@ Tricity, yep, Ninon (who's name I probably just murdered).

I think it's a great idea, it's the fundraising and the small business planning that worries me.

I think it's a great idea, it's the fundraising and the small business planning that worries me.

£30k for a lease £30k for stock
have i left anything out?

if you can find the finance then it's a great idea, doesn't need to be a high st shop either as it's a destination shop not a passing trade one.

I've been in the trade off and on for ages, I already know a fair amount about geometry and fit for both clothing and bikes (that's also part of why I wanted a ladies forum on here).

Ah yeah, that was what I meant - it would be a great selling point to have that specific knowledge and experience

I know a bit about the fundraising side of things. I'll pull some stuff together for you tonight.

My wife has been muttering about the lack of this sort of shop for a while now.

Not that she's looked that hard, but I've had a poke about and not come up with one

60k.

Well, er, I did manage to pay all £290 pounds of rent last month...

It's really annoying that bike shops always have a much wider choice of bikes and clothing for guys. I'm 5'4" (which apparently is the average height in the UK for a woman) and find it quite astonishing that it's so hard to lay my hands on a bike frame that is the right size for me. A shop that is specifically for women would be brilliant!

Would you buy from there though or just try shit out and then save hundreds buying online???

Same old problems...

It might be worth setting this up and promoting it as a specialisation within an existing bike shop, finding out whether that market exists to a big enough extent to support a stand-alone shop. All you need then is marketing and and a boss who's on board (and any idea to boost footfall will be welcome, surely).

Proving you have a customer base and being able to demonstrate the profits from it will be essential for getting investment funding should you go it alone.

£30k for a lease £30k for stock
have i left anything out?

if you can find the finance then it's a great idea, doesn't need to be a high st shop either as it's a destination shop not a passing trade one.

Overheads?

Operating capital?

Would you buy from there though or just try shit out and then save hundreds buying online???

Same old problems...

I would buy from there, even if I could save a bit of money online. I prefer buying things in shops if it's something I'm spending a decent amount of money on, like a bike. A shop like this would be providing a service and for me it would be worth it. Besides, if no one bought anything from shops then they'd all go out of business and then no one could try shit out... :)

Nhatt

How about a cheaper easier way to see if your idea has legs? Why not become the woman known as helping women in one of the shops that you work in?

Have you discussed this with either of the shops where you work - they might fund/promote it for you and it might really help them too.

It is embarrassing when I get treated better in a shop 5 mins after my mate has walked in and ask for help for her problem; but keep on with your idea I think it is a good one.

This is a great idea Nhatt. Bike fit would be a real interest point for me and many I'm sure.
Let me know if you need a Project Manager!

I would buy from there, even if I could save a bit of money online. I prefer buying things in shops if it's something I'm spending a decent amount of money on, like a bike. A shop like this would be providing a service and for me it would be worth it. Besides, if no one bought anything from shops then they'd all go out of business and then no one could try shit out... :)

+1

Arvy, you are a brilliant man and also one step behind me.

I'm now only at Fitzrovia, and I've been thinking and asking about things we can bring in (like a few test wsd saddles) that might make it a more friend to women shop.

Plus I already have a few women that come to me from other shops I've worked at, so it looks like a positive first step.

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.