BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Quella bikes has announced a collaboration with bikeZaar, the online retail platform that supports high street bike shops.
IBDs will now have the opportunity to sell Quella bikes whether or not they carry stock. Quella simply uploads its entire inventory via participating dealers on bikeZaar, enabling customers to buy online and have their Quella delivered to and built by a local bike shop.
Chris Pengilley, MD of Quella, said: “bikeZaar is the perfect platform to facilitate our business with independent dealers many of whom are becoming increasingly service focused. Partnering with local IBDs allows our customers to have their bike built and serviced locally.
“This new mechanism allows our nationwide distribution to develop a strong local presence. We are passionate about providing a first class service and the opportunity to partner with IBDs who can enhance our customer experience through offering bike build, servicing and a collection point for their Quella is a very exciting development.
“IBDs do not have to commit to buying or displaying our entire range, but we make our full inventory available for them to sell via bikeZaar. Customers can browse our full range and select which store they wish to buy from. The dealer gets paid and makes a margin simply for receiving a bike and setting it up ready for the customer to collect.”
As an introductory promotional offer, Quella is also offering all IBDs signed up to bikeZaar an opportunity to purchase a Quella single speed to display in their store in preparation for summer sales. Dealers will benefit from a further 20% discount on the normal trade price to further aid in-store sales.
Dave Quinn of the Bike Factory in Chester was one of the first to take up the offer, and said: “Retail is changing at a meteoric rate so something different that customers want helps us to reduce our stock holding. bikeZaar has already secured sales for us using supplier inventory feeds so this was a no-brainer for us.”
John Hamlen of Flag Bikes in Battersea, London, said: “As existing stockists of Quella bikes we were introduced to bikeZaar by Chris. The ability to widen our market audience through bikeZaar’s ‘click and collect’ option is a fantastic channel to generate local sales for IBDs on a national retail platform.”
Kevin Griffiths, bikeZaar CEO, said: “We are delighted to partner with Quella. Chris is forward thinking and recognises bikeZaar as an opportunity to leverage the power of our platform and independent dealer network to reach consumers in a way that satisfies today’s buying preferences.
“Customers can find what they want online but still collect in-store and get service whilst they are there. It’s the perfect model. We have created a win-win-win situation: win for customers who can find what they are looking for quickly and easily with local in-store collection, which is particularly important when buying a bike; win for the local dealer, who has secured a new sale, possibly on a brand they do not even stock, and
increase their in-store footfall where they have the opportunity to convert further sales.
“Finally, it is a win for the brand who has surfaced its entire warehouse inventory via a national network of stores, which will lead to an increase in sales.”
Dealers interested in this opportunity can contact bikeZaar at info@bikezaar.com or Quella at sales@quellabicycle.com
