It will be interesting to see what direction they decide to take with the replacement for Wiggle.
As I elaborate far more in
'This Thread' I personally 'managed' the CTC Shop on franchise basis from December 2001 to December 2004 (GB Cycles-BikePlus) before we were outbid by 'Evans'. When Evans no longer wanted to run the shop it passed to 'Wiggle', who both took the CTC shop in a different direction to how I was asked to run it.
When I took it over the original CTC shop items from Godalming were retained, all of them, we couldn't drop one; many of which were hard to find items which to the CTC organisations credit they had stocked in part as they were not easily available to CTC members. Often these niche products they had imported themselves as there was no UK distributor, additional items along these lines were also added during the three year term, again something I wouldn't have necessarily considered from a commercial point of view. Like wise we also advertised, at our cost, items that the organisation wanted the shop to offer. Not commercially attractive these items my have been; but it did provide a valuable service to the CTC members and something I both applauded and was proud to be associated with.
For sure it was a 'virtual' not an 'actual' store and I dare say the replacement will need to be as well unless they decide to run it themselves? Yes there is only so much that can be done with a virtual shop, but I think the way the CTC wanted me to run their shop did offer something closer to a virtual 'local bike shop' than Wiggle did; with a focus that provided a service, not simply making money. I was there to speak to customers on the phone, with access to the products to help with any queries; if I had a penny every time I had to measure from the 'crutch to ankle' on a pair of Tudor Tights! The modern mail order giants and by direct association the CTC Shop after me were and still are the 'Supermarkets' of Cycle retailing. They are it has to be said absolutely superb at what they do, but that is not the same as saying I think that is how the CTC should have their shop represented, it was something quite unique and rather special, now as far as I'm concerned it simply became just a money making revenue stream to the CTC, which was a shame.
As I said, will be interesting to see what the CTC do now, I hope they listen to the members and find out both what it is they want and need.