Owning a Bike Shop Is Daunting Defined – NBDA Is Uniquely Built to Help

Supply chain snags, big brands selling directly to customers, inventory-cash flow balancing acts, hiring vs. laying off staff decisions, surviving slow times…You know the deal and wear it on your sleeve: owning a bike shop today is more daunting than ever despite an incredibly reinvigorated surge in cycling interest.

You, however, are not alone. And the key to pushing beyond surviving (not good enough) to thriving (heart of the envelop) is learning and adapting by connecting directly with fellow shop owners on a peer-to-peer level to ensure your shop adds uniquely exciting value to your surrounding community and is always moving forward in a relevant manner.

Helping you do just that is what the NBDA (National Bike Dealer’s Association) is uniquely built to do through one-on-one connections, networked access to fellow bike shop owners and staff, and industry expert deep dive forums focused on solving shop-specific business and operations problems. There is no IBD support network like the NBDA, and here’s a snap shot of our enthusiastically attended “rubber on road” programs:

Monday Mingle 

• Almost weekly informal but potently relevant IBD problem identifying/solving peer-to-peer sessions that address:
  • How to maintain shop revenue during slow seasons/supply shortages
  • Determining what inventory to carry to maximize ROI
  • Preparing for/dealing with major brand efforts to sell directly to customers
  • Transitioning from a paper to paperless maintenance order system
  • Improving bike repair turnaround efficiency
  • Shop security
  • Staff hiring and training
  • Much more

Women in the Cycling Industry 

• Monthly targeted group discussion, that does not require NBDA membership, focused on solutions to problems/obstacles women face on both sides of the bike shop checkout counter
• Topics include:
  • Keen awareness that women account for 70-85 percent of all consumer purchasing
  • How to deal with unwanted gender-related attention
  • Difference between men and women cycling needs regarding bikes, bike fit, apparel and riding style
  • How women can better support each other in both the cycling business and cycling community
  • Men’s role in improving women’s presence and physical security in the cycling industry/community

Mechanics’s Monday

• Regularly scheduled service center roundtable focused on:
• • Service center efficiency
  • Pricing and labor rates
  • Layout and design
  • Service center software
  • Checklists and organization
  • Staff training

Sales Representative Groupthink

• Regularly scheduled sales representative group interaction focused forum geared to address:
• • Customer communication frequency/type
  • Ways to support retailers
  • Current sales trends and best practices
  • Scheduling visits
  • Dealer agreements
  • Staff training

Mobile Thursday 

• Regularly scheduled mobile retailer group sessions focused on:
• • Scheduling and time management
  • Reaching new customers
  • Vendor relations
  • Van customization
  • How to offer fit services

Fit Friday

• Regularly scheduled fit focused group discussions about:
• • Fit as a revenue source
  • Setting up a fit area/getting started
  • Fit area layout and design
  • How to sell fit
  • Special Considerations
  • Staff training

P2 (Profitability Project)

• Fee-based program that covers the NBDA’s cost to organize groups of non-competing retailers, hold meetings and bring in expert facilitators all designed to maximize IBD profitability through:

• • Retail Toolkit Data Dashboard
  • Monthly discussion topics designed to cultivate impactful results
  • In person group meetings
  • Email support between meetings

• Engagement with your personal NBDA advisor board

The NBDA’s organized group sessions and the relevant connections they make shoot the value of peer-to-peer relationships and gritty networked support to a game-changing level. The best way to take the next step forward is to sign up and show up. Members can register for all events online at nbda.com. For those yet to join the NBDA, membership starts at $15 a month and is available in monthly or annual selections.

We look forward to meeting and working with you and, together, pushing cycling to business, popular and fun levels like never before.