It's OFFICIAL! I'm going to be an LBS owner!

[Mr. Bloom]

Congrats! Now the fun begins!

I'm not qualified to tell you what to stock, however, my experience in business compels me to say the following:

• Stock what you can SELL. Slow moving inventory is cash tied up in something you can't pay rent with...I like lph's comment of "don't stock the earth"...as Eden said "be willing to order it".
• Decide who your customer is and cater well to their needs. I like the posted ideas of "team endearment"
• Unless you have plenty of cash, don't go to town with sponsorships unless you're sure you'll get a return on the contributions. Give discounts when you know you'll make it up on volume. (If you have plenty of cash, forget all the advice...just do what you want!)
• Build, preserve, and protect an email list. It's a cheap way for targeted marketing. You'll want a database of customers - addresses, preferences, etc. I think there are some LBS specific software packages out there...information on your customers add umph to marketing.
• Communicate with your customers, let them know the status of their orders, remembering that service and experience are your 'value propositions' that differentiate you from the mass retailer.
• Have a "two minute drill" that is part of your sales pitch explaining why someone should buy from you. Based on what you've said, whether they say it or not, a lot of your prospects will be with folks who don't differeniate product quality...just price. Whether they express it or not, they'll be thinking they can get a better price somewhere else...and you have to sell them on why they get more for your price. It's intuitive to you...but you have to convince them.
• Remember that the www allows you to have a customer base that is anywhere. It's a way to leverage more volume through your existing overhead.

I wish you the best! It sounds exciting!

PS: Before she hits me up...No Silver , you can't have an LBS!

[Thorn]

Everyone said it pretty well. I really like the post that said make sure you have a good selection of "gotta have it today" items like helmets and cleats. But, make sure it is very obvious to your customers that you can order anything and what your turnaround is. Make it easy to order with you and make sure the customer knows you'll help them with decisions and tradeoffs.

Personally, more than what you carry is how you carry your shop. But, from what I've read from you about your road here, that probably goes without saying.

We have a bike store here that is lovely--lots of bikes and stuff; well arranged. Oh, and they happen to have a repair stand in the back. Shopping there is only slightly better than shopping at a big box, but it is very popular with the non-riders or once-a-month riders.

There was another shop I used to use. Much smaller stock, but a knowledgable staff and a couple of solid mechanics in the back. They are a great shop if you never step outside their area of expertise or their stock. Until recently, they were my favorite shop.

Recently, I found a shop with a slightly disshevelled store front area. They've been there 3 years, but it looks like they just moved in. I think I'm in love When I walked in the door, I was worried; when the 20-something referred me to a late 20-something manager I was terrified, but these guys were great. They listened, they worked with me and when I asked a question that the two other shops laughed and me and said was impossible, he laughed and said "No problem" and went on to explain how it could be done.

So, my point in the rambling? Have enough stock and colors to make it warm and inviting. Make it clear you'll go the extra mile for the customer. Find a good wrench who looks forward to a challenge. And, as an oddly sized person, to me, a great bike store should have a fit system of some sort and a relationship with a custom frame builder. Not every bike I ride has to be a perfect fit, but I need to know that the shop knows enough about fit that people trust them to help order a custom frame.

Good luck! Sounds like fun! (and a lot of work)

[redrhodie]

Congratulations!!!

Will you have mechanics on staff? Make sure they're the best. It won't hurt if they're cute, too !

Make sure you carry enough mediums! I notice that the sales wracks are full of xl and xs sizes.

Try to have different brands from the other shops in your area.

Don't try to have everything for everyone, but it's great if you can order things you don't stock. I will often have my LBS order things I know I can get from a catalog myself, as they don't charge me shipping costs, which is a savings.

A water cooler and a clean bathroom would be really nice, especially if you're on a good cycling route.

Have fun!!!!

[Tri Girl]

Oh RM that's soooooo exciting!!!!

Ok- first I want to know what the name is going to be. I'm a name kind of gal and that always makes me want to walk into a store.

Everyone has said great things.
I would suggest giving a 10% discount to the local tri club members (discounts are good, and sometimes it draws more members into the club if they know they can get a discount at an LBS). It's the reason I shop at my favorite LBS as opposed to the one closest to my house (10% is a lot sometimes).

Also, since you're a woman in the biz- I think it'll make women feel more comfortable. I was intimidated in my favorite LBS the first time I went in because it was all guys. Then a woman came up while I was talking to the owner about a bike and she started talking to me and it put me at ease. Maybe that's dumb, but a woman's prescence (who knows what she's talking about) made me feel instantly comfortable.

Also- will you have a website. Cuz you KNOW we'd buy from you if you did!!!

