A bike shop for women

Nhatt - great idea!
I'll put my thinking cap on about the funding side (you may be eligible for some sort of grant from a Local Authority as you are targeting an under represented group), but I would seriously consider what 2PhatforRapha said. Starting off small and growing the business will give you an opportunity of growing your client base in a 'safer' environment and that may mean tagging on to a current business and having such things as ladies evenings.
I think it's a great idea - I'd defo be a customer!

A crazy idea? How about setting up a Franchise / Concession?

You produce a brand that can become recognised as specialising in Womens bikes etc and then offer training/marketing info/pos material/expertise/contacts/suppliers etc to bike shops.

Maybe a way to reduce some of the capital and associated costs (rent/stock etc)

Overheads?

i knew there was something important.

I can't for the life of me remember what it is called, but there is a web site where people can pledge a small sum towards a business or project start up. I know its been used quite a bit for film projects and the like.

If you were starting small whether as ladies evenings or even a roving ladies event consultant you might be able to raise enough for the initial start up.

Keep me posted.

The small sums are cumulative by the way.

Dragons Den?

I can't for the life of me remember what it is called, but there is a web site where people can pledge a small sum towards a business or project start up. I know its been used quite a bit for film projects and the like.

If you were starting small whether as ladies evenings or even a roving ladies event consultant you might be able to raise enough for the initial start up.

Keep me posted.

kickstarter?

There are a bunch of them like that.

http://www.kickstarter.com/
http://www.moreofit.com/similar-to/www.kickstarter.com/Top_10_Sites_Like_Kickstarter/

Kickstarter was the one I knew, thanks tallsam.

I can't for the life of me remember what it is called, but there is a web site where people can pledge a small sum towards a business or project start up. I know its been used quite a bit for film projects and the like.

If you were starting small whether as ladies evenings or even a roving ladies event consultant you might be able to raise enough for the initial start up.

Keep me posted.

Apart from Kickstarter, I know of this one http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/

Kickstarter is US only afaik

http://www.wefund.co.uk/ is UK based

Bike shop for women: YES!! It would be great to go somewhere with a good range of stock for women (I find proper bike shops usually give good advice and help, and it is only the chain stores that give you the "shrink it and pink it" approach)

I think it's a good suggestion to test the waters with a concession/specialist section within an existing shop, or to run Ladies Nites. I think Evans used to do such things, but can't say I was ever tempted to go to one (but I won't digress as I am sure bikeradar has many long threads about the quality of service for men or women at Evans.)

For small business start-up advice, you could talk to the women at Lock 7 and at Bike Yard East in Hackney. Bike Yard East is a really small business, at it is a shed! They are both more like bike workshops than bike-selling shops - but great to be able to ask a women mechanic for advice.

You could also talk to Gill Ord at Mosquito, as she is one of the owners of the business and it has carved out its own niche market and been around for a fair few years.

Or, the people who run Bobbin Bikes in Islington. It is always full of women spending money on pretty things for their pretty bikes ... It is genius from a business perspective, as they have completely tapped into a lucrative market.

I loved this idea, I know a lots of women who came to our shop is never happy with the selection (which I do agree), and of course the lack of knowledge from the men about bike fitting, e.g. the brake reach, the handlebar width, etc.

perhaps an online shop? look at TokyoFixed, they started off as an online shop, then pop-up shop eventually have their own successful business.

naturally TokyoFixed have a different market, but I feel online would be a safe way to start before moving to the ol' Brick and Mortar.

Nhatt

Nhatt: Cool idea! I would invest ... probably... but I assume you'll have a guy or two at the shop to actually fix stuff, and add up the complex invoices, and carry heavy boxes, right?

Timely topic. I went to the Cycle Surgery womens' evening at Strype Street last Thursday and was impressed at the number of women who turned up. The cupcakes and alcohol were a welcome surprise. CS were offering discounts on bike and running gear too.

They had sessions on puncture repair and general bike maintenance which was well received. My best bit was the female representative from Trek. She talked about bike fit, saddles, shorts and ladybits. I could see it was a revelation to some of the women there, some of whom turned out to be riding bikes that were the wrong size.

We need someone like her in all bike shops, or at least in one or two shops that women know they can go to for help/suggestion/advice.

Nhatt - go for it.

I've already been doing alot of the stuff recommended. I've been talking to LMNH about running a ladies only bike maintence class on Sundays, and Fitzrovia Bicycles (my day job) has been open to the idea of having more women specific stuff in the shop, as long as it's profitable for them.

In that case Nhatt, create your own independent ladies maintenance class, and go to places such as LMNF.

I think that'd be a good start, you just need to think of a cool name for such classes.

Who'd like to invest in a shop for Whites only?

What I mean is, while the whole idea seems plausible and there's definitely need for ladies friendly shop, I don't think we really need segregation.

Kris, can see your thinking, but right now looking at a lots of shops, you could easily said they're men-only.

Of course. Some are even too masculine for me.

I kind of agree, but most bike shops carry only a minority of stock for women, it would be nice to see a shop that carried more womens gear then mens, and had people that knew about fitting bikes/gear for women, I think that there is a gap in the market for this.

Also it's not as simple as the race issue that you're making it out to be simular to. A african man, man and a european man have the same needs in fitting a bike to them, as do an african woman and a european woman, but the mens fit and the womens fit are quite different. even if I'm wrong about his with the bikes themselves (which I'm not convinced I am), cycling clothing for men and women is quite diffrent.

I think its a good idea, and that it should be tested in the market place.

A african man, man and a european man have the same needs in fitting a bike to them, as do an african woman and a european woman, but the mens fit and the womens fit are quite different.

Perhaps it's not the place for it, but it's not as easy.

Yes, London definitely needs a women friendly shop/workshop.
What I don't like is portrayal of men as some kind of rough beasts.

okay that I do agree with Kris, but Nhatt isn't that kind of penis savageries to do such thing.

Yes! It would be amazing to have a bike shop that has a huge range of ladies stuff, from budget to expensive.

I think splat has a point about Bobbin Bikes, if you set up in a wealthy area (Islington, Notting Hill) and advertise yourself well you can make loads of money from the local, middle-class cyclists who have cash to burn and would appreciate a good selection of stylish and expensive (Rapha, basically) clothes and kit. And the less prosperous of us would make the effort to travel up because you'd also have the best selection of cheap and cheerful stuff.

I'm generalising hugely but those are two groups you'd be appealing to for sure.