LBS websites: what’s helpful and/or interesting?

[out_spokin']

Hi TEers,
I’m going to help my LBS-owner friend with a website for the shop. Right now there’s just a placeholder site, so everything will be an improvement. I anticipate having the chance to do a little design and structure, and a lot of the content/copy.

It needs to be relatively simple (no online inventory, for example) but we want it to be useful! A good map and contact info is a given, but what else??

What do you look for in a bike shop website? Any examples/links to ones you like would be awesome...On the other hand, is there anything that an LBS website has done that you DIDN’T like?

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

[NbyNW]

You might also want to include hours of operation, maybe a list of services provided. Are there particular services that this LBS is especially good at, things that might distinguish it from other shops?

I recently went through the experience of moving to a new town and shopping for a new LBS. Websites can tell you something about the personality of a store. There are stores that cater to families or to hipsters or to racers and everything in between. The websites that convinced me to visit their stores also provide some sort of statement about who they are and what kind of service I can expect.

As it turns out, I have not settled on any one LBS. I don't think there's a "one size fits all" LBS for all of my bikes, so I have been going to whichever LBS is most appropriate for the bike that I need help with.

[Irulan]

Please make hours and phone number easy to find.
links to Local clubs, local regular/rides,advocacy organizations

[shootingstar]

This is a more sophisticated LBS web site for a shop in Toronto. I used to shop there and did know some of the employees.

Vancouver's LBS web sites do not have this degree of comprehensive coverage or depth of information across multiple areas.


Also this link indicates a blog which they look after too.
http://www.ucycle.com/

[Owlie]

Easy-to-find phone numbers, hours and location. The one here that I like puts them in the top frame/css thing so it's visible on every page.
Services and prices.
"We carry..."
Links to places to ride--trails, road rides
A little blurb about the shop is always fun. The aforementioned shop also takes the opportunity to introduce the shop Labrador (whose sole functions appear to be stealing old tubes and being petted).

The one at home has a helpful little guide to buying one's first road bike too.

[TrekTheKaty]

Two helpful features I've seen:

publish team ride routes (It's nice to have a proven, pre-measured route--or feel out a ride before joining the group).

They publish pics of customers pre-ordered frames when they open the box--just kind of fun for us regular folk!

[Thorn]

Hours (up-to-date for the season if they change)
Map
Services (various tune-up levels, overhaul, etc. Teach me what each one is and why my bike wants one over the over)
Turnaround times
Blog (tell me some interesting stuff that let's me know you're human; teach me about my bike; share some interesting things about biking in the area, etc.)
Events (both store-based like classes and rides as well as local rides)
Local Routes
Special order information, perhaps an on-line form or just an email address that is monitored for the request (If you want me to buy through the LBS, make it easy for me to ask you about availability of a certain tire, etc.)

[pll]

publish team ride routes (It's nice to have a proven, pre-measured route--or feel out a ride before joining the group).

I would *LOVE* if bike shops did this... It would be great for exploring nearby cities: know where the bike shop is, have a ride handy with water/food spots singled out.

[badgercat]

Aside from the obvious location, phone number, etc...

It is nice to know what brands of bikes the shop deals. I also especially appreciate when shops list services (and what they include in a "tune-up") and prices--that seems to be rare. Also, links to any local cycling advocacy/safety/etc groups, link to a metropolitan bike map if it exists, stuff like that.

Who owns/works at the shop? Where/what do they like to ride? I don't need a life story, but a picture or two of the owner/employees sometimes is a nice touch if they're comfortable putting their face on the internet. It helps foster that "I run this business, but it's still all about this shared interest we have" vibe.

I try not to judge books by their covers, but I do put a lot of stock in what I can find out about businesses online. I'm a student and my time is often limited... if I need to make a purchase, I might be more likely to check out a shop that had a thorough, friendly, straightforward website before one that had a website that didn't tell me much other than the address.

Sounds like a fun project! Good luck!

[OakLeaf]

I like to see that the shop is involved with the community.

That can mean different things for different shops. Maybe they help with kids' bike safety education. Maybe they sponsor a race team. Maybe they maintain MTB trails. Maybe they support a patch ride or two.

Whatever it is, it tells me that the shop is giving something back, and that if I give them my money, it really is going to stay local. It also tells me something about the shop's priorities and specialties. Maybe I want to support them because I admire their mission, maybe they have extra expertise in something I need for my own riding.

Ride schedules are nice; whether or not the shop itself sponsors rides, it can link to local clubs.

I do like the life story, actually. If it's an established shop, history is cool. If it's a newer shop, then why are you here?



+1 that if I'm choosing a company I don't know, their website is a BIG factor. I want it to show me that they care about attracting new customers and retaining the customers they have. So it has to be accessible and attractive, and the who, what, when, where has to be in plain sight. In theory, too big and too glitzy is a turn-off, just as too-big yellow pages ads were before the internets, but I've honestly never seen a LBS website that I would describe that way.

[KnottedYet]

Here are the websites of my two LBSes:
www.recycledcycles.com
www.freerangecycles.com

They are quite different, as are the shops.
Going only by website, I much prefer Recycled Cycles' site.
Free Range's site doesn't tell you much at all, and visually is quite un-engaging. (but the shop is heavenly!)

[out_spokin']

Whoa - so much AWESOME info and insights here already...thanks!!! Keep it comin'!

@Murienn - I'm pretty sure both those shops use the same host company, too, which if I'm not mistaken provided the same basic structure for a bike advocacy group I worked for a number of years back...fairly easy to use and TONS of content to chose from. Interesting to see how two different shops put it together.

[pll]

Here's one bike shop's web site that I find very nice and captures several of the features people suggested:

Get a Grip Cycles

[limewave]

I wish LBS would have links to a PDF printable map of some nice ride routes that are popular for that area. OR mention clearly on their site that they have free maps available at their shop.

[jessmarimba]

What brands they deal with and some sort of info on where to ride are most helpful to me.

Also - any info on rental/demo programs would be nice. Not just "call the store for info." Price, types of bikes, and even better - SIZE of bikes available. I went home and spent a week calling stores about their supposed demo programs just to find out that they have only one bike to rent, and it doesn't fit me.

(These are suggestions from someone who is always looking at shops out-of-town for info. The shop I go to in town probably doesn't have half of that on their site!)