And the hours- good point!!! My LBS is open 10-6 M-Sat. Great for him, but not so great for me. I can only ever go on Saturday (when I'd rather be doing something else). If his hours were 11-7, that would work out a little better for those of us who have to work later or drive farther to work. Just a thought.

One more thing: my LBS has weekly club rides from his store (once a week). The meet at the store 15 min. before it closes (gives riders time to buy those last minute things before the ride- like Clif bar or a spare tube).
Might be a good way to bring people in. Could be a family ride, or a roadie/tri ride. Or both!


I've got ideas, but don't want to be typing all day. I like that you'll ask the clubs what they'd like to see.

[Tuckervill]

Congratulations! My town could use a bike shop. I don't want to be tied to a retail establishment, but I've put some thought into opening one. It would have to sell used bikes, too, because people here will balk at a $250 bike.

I think sterling customer service is the first order of business.

Then a good mechanic.

Lots of variety of small parts that you can only get in big cities (ferrules, etc.) Display them.

Three bike shops were out of the proper size tubes we needed before our big ride a couple of weeks ago. How can you be OUT of tubes with Presta valves? Keep lots of them in stock--you KNOW when the local events are, so plan ahead for runs on popular items.

I second the thing about gloves. It's always hit or miss finding gloves I like and that fit.

I'm not too concerned about available jerseys because I've never been in a shop with good selection in all sizes. It's seldom anything I have to have right away, so I can order online. But having a selection in all sizes for the guy who came from out of town and forgot his jersey...that's good.

Don't be offended by the person who works on their own bikes, or let them believe you think their work is inferior to yours. It may be BETTER than yours. They'll never let you work on their bike anyway, but if you're nice to them they will buy parts from you.

A thing that is often overlooked--passive education for the bike-curious. Unlike my child who can tell the difference between Power Rangers by the color of their nose, many of us can't immediately see the differences between bikes when they're all lined up on the rack. A chart would be helpful, that describes the differences between road, mountain, hybrid, cruiser. All the maker's websites have something like that. Sometimes you have to hunt for it. Don't make me hunt for it. Charts that rank quality of components in some way. Don't make someone ask for basic information if they don't know. This is how you get new riders.

I think an education campaign would set you APART from all the other shops. Bike safety information. Options for riding with a child. How to change a flat and other DIY repairs. If you make it passive and graphical, you don't have to spend a lot of time on it, like you would if you did clinics, or had to answer the same questions over and over. Many people don't know what they don't know. Posters or pamphlets ("Which type of bike is right for you?" "How to Ride Safely on the Highway.") would be very helpful. MAPS of the local trails, not just "Oh, you mean the Merrymeet Loop?", like I got in Maine. (They didn't know the name of the streets, even though they were right on the loop.)

I would have spent hours in a shop that made information easy to get. The more time I spend in a shop the more likely I am to spend money there.

Oh, just lots of lots of LUCK to you! I wish for every success to come your way!

Karen

[Torrilin]

Superfeet insoles.

Bungee cargo nets.

Tire pressure gauges that aren't attached to bike pumps.

The little reflector strips for keeping pants legs out of bike chains.

BROOKS!

Stock a cheap commuter bike that's not a piece of crap. Maybe a Redline 925, or used 3 speeds. Something that works well in your area gearing-wise and that can haul a bit and won't need a ton of extras to be a useful bike. If you can commute by bike to the shop, do. Your customers will love your expertise. Also, they'll keep coming in because they need some weird little thingie for commuting and they *know* you can get it for them. Add on sales are your friend.

I'm a commuter/utility biker with one bike. If I call a shop about maintenance, I'll say I've got one bike and ask how we can arrange it so I get my bike back the same day. It's not I need to be first in line or anything; it's I don't have a car. I need my wheels .

Real parking. Y'know, for bikes. All the shops around here do have bike parking, but it's mostly very icky racks that are hard to park at. Can't blame them, the racks all seem to be a good 20 years old . But you're doing a new shop so maybe you can have better designed racks.

One of the shops in town has an air compressor labeled "free air", fitted up for presta and schraeder valves. Very thoughtful. I would spend more money there, but I can never find anyone to take it. So then I end up going to the other bike shop where there is always someone to take my money.

[KnottedYet]

Kona
Surly
Brooks (maybe just a set of saddles for folks to try, and you order the one they want)

TOOLS! Several varieties of tire lever (like the Crank Bros Speedlever) and shapes of Allen wrench (Ts, Ls, foldy-things) Leathermen, pedal wrenches. Pressure gauges. The sorts of thing the average Joe can be told to use or would cheerfully buy so they'll have a spare.

Cold pop. My LBS has a fridge full of canned pop for $1. I'm always surprised by how many cans of pop they sell while I'm there.

Good bike parking.

Clean bathroom.

Classes at the shop.

Rides starting from the shop.

Socks with your logo and shop name on the cuff.