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27 Sep 2023

A recent survey of retailers across the UK has shown that cash remains a crucial payment method for independent shops.

27 Sep 2023

Almost 2,000 more British independent shops were left empty in the first half of this year, as small businesses struggled to cope with rising inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.

27 Sep 2023

An independent shop owner in Liverpool has said that independent shops in the city centre have taken to creating their own security WhatsApp group, warning each other of shoplifters in the...

27 Sep 2023

A focus on independent and ‘browse-only’ shops can help to reverse the fortunes of the struggling high street, according to an extensive study by Manchester Metropolitan University.

20 Sep 2023

ACT members will benefit from a long term discounted commission of just 3%

15 Sep 2023

The team from Whistler Adventure School (WAS), which recently became the only centre in Canada accredited to offer Cytech technical three, is to deliver a series of free sessions in Scotland,...

13 Sep 2023

The recent pledge by police forces across England and Wales to pursue every lead that holds a reasonable chance of apprehending criminals and solving crimes has been welcomed by Bira, which...

12 Sep 2023

A family-run Liverpool restaurant hidden inside a basement is officially Britain's best vegan venue.

11 Sep 2023

A warning has been issued that shoplifters in the UK are becoming increasingly “emboldened” and appear to be often orchestrated by organised criminal groups, which steal to order,...

11 Sep 2023

It has been suggested that some shop owners may be unaware or unprepared for the upcoming change to regulations on single-use plastics on plates, bowls, trays, containers, cutlery and balloon...

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Light ahead for bike shops around the world

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

On the 23rd March bicycle shops were listed in the UK as one of the retail exceptions deemed necessary to stay open, and they have since remained open throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

While some bicycle shops have voluntarily chosen to take the precautionary measure of closing up shop, over 1,000 bike have remained open to serve the key workers and the public in some way. The need for bicycles during the outbreak has reflected positively in many bike shops sales, with the Brompton CEO estimating that sales in the UK across the industry were probably up by around 15% a week after the lockdown was announced.

While bicycle shops in the UK were always permitted to remain open, bicycle shops have also recently been reopened in Germany. This comes following the news that Germany has flattened the curve of new infections and that it had got the spread under control. According to Bike Europe Germany is Europe's largest e-bike and bicycle market, meaning that the country will provide an important indication on how sales will develop when shops will be allowed to open in other European countries after the Corona crisis.

In addition to this positive news, Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) president Rich Tauer suggested to BicycleRetailer.com that perhaps 10% of IBDs across the US are closed, down from estimates of 20-30% a few weeks ago. Tauer said many shops in the US that closed initially have learned how to operate safely and decided to re-open.

Quality Bicycle Products is the largest distributor of bicycle parts and accessories in the bicycle industry, and according to Tauer it is receiving about the same number of dealer orders as before the pandemic but has seen a decline in the size of each order. Other distributors and retailers have shared similar reports.

Alongside posting all relevant daily COVID-19 Updates , the ACT has provided a number of relevant resources to bicycle shops that are choosing to stay open during this time. Bicycle shops can also confirm their opening status at: openbikeshops.uk/trade so as to enable key workers and others who need their bikes fixed for essential journeys, or for exercise, to quickly locate retailers and repairers who are open for business at openbikeshops.uk.

In light of this news, it seems there are many reasons for bicycle shops to remain positive throughout this global pandemic. As sellers of a product that is essential for contactless transport and in high-demand for exercise use there is opportunity for bicycle shops to not only survive but even to thrive.

 

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