DEALER PROFILE Stan’s Cycles
Talkin’ ‘bout my cycle fixation
Opening Times: Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm
Telephone: 01743 343775 Web:
www.stanscycles.co.uk
Email:
info@stanscycles.co.uk Facebook: /pages/Stans-Cycles
Twitter: @StansCycles Location: Shrewsbury
Stan’s Cycles is set on a former nightclub that played host to rock legends The Who. But these days owner Mike Jones is using wine tasting and film nights to pack in the punters, Jonathon Harker discovers…
COMMUNITY. WHAT retailer can afford to sit back and sell product without engaging with their customers beyond a ‘here’s the product, hand over the cash’ transaction? Shrewsbury retailer Stan’s Cycles is one
retailer taking the ‘c’ word very seriously indeed. Backing local cycle clubs? A given. Coffee shop? Ditto. But wine tasting and film nights is probably taking the whole community thing a step further than the cycle retail world has been comfortable to do so, thus far. Being around for a long time helps with those community relations and Stan’s Cycles is one of the oldest retailers in town, having been trading in Shrewsbury since 1951. Ex pro bike racer Mike Jones is the current
and third generation owner. Jones – given the nickname The Rhino by legendary rider Sean Yates – is now in partnership with Ged Kennedy, another local business man and entrepreneur. Jones told BikeBiz: “Stan’s has ten full time
staff split between sales and workshop, some of whom have been with the retailer since school. They are part of the Stan’s Cycles family and have a huge amount of cycling and local cycle community knowledge.” That ‘c’ word again. Jones elaborates: “Community is a massive target for us and we have worked really hard
BIKEBIZ.COM
with our local cycling club Paramount CRT to service all their needs. There are club rides from the shop, where on Saturdays we can have upward of 40 riders going out in three different groups, including ladies only, intermediate and a tempo ride. This is growing as the reputation for the shop and rides gain momentum.” The club has grown accordingly, up from 35
two years ago to 135 at last count. “We also run turbo sessions for the club
riders in the shop and events in our coffee shop including fashion shows, bike maintenance and talks on nutrition, training, etc.” Stan’s is chipping in to help Paramount CRT with the return of cycle racing in Shrewsbury, in the shape of the Shrewsbury Cycle Grand Prix, which runs on May 25th. And according to the shop, there is a large
female cycling community of over 506 riders. But wine tasting and movie nights? How do they fit in with bike retailing? “The wine testing has been excellent and
was done to coincide with the three grand tours. We are at the moment planning a film night which has created already a lot of interest.” The retailer also hosted a cycling movie night to celebrate two years in its current building.
Speaking of which, Stan’s Cycles location at
“The secret of success is to be unique, niche, have a great community and brands that
aren’t damaged by internet giants.”
Mike Jones, Stan’s Cycles
Wyle Cop has a few stories to tell of its own. The venue used to be a nightclub where The Who played and was famous for its live gigs. In its previous lives it has also been a casino, antiques shop and furniture store. “When we moved in there was quite a bit of decoration work to do and we completely stripped the carpet and sanded the floors back to their original state,” Jones tells BikeBiz. “The whole shop has a very welcoming unique feel to it. We are lucky to have our own courtyard for customer parking.” The shop – in the same venue as Max Bikes
PR, fact fans – also has a coffee house installed on the premises. “We serve local sourced food from a bakery and our own blend of coffee mixed by a local coffee business – Danielle’s Coffee in Bridgnorth. “The coffee shop has really become the hub of the local cycling community and has been a mid-ride stop off for club riders riding from the Midlands, Birmingham and Wales.” Jones sums up: “The secret of success is to be
unique, niche, have a great community and give outstanding service with quality brands that aren’t damaged by the big internet giants.”
www.stanscycles.co.uk
BIKEBIZ MARCH 67
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