‘Fewer people buying bikes from shops’ says Gluskin Townley report

The American Bicyclists Study, compiled by the Gluskin Townley Group has found that when compared to data gathered in 2000, far fewer American adults purchased their bikes from traditional bike shops in 2012.

With discount stores cited as the main benficiary of the slump in sales from independent stores, The Retail Landscape report will soon be expanded upon in an depth Gluskin Townley Group webinar on January 17, and will also be presented at the Specialty Bike Expo in Tampa, Florida January 30-February 2, 2013.

"Over the last two decades the major points of difference between bike shops and other retailers of bicycles have blurred and the pace of change has rapidly eroded bike shops traditional competitive advantages,” said Elliot Gluskin, managing partner of the Gluskin Townley Group.

“Our webinar mid January and our presentation at the Specialty Bike Expo the end of January will focus on what suppliers and bike shops can learn from the American Bicyclist Study Retail Landscape report that they haven’t heard before – about the New American bicycle market and why the bike shop retail shopping experience has to change…and change quickly. We will present 14 critical points of difference between bike shops and competitive retailers selling bicycles, and why it is essential for bike shops to create new points of differentiation between now and 2020 – including becoming multichannel.” Gluskin concluded. 

Industry suppliers and bike shops interested in learning more about a subscription to the American Bicyclist Study can visit www.gluskintownleygroup.com.