Speaking up: Raising the profile of bicycle workshop mechanics

Storytelling, information, atmosphere… when you’re looking to optimise the layout of your retail space to maximise sales potential, the science and principles behind shop floor layouts can seem complex and brutally hard to grasp. But help is at hand for those who want to ease customers journeying to their shop counters. Forming part of our recent suite of CIN Podcasts designed to help bike shops boost profitability, retail design expert Gosia Adamska of WHiCH Interiors chats with regular host Sean Lally…

Unfairly, the sales profession has to deal with a fair amount of negative baggage and cliches and – consequently – focusing on sales and sales training has often been sidelined, not least in the bike trade. Ultimately, however, businesses need sales, and companies within the bike trade are no different. The latest CIN Podcast takes a closer look at this vital part of the bicycle industry, with the hugely experienced John Styles. In his 20-plus years in the bike trade, Styles has visited over 700 stores across the UK, Europe and US, gaining invaluable insights into bike sales techniques. Speaking with regular CIN Podcast host Sean Lally, Styles discusses making sales in the bike trade, training, tips and the importance of questions.

Bike workshops and the mechanics that work within them are a vital part of the trade, but anxiety about attracting and retaining talent, providing liveable income for mechanics and on the increasing expertise required of technicians are sizeable concerns for the viability of this vital cog in the bike industry machine. The latest CIN Podcast tackles this topic and more, with regular host Sean Lally speaking with the vastly experienced Mark Barfield, founder of the European Association of Professional Bike Mechanics (EAPBM) to represent and lobby on behalf of bike mechanics.

Are cycle market standards where they need to be for the modern world? That’s one of the big questions posed within the latest CIN Podcast. Regular host Sean Lally speaks with the vastly experienced Mark Barfield from Velometier – a former Technical Manager at UCI who has also worked with British Cycling and British Triathlon.

While some in the tangible cycling industry may feel digitalisation is some¬thing of a woolly concept, it is becoming ever more embedded, not least in those electric bikes and in production. Don’t believe us? In the summer of last year, Velco officially became Shimano’s off the shelf IoT (Internet of Things) partner. Regular CIN Podcast Host Sean Lalley recently interviewed Johnny Smith, Co-Founder and CMO of Velco. Velco sells hardware and software for bikes, with the French and German company providing connectivity solutions for eBike brands. What this means for the industry includes preventative maintenance, greater security, fleet management capabilities and greater data…

How can bike rental boost your bike shop? There seems to be plenty of evidence that the bike rental and bike share market is growing and will continue to grow. Even more intriguingly, it is an area that appears largely resistant to a lot of the headwinds currently being endured by the cycling industry. The latest Cycling Industry News Podcast takes a deep dive into the topic, tethered by the positive impact bike rental and demo bike fleet management can have on cash flow for bike shops and related businesses. Regular CIN Podcast Host Sean Lally interviews Doug Stoddart Managing Director Bike Rent Manager on all things bike rental, including new customer creation and ensuring the industry meets customers on their terms.

The new Cycling Industry News Podcast examines the new Uplift female mentorship programme for the bike trade, and speaks with female leaders for their take on diversity in the industry. CIN Podcast Host Sean Lalley interviewed Uplift founder Rachael Burnside as well as two Uplift mentees Kate Veronneau, Director of Women’s Strategy, Zwift and Nikki Hawes, former Country Leader UK, Cannondale. The discussion covers the recent staggeringly negative findings from the Bicycle Association’s Diversity report, how to help the next generation come up through the cycling industry and bringing new perspectives to the bike trade.

The latest CyclingIndustry.News Podcast delves deep into how England’s oldest bike manufacturer has been serving the business-to-business market since it began in the 1920s. CI.N Podcast Host Sean Lally interviews Pashley Managing Director Adrian Williams to explore how B2B and utility bikes has been core to its success and even to its survival.

What does the data say 2023 has in store for the cycle market? Regular CyclingIndustry.News host Sean Lalley chats with Shift Active Media's Chief Strategy Officer Doug Baker about some of the positives - and challenges - the cycling industry faces for the year, using data compiled by both Shift Active Media and CyclingIndustry.News.

A recap of a rollercoaster year with two industry leaders, plus what their expectations are for 2023. Our two guests are Dominic Langan, the CEO of Madison and Adrian Mawdsley, the Head of IBD Sales at Raleigh UK.