Manchester’s Edinburgh Bike Co-op plots 30% growth

Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative has announced ambitious plans for growth backed by significant investment in its Manchester store.

The co-operative company plans to grow its Manchester branch, on Wilmslow Road opposite the Whitworth Art Gallery, by ‘at least’ 30 per cent in the next five years. The retailer is aiming for a growth target for Manchester of 10 per cent in the next 12 months.

The plans are being backed with investments in marketing and staff for the Manchester store, by 30 per cent and 25 per cent respectively by 2020.

The branch opened in 2007 in the heart of the home of co-operatives, and at the time was the company’s largest nationwide with 7,000 sq ft of retail space.

To date, the Edinburgh Bike Co-Op has stores in Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield and boasts 175 staff, including 120 members or (‘owners’), and the business’ turnover is just under £12m (£11.7m to financial year end Nov 2014).

The company also has a small sub-branch on Piccadilly Plaza in the HUB bike parking facility, launched in November 2012.

The store also expects to see an increase in revenue for its Manchester interests as a result of the Oxford Road Corridor development, which will see the creation of Dutch-style cycle lanes.

Alan Nestor, deputy MD at Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative, said: “Greater Manchester has a vibrant, established cycling culture which we proud to be a part of and are excited to be involved in aiding the growth of. Manchester is a city under development where cycling is concerned, and we are proud to be at the heart of that, working with Transport for Greater Manchester to improve and increase the culture of cycling in the city.

“Our own growth plans are part of this ambition, and we believe more cycling equals a better environment, and so are keen to ensure we can support any initiatives within the local area to promote cycling and cycle use.

“Investment in our stores is important to us, as we are a business driven by a quality customer experience. At the root of our co-operative ethos is the idea that we are putting owners in front of customers. In doing so we are ensuring an investment and care in the service delivery and customer experience, as when they come into the store they will, in most cases, be speaking with someone who owns the business.”

In addition to expanding the Manchester store, Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative is also hoping to provide the city’s cyclists with the best repair workshop in the North West, by aiming to have a zero day wait for repairs, and double the store’s workshop capacity, to enable a greater number of cyclists to access learning new skills.

Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative was established in Edinburgh in 1977 as a bone-fide Workers Co-operative. It began as a team of seven in a small repairs workshop. By 2001, the company turnover was around £2.5m.

Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative Manchester:
0161 257 3897 
7 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M14 5FT