Why did 'Peddlers' large cycle shop in Worcester close??

[nez]

Perhaps they didn't have a clue but perhaps the odds were stacked against them. My local bike shop owner confessed to me that year on year his turnover goes up but his profit falls. He works hard at it too and is no Luddite.There was a mechanic/small shop nearby but he was forced to give up in the end. He told me people were buying some parts online cheaper than he was getting them from his wholesaler. And of course we have the retail 'experience' in the nearby Halfords. I think the internet and town centre trading costs are really challenging for small shop owners.

[peetee]

Perhaps they didn't have a clue but perhaps the odds were stacked against them. My local bike shop owner confessed to me that year on year his turnover goes up but his profit falls. He works hard at it too and is no Luddite.There was a mechanic/small shop nearby but he was forced to give up in the end. He told me people were buying some parts online cheaper than he was getting them from his wholesaler. And of course we have the retail 'experience' in the nearby Halfords. I think the internet and town centre trading costs are really challenging for small shop owners.

This is very true. I had a bike repair business in a city and had I not been working from home I would not have been able to trade. I was sole operator, opened my doors for 84 hours a week and often took enquiries and customers beyond those hours. I had trade accounts but most lightweight bike parts were cheapest from 'everyman' suppliers like Rose Bikes and Wiggle. I operated for 8 years and for the last three years my online reviews boosted my business to the point where at times I could have as many as 14 bike waiting for attention. Nevertheless, with next-to-no overheads I was struggling to match 9-5 retail wages.

[Cyril Haearn]

Some shops close or move, do new ones open too?
What cycle shops are there in Malvern, Ledbury, Hereford?

[bikepacker]

A few months back I spoke to one of the partners he was working as a guard on the Severn Valley Railway. He appeared to be enjoying the role and being away from the pressure of Peddlers.

There are a couple of bike shops in Malvern, although where I live comes under Malvern District they are not shops I use. tatanab of this forum may be able to furnish you with more details if you need them.

[horizon]

I can understand why general purpose high street-type bike shops close: premises are expensive, owners grow old and retire, the internet has changed retail. While we all mourn the loss of an old bike shop (some maybe 100 years old ) I think we should be more incredulous that they lasted so long. But here are three positives:

1. Cycling has changed enormously - it's more specialised and diverse (if you see what I mean). That lends itself well to the internet - a specialised market spread out over a wide area. Internet selling is actually very easy (and a lot cheaper and less risky than opening a high street shop!).

2. Cycling itself isn't going away - it's getting bigger and the market is still there.

3. Cycle shops don't need the footfall that comes with a high street presence. People make a special effort to make a cycling purchase which means that back street premises or a garden shed will suffice. In fact, having been thrown out of three shopping centres (yes, three) for having a bike with me, I would have thought that is the last place a bike shop wants to be.

I make all my cycling related purchases over the internet - I coudn't do otherwise. But they are all in the UK, they are mostly small, unknown firms usually selling NOS items. And their address is usually something like Ye Olde Farm Buildings, second shed on the right, no callers please.

And then there are of course all the coffee shops and hip clothing stores, B and Bs and so on. I think the mainstream cycle shop is one of the most boring experiences on the High Street. But I have bought two items recently from an ebay seller called Pedalbits (no, I hadn't heard of them either).

And then of course there's Spa (300 miles away from where I live) and Thorn, who I know sell their bikes as faraway as Australia (that's 12000 miles to me and you).

I think the future is good.

[Cyril Haearn]

Right again horizon, I go into any high street LBS I see, boring usually

[mattsccm]

Cycle shop in Ledbury is Cycles Clements. Old Ernies place for decades, now run by ?his son? Grandson?? .
Hereford is spoilt for choice. Mastercraft, a traditional place run by a couple in workshop coats, next door a smallish modern place with a coffee machine and some expensive kit run by a young chap who was with NFTO who were across the road until the team packed. Coombes Cycles has been gong a while run by Mark the frame builder plus his side kick Phil. BMX , commuters and other bits . Dead friendly. Around the corner, Climb on Bikes. Big, modern, all the kit , great place to browse or spend a fortune. Out by the race course, Chaingang Cycles. Bit of everything there with a leaning towards the club man. Halfords of course. Maybe someone I have missed.