Doing some more research and figured I'd post it out there to the greater web. The last few years has seen the LBS suffer at the hands of the online boom, however a few great LBS have come to play and are thriving in this environment. I'd be interested to hear about some of these stores and what makes them stand out from the other ones in your area. The more niche the shop the better- want to hear about those little ones that stand out for their excellence in one way or another.
Clearly price is always going to a be factor (eg. shimano trade vs online) but where does the grass roots coverage, ride days, track development, brand variation, mechanical service and technical know how sit with you as a rider and consumer?
What would you do to improve your LBS? do you want a couch and a post/after hang out ride space to chill and watch the latest dvds, a coke machine for beverages, or a rental workshop area that you can work on your bike and just rent the tools and not get charged labour.
What attitude and image are you looking for in your LBS? relaxed? out going? trendy? old and practical?
Where are people sitting with the chain stores, goldcross vs 99bikes etc. do you feel these are healthy or damaging for our industry? or that each store is within itself to be good or bad and that being a part of the franchises isn't effecting its preformance as a business?
Any more input is welcome, interested to see where this will go.
example of a store with something different:
http://www.bikegallery.com.au - very classy and very nicely setup.
a good business identity with our own jonnys store with a great shop vibe by the looks of it:
Clearly price is always going to a be factor (eg. shimano trade vs online) but where does the grass roots coverage, ride days, track development, brand variation, mechanical service and technical know how sit with you as a rider and consumer?
What would you do to improve your LBS? do you want a couch and a post/after hang out ride space to chill and watch the latest dvds, a coke machine for beverages, or a rental workshop area that you can work on your bike and just rent the tools and not get charged labour.
What attitude and image are you looking for in your LBS? relaxed? out going? trendy? old and practical?
Where are people sitting with the chain stores, goldcross vs 99bikes etc. do you feel these are healthy or damaging for our industry? or that each store is within itself to be good or bad and that being a part of the franchises isn't effecting its preformance as a business?
Any more input is welcome, interested to see where this will go.
example of a store with something different:
http://www.bikegallery.com.au - very classy and very nicely setup.
a good business identity with our own jonnys store with a great shop vibe by the looks of it:
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