BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
The attention of Watchdog, the BBC’s consumer-championing programme, focused firmly on Bike Shaped Objects in November –and stoked the fires of the debate in the industry.
The BSO had proved to be an enduring subject in 2009, particularly after supermarket Asda released ‘not for profit’ loss-leaders in its stores in June. While Asda maintained it was bringing cycling to a wider audience, others slammed bikes in boxes for their potential safety issues and for putting the public off cycling. Will BSOs prove to be an enduring subject in 2010? Watch this space…
Meanwhile, in other news, Madison significantly ramped up its ambitions in the clothing market by taking Pearl Izumi on board, sales rose again for IBDs and Halfords alike, and Black Horse revealed it would be leaving retail finance.
December saw the results of the BikeBiz Retail Survey come in bringing the good news that, in the main, revenue and profits were on the up for the nation’s bicycle dealers.
The survey also revealed that dealers were expecting a favourable 12 months ahead. Over half of the respondents said that they were optimistic of growth and felt it to be achievable in 2010.
In other news, Bobbin bikes opened a new store, Raleigh picked up two new brands and Fisher revealed its Expo would be moving to Sopwell House, St Albans in 2010.
Did we miss anything? If you think there was a huge event that we’ve missed in these retrospectives, why not vent your thoughts on the BikeBiz Forum here.
