Bike Shop, Fantasy vs. Reality

[massbikebabe]

Hey All:

Time passes slow when you are stuck in your house covered by a stroke and 18 inches of new snow...so I got to thinking about work, when would I go back, could I ever go back etc. etc. Then I started writing a business plan, a real live business plan for my very own bike shop for women, and their spouses, and their kids. My question what would you put into YOUR very own bike shop??? For bikes I am thinking about carrying a Bianchi line, a Trek line, (although they might compete very closely), hubby wants Colnago, and possibly Felt. How about clothing??? Shoes??? Bags??? Anything that would go into YOUR shop would be welcome in mine.

Since I live in New England I would have to open a winter sports line so I am thinking about cross country ski and snowshoe equipment. Not mention healthy parkas and the likes. This to help pay the rent when bike sales dive in the fall!!

This has always been a dream of mine, but lately it seems like it could be a possibility...any takers???


karen

[Pedal Wench]

I would carry Sheila Moon clothing - made by a cyclist for cyclists.

[Crankin]

Can I get a job????
Seriously, I am looking for a retirement job as of June 07. Other than that, make sure your shop has a range of clothing sizes. I am frustrated when I can't find my size in a shop, even though I know the company makes it. And the x country ski thing is a perfect complement. Snowshoes, too.

Robyn

[DebW]

I'll take a job too. I was a damn good bike mechanic 1973-1976. I've only got 30 years of progress to catch up with! Great ideas, Karen. Keep dreaming and planning.

[massbikebabe]

Your both HIRED...

Surlygirl does not know it yet but she is going to be my HR rep. Although she calls herself Surly she is by far the nicest person I know!!


I had already thought about snowshoes...does anyone know how to fit them? If I remember right it was a long process when I bought mine.




karen

[DebW]

I can even fit the old 13x30 flat bearpaws. Used to make the bindings myself. The new ones are just a matter of fitting your boot size to the binding and getting the proper flotation for your body+pack weight. And knowing where you'll snowshoes.

[CorsairMac]

I know ya'll may laugh - but make the stuff easy to find. There are times at my LBS I can't tell if I'm looking at women specific, men specific or unisex clothing, shoes, whatevers. oh - and the changing room to try stuff on: is the same room the guys use as their toilet.....could we have a seperate changing room? and a website so those of us out here at the other end of the country can support our SCA!!

so: you're covered in 18" of snow?? aren't you cold??? or is it those awesome mitts from SK keeping you warm?



oh oh oh oh oh.....I think you should carry some of those Assos Bib Tights for women too!!

and an AWESOME return policy on seats!! and my LBS offers lifetime free maintainence on any bike purchased from them. It's just the basic maintainence but what a selling tool for mechanically challenged or single women! plus they'll come to you for all their other mechanical needs since ya'll are already taking care of their bikes.

[Surlygirl]

Your both HIRED...

Surlygirl does not know it yet but she is going to be my HR rep. Although she calls herself Surly she is by far the nicest person I know!!

karen

Wow, I just tuned in and I'm in HR. So I think you ought to open the shop on the future bike trail. The Worcester to Providence. Somewhere where you get the road traffic and the rail trail traffic too. Then you also get the cross country skiers too in the winter. Is Brian going to be the mechanic? I think CorsairMac should come out to the opening and do the modeling for the Assos bibs. She can be our runway model!
Count me in woman!

[Running Mommy]

And if you decide to carry a tri line I'd carry Elites. That is my dream bike, well besides the oh so sexy looking Orbea's. Elite is a smallish company in Philly and they are FAB w/ their customer service! In my next life I'm going to have one custom made for me w/ a sweet little aloha themed paint job.
I think it was Cervelo that said they "aren't currently looking for new dealers" ( insert snooty guy w/ nose in the air).

[luv'nAustin]

How about some of those funny bike jerseys and the socks that you can only find on the internet? I seem to see the same styles in every store.

[Trekhawk]

How about some of those funny bike jerseys and the socks that you can only find on the internet? I seem to see the same styles in every store.

Yep luv'nAustin is right - most bike shop apparel for women = boring.

[sydney_b]

Yep luv'nAustin is right - most bike shop apparel for women = boring.

That's surely the case here. Not only is it boring, but the selection is teeny. I have this wild idea that if women knew they could look a-ok while riding, they might put more time on their bike. Moreover, even tho I have to change once I get to the office, I think that when my bike clothing is nice-looking that it confers more legitimacy, maybe not the best word, or something to my choice to commute by bike, which isn't common here, esp. for women. I just find that management and others seem to respond more positively when I'm wearing nice looking bike-specific gear than when they see me in grungier street/commuting gear.

/s

[Surlygirl]

Hey Karen,
How about TE east coast division? See if Susan wants to expand her horizons! I do all my shopping here because there isn't anything in the bike stores around here.

[massbikebabe]

Hmmm, I think a tri-line might work...

don't recall seeing much tri stuff in this area. I too am "hoping" for Specialized but I think that may be unrealistic as there are many Specialized dealers close to me. I do like there products, especially clothing and mtn. bikes. I would love to open a shop that has fashionable clothing and not having a team name splayed across my bosom...that would be cool I think I would also offer larger sizes for large size riders, and limit the European size clothing to those who ask.

Anyone who has offered to work for me is hired...see Surly!!!

Corsair: Runway model...you go woman

Surly your location choices are awesome...we will have to get out there and ride soon as possible to find a site!!

karen

[CorsairMac]

Corsair: Runway model...you go woman

Surly your location choices are awesome...we will have to get out there and ride soon as possible to find a site!!

karen

more like "run-a-way" model!

I think having a bike shop right on a bike path is an Awesome idea!!

Lemond bikes are made by Trek so if you're going to carry Trek, you should have no problems carrying Lemond.

Specialized changed their "sales" tactic this year just as an FYI. My LBS was a Trek/Specialized dealer but no more. Spec is requiring all their dealers to maintain a certain amount of inventory and is dictating the type of inventory the LBS can carry. For some of the little guys like mine, it was too big a inventory to have on the books and Spec wouldn't work with them so they dropped the line and picked up Gary Fisher instead.