What do you think will happen to the UK bike retail industry?

[FishFright]

The issues with Amazon are I believe firstly their European tax base is in Luxembourg (I think) so they don't pay corporation tax here. However the other big issue is they are still growing so don't actually make a profit in Europe anyway or at least that was true a few years ago so even in Luxembourg I don't think they were paying corporation tax as that is on profit. Amazon have warehouse staff in the UK and some other staff but customer service is people in India mainly and other elements of the business are run off shore away from the UK. Amazon by running at a loss in Europe are basically destroying competitors at a high rate and of course in the future will move more to profit when there is less competitors than now. We have seen many competitors disappear both online and bricks and mortar. It's extremely easy to see the damage caused by Amazon not just the UK but the USA, Germany and many other countries where Amazon is a major player.

At the end of the day we have to decide if we just let the market dictate what happens or we proactively control our economy for the benefit of its citizens even if citizens resent this as it curbs their ability to import goods at such high levels.

Which is why my total spend at Amazon is still zero.

 

[Mike Ayling]

Decathlon have announced that they are closing one of their Melbourne stores..

 

[Dogtrousers]

'Decline in cycling cited' as Halfords profits fall.
Store chain sees profits drop 25% year-on-year
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/decline-in-cycling-cited-as-halfords-profits-fall

So it's our fault.

 

[fossyant]

'Decline in cycling cited' as Halfords profits fall.
Store chain sees profits drop 25% year-on-year
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/decline-in-cycling-cited-as-halfords-profits-fall

So it's our fault.

Yup, been a long time since I bought a new bike, 2016 I think !

 

[Dogtrousers]

Yup, been a long time since I bought a new bike, 2016 I think !

I bought one on ebay earlier this year. So I'm not to blame.
Not a new one though. However, I did buy a Brompton in 2014.

 

[PaulSB]

'Decline in cycling cited' as Halfords profits fall.
Store chain sees profits drop 25% year-on-year
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/decline-in-cycling-cited-as-halfords-profits-fall

So it's our fault.

Halfords have made no such statements. There's been a decline in the cycling, they also cite increased energy and salary costs. Many on here and in the press have noted a decline post Covid, what is a surprise is the comment sales are 30% below 2019 levels.

Where I feel Halfords have a problem is reputationaly. I spend far too much on cycling annually, Halfords might, in a good year, get £50. The new gravel Boardman is £3800, a new gravel bike is currently being built for me at £4000+. I didn't even think of Halfords let alone consider a Boardman.

I feel their problem is the brand, therefore the customer base they attract and so in a declining market the business will suffer.

 

[wafter]

'Decline in cycling cited' as Halfords profits fall.
Store chain sees profits drop 25% year-on-year
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/decline-in-cycling-cited-as-halfords-profits-fall

So it's our fault.

"Decline in cycling" or "decline in people buying new bikes" (potentially after a period or ridiculous, unsustainable growth during covid) - significant difference. I suspect it's probably a bit of both, but it irritates me how the pursuit of any humble passtime is now seemingly inexplicibly linked to / validated by constant consumption.

 

[Drago]

A decline in buying. People went OTT with the buying during the covid period, bit the long term upshot being...

a) there's only so many bicycles the market can absorb over a given period and a spike at one moment will inevitably lead to a dip another time, and...

b) big retailers we're to short sighted to realise this and were only interested in riding the wave with no thought given to the inevitable lull that such a level of over-buying is going to lead to further on. These are bikes, not cheese or milk, and your average Joe or Jane is only going to buy one occasionally, not year-on-year.

 

[Punkawallah]

My FLBS only sells second hand, and sales are down there, too. Fortunately it also sells second hand parts, and does repairs, so is struggling by.

 

[Mr Celine]

My latest bike was bought from Halfords in December 2022. In 2023 they closed the shop. The sign outside said 'your nearest branch is Berwick'. That's 40 miles away. It shut the following month.

No wonder sales are down.

 

[tyred]

I only bought one new bike in my life.

That was about 1992.

And yes, I still own it and use it, although only the frame, seat post and stem are original. I take my maintenance tips from Trigger.

 

[Dogtrousers]

All the same, I'm a wee bit surprised that there's been a "decline in cycling" (equalling, as @wafter says, "a decline in people buying new bikes") because of the growth of the e-bike market. But it's not a subject I really know anything about so it's not surprising that I'm surprised.

 

[Dadam]

Well I'm doing my bit! 4 new bikes in the last 2 years!

 

[kingrollo]

Numbers are down quite significantly at the club I am in.
At times we had to split into two or three groups on Sundays so the groups didn't cause too much of an obstruction.

Nowadays anything above 6 is a good turnout and zero riders isn't uncommon.

To me the older people never returned post COVID. I don't think the long weeks of rain 2 years running have helped.

One trend I have noticed is how fair weather e bike owners are - my theory is that on a traditional bike you need to keep your fitness up over winter - but with an e bike you can stick it away in November and quite happily jump back on in June and do 60 miles ....no problem.

 

[Fastpedaller]

Fairweather e-bikers......... Electric and water aren't a good mix