Customer Service

[KnottedYet]

Women's clothing section - yes
Women's gear section - no

Segregate the clothes and use that lovely 15x20 space to house the biggest darn women's clothing section in the entire state! That's where you'll get some impulse buys. "Look, dear, they didn't have this at Performance!" or "Wow, this is cool and it's in MY size! And there are 3 colors to choose from!"

But please don't put the "women's" helmets in there, or the pink Serfas floor pumps, or the pink pedals or baby blue cranks, or the wider "T" shaped saddles. Mix those in with the rest. Some women don't *need* a wider saddle. Some men do. Some don't *want* the uber-phallic pink floor pump. Some women have heads that don't fit in tiny helmets. Some men have heads that are too small for a "man's" helmet. Some men really like the hot pink cranks. Make women welcome through-out the entire store! The chickie on her way to buy her helmet might discover BuddyFlaps. (cha-ching!) The gal perusing the saddles might catch a glimpse of a rack. (cha-ching!) And then she'll see the Ortleib Backroller panniers and start really thinking (BIG $$$ cha-ching!)

If you isolate the women's gear (other than clothes) into one section, how many women will go beyond that section? How many will start thinking, "Hey, I can DO this bike thing! I think I'll buy my own damm Park Tool I-Beam, and my OWN tire levers! This entire store is for me, and I don't have to wait for hubby or son to maintain my bike! In fact, I'm gonna ask that mechanic over there to explain how I lube my chain and I'm gonna buy lube and degreaser and a Park Tool Chain Gang! I walk thru this whole store to buy things, so I'm not afraid to walk over to the mechanic!"

If you must put some gear in with the women's clothes, why not make it a display with a big placard "Explore the Store". Have clerks keep an eye out for women who want to see more in the store. Walk them through. They will come back, and they'll encourage other women shoppers. (Hey, I've helped other women customers at my LBS. Sometimes they get the deer-in-the-headlights look, and all they really need is to see another woman who is comfortable in the shop.)

Free "Fix A Flat" classes are an awesome idea. If you can have a women's only class, and have it be taught by a woman, even better! The best Fix A Flat class I ever took was taught by a woman. She understood that our hands weren't as strong, our arms weren't as long, and our leverage just wasn't the same. She knew some tricks other than just muscling the tire and tube, and you should have seen the confidence level rise in that class! Pretty soon we're talking derailleurs and brakes and slinging back wheels and chains around fearlessly.

[onimity]

But please don't put the "women's" helmets in there, or the pink Serfas floor pumps, or the pink pedals or baby blue cranks, or the wider "T" shaped saddles. Mix those in with the rest. Some women don't *need* a wider saddle. Some men do. Some don't *want* the uber-phallic pink floor pump. Some women have heads that don't fit in tiny helmets. Some men have heads that are too small for a "man's" helmet. Some men really like the hot pink cranks. Make women welcome through-out the entire store! The chickie on her way to buy her helmet might discover BuddyFlaps. (cha-ching!) The gal perusing the saddles might catch a glimpse of a rack. (cha-ching!) And then she'll see the Ortleib Backroller panniers and start really thinking (BIG $$$ cha-ching!)

If you isolate the women's gear (other than clothes) into one section, how many women will go beyond that section? How many will start thinking, "Hey, I can DO this bike thing! I think I'll buy my own damm Park Tool I-Beam, and my OWN tire levers! This entire store is for me, and I don't have to wait for hubby or son to maintain my bike! In fact, I'm gonna ask that mechanic over there to explain how I lube my chain and I'm gonna buy lube and degreaser and a Park Tool Chain Gang! I walk thru this whole store to buy things, so I'm not afraid to walk over to the mechanic!"

...

Free "Fix A Flat" classes are an awesome idea. If you can have a women's only class, and have it be taught by a woman, even better! The best Fix A Flat class I ever took was taught by a woman. She understood that our hands weren't as strong, our arms weren't as long, and our leverage just wasn't the same. She knew some tricks other than just muscling the tire and tube, and you should have seen the confidence level rise in that class! Pretty soon we're talking derailleurs and brakes and slinging back wheels and chains around fearlessly.

