NEWS
IBDs get chance to live the Tour de France, VIP-style
Bicyclebitz offering once in a lifetime experience at next year’s Yorkshire and London-set Le Tour By Jonathon Harker
PITCHED AS ‘probably the most exciting promotion in the UK cycle trade ever’, UK bike dealers are getting the opportunity to take a three-day VIP trip at the 2014 Tour de France. Run by French brand Velox and its
Yorkshire-based distributor Bicyclebitz, the VIP tour includes a ride in an official car driven by an ex-rider, who will be the guide for the day. There’s also a lunch with ex-riders, a helicopter ride above the race, a ride in the official bus at the end of a stage as well as a momento of the day in the offing. The promotion is aimed at Velox customers new and old alike, who must achieve a turnover increase over the previous year (full details, terms and conditions are available from Bicyclebitz). New customers will have to achieve a set turnover (€10,000) to participate in the
promotion. The lucky winner can either go on the tour themself, use it as a incentive for their sales staff or reward loyal customers. The trip runs over the start of the tour, on Saturday July 5th, 6th and 7th 2014.
“The trip runs over
July 5th, 6th and 7th, 2014 and the Live Tour Promo ends April 30th. See
BicycleBitz.com for more information. ”
The ‘Live the Tour’ promo has already
started and ends April 30th 2014.
bicyclebitz.com
FROM THE RETAIL FRONTLINE
How can bikes sales be booming when imports have been flat for six years? BikeBiz peels back the PR and headlines with an anonymous IBD…
“BIKE SALES have not been static for us, we’ve had some highs which can primarily be attributed to cycle to work business, but that has tailed off now quite a bit and as we are in a relatively rural location we don’t have lots of big employers on our doorstep. Some local, big employers who used to be with Cyclescheme have now linked with another provider so that means no business for us. Our local Council, thankfully, are still with Cyclescheme but the take up rate has slowed. In terms of sales we’ve been static the last two years but overall basing it on a six-year period we are down 18 per cent. These are our year-on-year figures (year end Aug 2013):
2009: -20% 2010: +30% 2011: +6.5% 2012: -25% 2013: static
From March to August this year we
are down 25 per cent on bikes but we compensated for this to keep it static last year with the better September/ October 2012. I would hazard a guess that the better weather after a very wet
BIKEBIZ.COM
summer and maybe some tail-end London 2012 Olympics and Tour de France-inspired sales provided us with that uplift.
LOCAL CHALLENGES A problem with a nearby charity providing free bike repairs is ongoing for us, potentially further depressing new bike sales in our area due to customers being aided to hold onto their current bikes – but without us benefitting from this with a workshop and P&A uplift whatsoever, like most bike shops do. Our local council has called a meeting
as they feel the situation is now harming their Economic Development Strategy. We will have to seriously think over the next year, that if things do not change, if we can continue. It’s been suggested we have a good business and attitude and perhaps now due to the charity situation we are now in the wrong location. Problem is, this activity will only increase if it’s not stopped, so I’m not sure where would be a safe location these days. In the meantime we will enjoy helping our loyal customers, they are the ones that keep us going... just... both in terms of custom and cheeriness!”
“Some local, big
employers who used to be with
Cyclescheme have now linked with other providers, so that means no business for us...”
Fancy three days tailing the tour as it progresses? Read on...
ARE YOU AN INDEPENDENT BIKE DEALER...
...willing to honestly tell us how business is on the front lines of bicycle retail? Email us at
Jonathon.Harker@intentmedia.co.uk
BIKEBIZ DECEMBER 7
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