madbradd Posted March 28, 2016 Posted March 28, 2016 The problem in SA seems to lie with the importers, they bring in stock and you buy what thy have.then u wait till they want to bring in again or until the new year. So shops are left with nothing to sell unless you have huge pockets to buy stock early. If I got into this business I would want direct supply from factory to my store where I sell and service and carry warranty. This exactly. You also have more options in terms of product range, stock levels, and also some control of exchange rates... not just a "2017 stock is arriving" as the bike shop could look ahead to budget speeches / buy forward cover etc. to minimise the impact of the exchange rate fluctuations. OT: I can't believe that my 2013 Giant Anthem cost R25k (after upgrading drivetrain to XT and putting on tubeless) and now costs R37.5k, and that my 2011 TCR composite (105 specced) which cost me R11k is now also around R35k. Somewhere along the line the current model seems to be landing up with riders getting the seriously short end.
Tumbleweed Posted March 28, 2016 Posted March 28, 2016 Would the concept store envisaged be agent-owned or franchised?
rudi-h Posted March 28, 2016 Posted March 28, 2016 concept stores aren't the way to go IMO, there are just too many brands and not enough sales for the top end stuff... If you look at trail bikes (excuse me for not naming all of them off the cuff): Santa cruz, Pyga, YT, Canyon, Transition, Banshee, Lapierre, Intense, Specialized, Giant, Scott, Rocky Mountain, Trek, Evil, Yeti, Commencal etc. just to name a few... With the current model of agent based stores, you can have a look at most of these bikes by spending a saturday morning or two and visiting 4 or 5 different shops. Imagine if you had to go to 15+ individual concept stores... By the time you start making up your mind the exchange rate would have weakened by 30% and the next year's model would have come out.
madbradd Posted March 28, 2016 Posted March 28, 2016 concept stores aren't the way to go IMO, there are just too many brands and not enough sales for the top end stuff... If you look at trail bikes (excuse me for not naming all of them off the cuff): Santa cruz, Pyga, YT, Canyon, Transition, Banshee, Lapierre, Intense, Specialized, Giant, Scott, Rocky Mountain, Trek, Evil, Yeti, Commencal etc. just to name a few... With the current model of agent based stores, you can have a look at most of these bikes by spending a saturday morning or two and visiting 4 or 5 different shops. Imagine if you had to go to 15+ individual concept stores... By the time you start making up your mind the exchange rate would have weakened by 30% and the next year's model would have come out. I hear you.... but not buying it. Have you ever looked at 15 different bike (brands) seriously and been torn between all 15? Or do you get that number down to 3 or 4 before actually trying to arrange test rides? If you wanted to see 15 different trail/XC/road/downhill, you'd still struggle to do that at 5 shops with the current model - I'm not sure you could even see that especially if you try consider shops in your area so you'll have an LBS who can support you. Then on top of it, say you've whittled your 15 bikes down to 5.... how many shops do you know of that stock (yes stock cos you wanted to see them) the cannondale, specialised, giant, scott and merida that you chose? you'd still land up at 4 shops.... if you're lucky one of the shops will stock 2 of the brands you chose.
Brickleberry Posted March 28, 2016 Author Posted March 28, 2016 Just seeing how affordable swift bikes have become by selling directly online has opened up just how much distributors and shops try add on to make their money. Owning both distribution rights and the stores you sell the products in is the only way I can see owning a bike shop being profitable and sustainable . Online is going to kill the little guy and shops can't afford to hold stock so people go buy online anyway.
CleatsnCleavage Posted March 28, 2016 Posted March 28, 2016 Personally dont like the idea of concept stores at all - life is about choice and variety!
AlanD Posted March 28, 2016 Posted March 28, 2016 Im not sure on the concept stores as they generally cater more to the upmarket people due to all the high end products. I would rather like to see a store cater for the average joe which i gather is the larger audience and offer top end service, reliability, good product availability (of course they cannot stock everything and some things need go be ordered) and reasonably priced services. Another good idea would be having some courses on bike maintenance that are affordable, perhaps even being able to hire some tools instead of buying them.
Brickleberry Posted March 28, 2016 Author Posted March 28, 2016 Personally dont like the idea of concept stores at all - life is about choice and variety!I understand that, but if all brands had there own stores you could chose wherever you wanted to shop and actually find the stock avaliable rather than wait while a poorly stocked shop orders it for you.
Baracuda Posted March 28, 2016 Posted March 28, 2016 I was recently in Washington DC and interesting to see the odd bike shop there and I wonder if SA will go the same way or not. Most "bike" shops actually have very few bikes in them. Most are focused on services and have a range of general sundries in stock - gloves, lube, socks, some clothing. If you would like to buy a bike, they will measure you up, provide advice and help you order the right one for you, which will be delivered to their shop in a few days and they will build it for you. Due to the sheer range of available bikes (between brands and within brands e.g. see giant.com vs giant.co.za - here we have 3 Giant Defy models, in the States they have 10); it makes little sense for a bike shop to stock a variety of brands, including every model, in every size. With efficient online sales, their main value-add is servicing and advice. Then there is this palava: www.facebook.com/nils.hansen.92/posts/1019911821409977
J∆kk∆ls Posted March 28, 2016 Posted March 28, 2016 Cotic. A store that sells 26", 27" & 29" bikes and accessories. As well as focusing on road and CX goodies.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.