Amen to that. The only woman-specific thing I buy is clothes. My favorite LBS had a maintenance clinic and they really encourage women and men alike to take it. They have a stand where customers can work on their bikes and they encourage women to do that. When I bring my bike for a repair they always ask: do you want us to fix that, or do you want to do it yourself. I almost always choose the latter and while they have missed out on some repair charges they have sold me a lot of tools and parts.

Also I would like to see some decent cloth. Not for some waif or twiggy. You can't ride if you are twiggy.

Sorry, I just disagree with this. I fit this description by most accounts and I've ridden 4,000 miles so far this year, and I don't think I'm the only thin-framed woman on this site that has a *really* hard time finding cycling clothes because most are not built for tall women. Shorts are fine, but forget about finding tights and jerseys in a store that only stocks one or two brands. Women of *all* sizes need cycling clothes. If I owned a shop I'd carry clothing from a variety of mfrs.

Anne

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

When I go into a bike shop and look at the women's clothing. there is usually nothing but smalls and x-smalls of everything. I then ask if they have mediums or larges, and am always told "well we had them but they are sold out."
DUH!!!!!! Could that possibly be because "most" women are not size S or XS?? ....So you just leave all the small clothes hanging there, like I should just buy those instead?
I also happen to dislike how so many bike shop women's clothes seem to be either pink or baby blue. Funny...I don't "feel" like a baby!
(apologies to pink fans)

I've given up on buying clothes at bike shops for those reasons. I'll just buy gloves and lube and stuff.

[Grog]

I have no strong opinion on whether the women's clothes should be separated from the men's, but I strongly disagree that women's gear should be set apart. I find that most things that are advertised as women-specific are making fun of women buyers, and possibly disguising poor-quality products under a pink coat of paint. As others have said, there are men that need wider saddles (and women that need narrow ones), men's and women's helmets make no sense (what makes sense is "small" and "bigger" helmets), and I can imagine that a man with longer legs and shorter torso that would like a bike proportioned like a supposedly WSD bike.

I hope you put only "clothes" in your corner.

Good luck!

[Eden]

I have to agree with Anne - I am small and thin and I have a really hard time finding clothing period, cycling included, that fits me properly. I find it to be very frustrating that so many people talk very negatively about clothing only being made for small thin people. It's not true. Along with your XL's try to make sure you have some of the smallest sizes too.

I also agree that beyond the stuff that is women's specific for a fit reason I don't need things that are just packaged for women. No small pink pumps (which really did not sell well around here - I see them on sale everywhere) or other things like that. I am perfectly capable of using the same tools and accesories as the men.

[Bluetree]

I have to agree with Anne - I am small and thin and I have a really hard time finding clothing period, cycling included, that fits me properly. I find it to be very frustrating that so many people talk very negatively about clothing only being made for small thin people. It's not true. Along with your XL's try to make sure you have some of the smallest sizes too..

+1.

The American size small seems to be getting larger and larger every year. And what's especially frustrating is when manufacturers don't even bother to make sizes in XS. Fortunately, my new club understands this and has ordered the team kits with women's XS bib shorts.

...the thing that pisses me off more than anything is if the high-end stuff is all for men, and the specific women stuff is all mediocre.

In most stores, yup! While I'm not a proponent of many WSD items (I think some of it is very valid, some more marketing ploy) it doesn't hurt to stock a wide variety of components. For example, offer the same high-end handlebars in a 38, instead of just 42s and the occasional 40.

[RoadRaven]

But please don't put the "women's" helmets in there, or the pink Serfas floor pumps, or the pink pedals or baby blue cranks, or the wider "T" shaped saddles. Mix those in with the rest. Some women don't *need* a wider saddle. Some men do. Some don't *want* the uber-phallic pink floor pump. Some women have heads that don't fit in tiny helmets. Some men have heads that are too small for a "man's" helmet. Some men really like the hot pink cranks. Make women welcome through-out the entire store! The chickie on her way to buy her helmet might discover BuddyFlaps. (cha-ching!) The gal perusing the saddles might catch a glimpse of a rack. (cha-ching!) And then she'll see the Ortleib Backroller panniers and start really thinking (BIG $$$ cha-ching!)

