08 May 2024
According to the Association of Cycle Traders, hundreds of independent bike shops nationwide participated in this year's Local Bike Shop Day.
The event, sponsored by Cytech, saw shops across the country holding promotions and events throughout the entire weekend.
Participating in the event were various establishments like Pedal Back Cycling in Earl’s Court, West London, an ACT member and Cytech-accredited, which marked the occasion with discounts on new and refurbished bikes, apparel, and accessories. Cadence Cycleworks in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, provided free bike health checks and offered a £10 discount on any service booked during the event. Newcastle’s Recyke Y'Bike, also Cytech-accredited and an ACT member, hosted a charity bake sale with 10% off storewide and complimentary bike safety checks.
Comments were shared on social media from participants such as the York Cycle Campaign expressing their enthusiasm with "We love Local Bike Shop Day," and Wheely Active in Scarborough expressing gratitude to loyal customers while offering 10% off all services booked that day. E-bike brand Hygge Bikes chimed in, advocating for support of local bike shops with "we are totally up for it – everyone should support our local bike shops!"
Jonathan Harrison of the ACT said: "The success of this year’s event demonstrates how it is increasingly being embraced and used by retailers. The two weeks leading up to Local Bike Shop Day have shown how the event is being embraced by independent retailers as an opportunity to engage with their local cycling communities, both existing customers and potential customers. They have also used social media quite heavily to raise their online profiles both locally and within the industry.
“The concept of Local Bike Shop Day was to create something with momentum, which bike shops around the country could get onboard with and leverage it for their own commercial advantage – and it’s exciting to see so many doing that this year.”
In addition to the physical promotions and events, ACT estimates that social media content reached more than 100,000 people, with TV presenter and prominent cyclist Jeremy Vine among those expressing support online.
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