Engineering:Local bike shop
A local bike shop or local bicycle shop, sometimes abbreviated LBS,[1] is a small business, as distinct from a chain, mail-order or online vendor, specializing in bicycle sale, maintenance and parts. In the UK and Ireland, the expression independent bicycle dealers (IBDs) is also used.[2]
The local bike shop is a key component of the bicycle industry and, in recognition of the value that local bike shops provide, some manufacturers only sell their bicycles through dealerships.
Offerings
Beyond bicycles, a local bicycle shop may offer clothing and other accessories, spare and replacement parts, tools, and a variety of services.[3]
Services may include expert fitting and custom bike building or ordering,[4] maintenance and repairs from experienced bicycle mechanics, and organized group rides and classes.[5] A self-service work area may be available.[6]
Shops may also specialize on one or more aspects of cycling: bicycle racing,[7] triathlon, bicycle touring, BMX,[8] mountain biking, etc. Similarly, shops may carry a diverse range of bicycles, from single-seat upright bikes, to more specialized types such as tandem bicycles,[9] recumbent bicycles,[10] folding bicycles.[11] Many shops also carry related items such as unicycles[12] and skateboards.
Shops located out of temperate climates may have a secondary line in order to keep busy in the off season (winter). These include goods and services for skiing,[7] camping, and physical fitness. Some shops keep their regular customers coming in through the winter by offering group training sessions.[13]
Studios
A small but growing trend in bicycle retailing is called the bicycle studio, which offers service in an intimate environment by appointment only. A list by Bicycling Magazine shows five studios founded before 2000 and 13 since. These are seen as more complementary to, than competitive with, traditional bike shops.[14]
Competitors
In the US, the primary competitors to local bike shops are the mass merchants such as Walmart or Target, representing 74% of the units sales in 2015 and 32% of dollars spent, chain sporting goods stores representing 6% of the unit sales and 8% of dollars spent, and outdoor speciality retailers representing 3.5% of the unit sales and 8% of dollars spent.[15] Approximately 4,000 speciality bicycle retailers, which include local bike shops, command approximately 13% of the bicycle market in terms of unit sales in 2015, but 49% of the dollars spent on bikes.[15]
There are also chains of bike shops, though most LBS are independently owned, and 91% of them have one location.[16]
The distinction between local bike shops and online vendors has begun to blur as local bike shops have begun themselves to sell products online.
A recent development is the introduction of brand specific stores from bicycle manufacturers such as Trek Bicycle Corporation.[17] Other manufacturers, such as Specialized, are strengthening their channels with concept stores.[18]
Statistics
According to the National Bicycle Dealers Association, in 2007 there were approximately 4,400 "specialty bicycle retailers" in the USA; down from 4,800 in 2005. Although they sold only 17% of the bikes, up from 16% in 2005, they collected 49% of the dollars, up from 47% in 2005. In 2004, the average specialty bicycle retailer had gross sales of $550,000 per year, 91% of them had one location, and average store size was 4,822 square feet.[16][19]
See also
- Bicycle
- Bicycle cooperative
- Bicycle industry
- Bicycle mechanic
- Bicycle tools
- Cycling
- List of bicycle manufacturers
- List of bicycle part manufacturers
References
- ↑ "Sheldon Brown's Glossary: LBS". http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_l.html. Retrieved 2001-01-21.
- ↑ "Welcome to the ACT website". Archived from the original on 2006-12-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20061205205443/http://www.act-bicycles.com/cgi-bin/ACT/ACTcgi.pl?pg=50. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
- ↑ "Mother Earth News: How to start your own small-town bicycle shop". http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/1974-03-01/How-To-Start-Your-Own-Small-Town-Bicycle-Shop.aspx. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
- ↑ "Serotta Custom Frames". http://bethelcycle.com/page.cfm?PageID=183. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
- ↑ "NBDA: The Bike Shop Advantage". http://nbda.com/page.cfm?pageID=193. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
- ↑ Sherry, Jennifer. "Bicycling Magazine: Props For Your Shop". Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090213051839/http://www.bicycling.com/article/0%2C6610%2Cs-5-33-12126-1%2C00.html. Retrieved 2001-01-20.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "ERA Ski & Bike: Era's focus is on custom pro level racing bikes". http://www.erapro.com/. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ↑ "Bike Alley: BMX Headquarters". http://www.bikealleybmx.com/. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ↑ "Tandem Cycle Works of Colorado". Archived from the original on 2009-01-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20090123144619/http://tandemcycleworks.com/our_shop.html. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ↑ "Bicycle Man: We Have The Largest Selection of Recumbents in New York State". http://www.bicycleman.com/. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ↑ "Foldabikes: Ninety nine percent of all Foldabikes' sales are Bromptons". http://www.foldabikes.com/. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ↑ "RD Bike Shop: Unicycles, Tandems, Trikes and Folding Bikes". http://www.rdbike.com/unis_duos_trikes.html. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ↑ "Crank Daddy's Training Center". Archived from the original on October 24, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061024115929/http://www.crankdaddys.com/training.html. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
- ↑ Daab, Zac (November 2008). "The Bicycle Studio: Why you might have to make an appointment to buy your next bike-and be glad you did". Bicycling (Rodale): 81–85.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 NBDA (2020-09-28). "Bicycle Industry Overview 2015" (in en-US). https://nbda.com/bicycle-industry-data-overview/.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 "National Bicycle Dealers Association Industry Overview 2007". http://nbda.com/page.cfm?PageID=34. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ↑ "Trek Bicycle Store". http://trekstoremadison.com/index.cfm. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
- ↑ "Erik's Bike Shop Opens a Specialized Concept Store". September 5, 2006. http://www.bicycleretailer.com/retail?page=7. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
- ↑ "A Surge in Bicyclists Appears to Be Waiting". The New York Times, Jan Ellen Spiegel, December 31, 2008. 2009-01-01. https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/01/business/smallbusiness/01sbiz.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=bicycle+industry&st=nyt. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
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