Knot!!!! +1!!!!

Make women feel welcome throughout the ENTIRE shop... don't segregate them into a corner or subsection... and please (as others have said) don't assume we all go for pink!

Ammount of pink Raven owns... zero

Men and women come in all shapes and sizes, with a huge variation of colour and style preference...

Make sure it is a people store... but do emphasise the support/availability for women, with whatever interest to feel welcome and competent in your store.

And congrats - what a very cool way to make a living

[indigoiis]

Workshops / classes / special events / rides for women. ? Just some ideas.

Or a really cute young man who speaks no English walking around with freshly made fruit smoothies?

A manicurist on site?

[WhirlyGirl]

Thank You Thank You, to all who took the time to share on this thread! An update to my progress

My Space consisits of
Clothing: Shorts, Jerseys, Tights, vests, Jackets, Gloves and Socks.NO PINK! Good size range.
Some literature: WSD bikes: do you need one, Riding to lose weight, Benefits of cycling.
All Natural Sunscreen, muscle balm and sore salve.(we let the men buy these too )
Yoga for Cycling DVD for sale.
Flyers for our Whirly Girl weekly Rides
I do have a couple of helmets and pairs of shoes as examples, however the inventory is with all other helmets and shoes.

We have classes set up as well
fix a flat
Road biking 101
Tri-Umph Whirly Girl style (fun triathlon training)
Mountain Basics: we have great mtn biking in our area as well.

Like I mentioned before we are an established store, but with the extra space my intention is to pull in newbies, those gals that are weary of riding for whatever reason, give them a comfortable space to shop, carry items of neccessity to start riding comfortabally and with the most enjoyment possible. I don't want a newbie coming in and feeling overwhelmed by having to sort through the entire store.

And as far as eye candy...well my husband is quite hot and an amazing cyclist and a great mechanic, and his partner is Scottish, so the accent is easy on the ears. They both ride almost everyday and have been semi pro racers in both ATB and road so their combined experience is a great benefit for repair, purchasing and training. And they would NEVER talk to down to anyone including women, they are great men and married as well

If you are ever in very southern AZ, come check us out. And again, thanks for all the great input.

[Running Mommy]

WG-
I'm actually in the middle of opening a new store in Goodyear (west of phoenix).
One thing that I've always kept in mind is that a store that is pleasing to the eye will make you want to spend time in it.
With that in mind we are really paying attention to our merchandising. And my womens clothing is going to be front and center.
Women account for 80% of a houeseholds buying decisions, so it makes sense to make the entire space pleasing to a womans eye.
Also remember that studies show that when entering a store most people look to the right first. Why? I dunno, but they have actually studied this.
So have a focal point that is on the right side.
I'm also going to stock brands that you won't neccisarily see in Performance, or the other chain stores. That means NO Pearl Izumi!
Sugoi is our main brand for both men and women. Women specific I'm going with shebeest shorts (their jerseys are HORRID for the spring), Hincapie, and some smaller lines. Vanderkitten, Dude girl, Loeka,Zoic, and skirt sports to name a few.
Hope this helps.
So where are you in southern AZ? Tucson area?? Did you just buy this store?

[Zen]

Why not use that space for group spin (bring your own trainer) classes or a coffee/beverage area with sofas and cycling movies?

[sundial]

Why not use that space for group spin (bring your own trainer) classes or a coffee/beverage area with sofas and cycling movies?

Great idea! Or designate the corner as the bike fit/diagnostics corner.

My DH is in retail and he has established a set of rules that have worked for him.
1. No clutter--ever!
2. Dust weekly.
3. Make the aisles wide enough to maneuver around the merchandise with a walker or wheelchair.
4. Organize items by groups with the most popular items at eye level.
5. Always assist a customer. Don't point to a general direction and let the customer find it on their own.
6. Don't cram merchandise in too small an area. Display it where it's easy to see and handle.
7. Offer personal service.
8. Keep restrooms clean and stocked with paper goods.
9. Vacuum the floors and clean the windows daily.
10. Put misplaced merchandise back.