Issue 70 | November 201
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EDITORIAL
NEWS 4-5 MYSTERY SHOPPER
SPONSORED BY FOCUS ON…
CRC reveals the full extent of its High Street ambitions and Avocet unveils its new BMX signing...
THE EAGERLY awaited details of the Tour de France 2012 route have now emerged, taking in Liege, 25 mountain passes and 92km of bike racing goodness. Cycle fans will be planning their holidays around the Tour, and likely many in the trade will have a keen eye on the race too. It’s not just the world’s best known cycle race that will be in next year’s diary, of course.
Last month Cycle Show went down well, though even the
Find out who’s achieved ‘Star Store’ status on Mystery Shopper’s visit to Lowestoft
10 BIKEBIZ AWARD WINNERS 16
You didn’t hear who won the BikeBiz Awards 2011? Well you’re in luck – we’ve got reaction from the winners of all 13 awards in our feature of champions
FORZA FOCUS OUTDOORS
BikeBiz reports from Stoneleigh’s Outdoors Trade Show...
STOCKING FILLERS 44 FOOTWEAR 13
Stepping out from the shadow of Ridley, Forza components speaks out to BikeBiz
CYCLE SHOW 29
Cycle Show arrives in Birmingham. BikeBiz was there, as was plenty of new product
most generous commentator would have to admit the absence of several big names. Was anyone surprised? Hardly. It’s par for the course that the UK’s biggest bike show is missing some of the big names in the business. From the trade’s perspective, Cycle Show certainly felt like it had the footfall over the four days, and the absence of certain names from the show won’t be something to lose sleep over. What will provide a few restless nights, however, is
“If you’re not one of the larger businesses in the trade, how realistic is it to expect all your customers to come to your in-house event?”
the prospect of another crowded calendar of in-house events, prompted by the decision of names to hold off from exhibiting at the larger shows, like Cycle Show, the London Bike Show, the Scottish Bike Show, Core and the rest. For us media types it’s not a big worry. Inevitably, it means you’ll have to miss a show or two, with event clashes and the need to be in the office now and again. Last year I had a run in with the boss of a bike company after explaining I couldn’t make an event due to previous commitments. He was narked, understandably, but his event was on the same day as two others. BikeBiz has made up with him now, but when brands have their own shows, rather than a few big combined shows, it’s unavoidable. But enough of us media types. What about the retailers? Last month in our dealer profile we asked a retailer (you’ll have to look up who it was) which shows he attends. The answer? None. He said: “I really try to avoid them,” adding that he sends his staff off to the shows instead. How realistic is it to expect all your customers to come to
55 DEALER PROFILE PEOPLE NEW PRODUCTS 50 LETTERS
Fatbirds was taken over one year ago. How has the new team fared? Find out on page 50
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Shift Active Media, 3T, Trek, i-ride and TrionZ welcome new recruits this month
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Garmin’s Forerunner 910XT and new Clif Bar gels are amongst the latest haul of new swag
SPOKESMAN
Is enough spent on advocacy? Spokesman considers the words of Trek’s John Burke
EVENTS 64 OFF THE RECORD 76 NUMBER CRUNCHING 74 78 SPONSORED BY 58 60
One retailer speaks out on insurance policies that force customers to shun local bike shops
your event? If you’re not one of the larger brands or distributors in the business then the chances are you’ll have to swallow the bitter pill that retailers might not be able to spare the time to come in numbers, after attending umpteen other ‘must-attend’ shows already that month. So is the trade becoming more crowded with companies
vying for your time? Undoubtedly it’s better to have brands beating on your door to attend their show, but that doesn’t make the dilemma any easier for the many smaller retailers. Still, enough whinging. See you at the shows.
Jonathon Harker, Editor
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