If you could own your own bike shop...

[zoom-zoom]

...what would you carry? Especially if you catered to women and/or shorter riders? I have ideas of what my dream bike shop would be like, but I often wonder if other women have very different bike shop fantasies. What would your ideal shop be like? Where would you be located? Size, layout, brands, etc.?

[indysteel]

My dream bike shop is less about its stock (although I have thoughts on that) and more about location. If I had a shop I'd like it to be in a real bike/outdoor-centric place. And I'd prefer that it be a place where both road riding and mtbing were big, with a bias toward mtb. I love road riding, but mtbing is just so much more varied in my opinion and the different types of bikes are just so cool.

[shootingstar]

I've seen more women ride with dogs in the basket...so doggie bike baskets/carriers.

More bikes by the way for children..with training wheels. My dearie was astounded that 5 different bike stores in Toronto hardly had any children's bikes with training wheels. His grandson was older -at 10 yrs. old.

Bike shop right by a bike trail/signed bike route. Near other stores, a coffee shop, grocery store/bank and amenities. Enough outdoor space around to bike around for a trial half hr. bike ride. Helps if it's near a dedicated bike lane/path. A computer terminal for customer to poke around online for special ordering, online bike map suggestions for routes/destinations with bike shop staff and with other customers near by.

Your inventory on the main floor...not on the 2nd floor. The biggest bike store in our city does this for women's cycling apparel and bikes ..so it's isolated in this dead zone. Away from all the excitement, hubbub of the main floor..where the cycling guys talk...why isolate the women??

Some talks once a month or so, by women cyclists who have gone bike touring, on nutrition, etc.

[Sylvia]

I like bike shops that are generally a little different not necessarily shops that carry just the big name brands of bikes. I enjoy going to a shop which also sells quality used, recycled, or refurbished bikes. Would also be nice to have a few women employees not just one token woman (if even that).

[Becky]

Would also be nice to have a few women employees not just one token woman (if even that).

I'm pretty sure that this is why I was offered a bike shop job I don't mind....I like changing misconceptions about women and mechanical/technical abilities.

The shop I work for is located near a trailhead, on some pretty decent cycling roads (and with access to even better ones), and next to a pub. It's the ideal location, and a big part of the shop's success.

My observation is that inventory is a huge concern for a lot of shops. It's very difficult to predict what customers will want and in which sizes or colors, and it's risky to carry a lot of "personal preference" inventory, especially as a small independent shop. "Showboating" doesn't help either...

What I want most when it comes to inventory is a shop that stocks basic parts for last minute repairs and is willing to order me almost anything else. I want a shop that stocks the products that they use and love, not what some corporate entity tells them to carry. I want a shop that is friendly, knowledgable, and part of the community. I want a shop that understands the fundamental concepts of fit, not just, "you're a woman, so here, try this WSD bike".

[shootingstar]

What I want most when it comes to inventory is a shop that stocks basic parts for last minute repairs and is willing to order me almost anything else. I want a shop that stocks the products that they use and love, not what some corporate entity tells them to carry. I want a shop that is friendly, knowledgable, and part of the community. I want a shop that understands the fundamental concepts of fit

+1 I really appreciate bike stuffs that has all the parts for last minute stuff and can order other stuff quickly.

[shootingstar]

What I want most when it comes to inventory is a shop that stocks basic parts for last minute repairs and is willing to order me almost anything else. I want a shop that stocks the products that they use and love, not what some corporate entity tells them to carry. I want a shop that is friendly, knowledgeable, and part of the community. I want a shop that understands the fundamental concepts of fit

+1 I really appreciate bike stores that has all the parts for last minute stuff and can order other stuff quickly.