BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Bicycle dealer sales grew just 0.8 per cent on a like-for-like basis last month, according to the latest figures from the Association of Cycle Traders. The figures contrast with a 25 per cent rise in September 2008 compared with September 2007.
31 per cent of retailers surveyed reported that sales had risen more than 20 per cent last month, compared like-for-like with September 2008, while 9 per cent reported a rise of between 10 and 20 per cent. In contrast, 20 per cent of the retailers surveyed found sales fell by more than 20 per cent in September compared like-for-like with September 2008 – adding weight to an increasing divide in the performance of bike shops.
The ACT said: “There is an evident consensus that trading remains fragile, something borne out by cycle sector quarterly trading trends: 2009 Q1 sales grew 5.8 per cent; Q2 by 3.7 per cent; Q3 by 3.5 per cent. Monthly sales performance has been positive, but lumpy after a poor May and there is no established growth’ trend’ in the specialist cycle market yet.”
The figures are drawn from 280 independent cycle retail businesses and workshops in the UK, and excluding internet or mail order businesses.
This month BikeBiz asked the industry for its opinion on whether sales performed well over the summer months. You can read the article by downloading the magazine here, or heading over to Issuu.com.
