Bicycle Shops - A Growing Supplier Of Fun

There is an interesting phenomenon happening practically right under our noses. It seems that while the rest of the country is wondering just what to do about the economy, one industry may be enjoying a boom. The increase in the number of bicycle shops across the country is indicative of a new wave of an old form of fun.

In a recent article of Interbiketimes.com there was a lot of talk of how cycling in Wisconsin is impacting the economy of the state by over one and one half billion dollars. One bit of data was absolutely amazing. Non-resident bicyclists visiting in Wisconsin push their pedals for more than six million days each year there. An additional note was that close to six hundred million dollars is generated through manufacturing, sales, and services of the business of bicycling.

The increased use of social media hasn’t been lost to many bicycle shops. Twitter and Facebook are sporting the names of many shops that are marketing through the forum where people are gathering in cyberspace these days.

A survey taken in 2007 revealed that seventeen percent of all bikes purchased that year, a total of 3.1 million, were purchased through bicycle shops. There was an increase of 3.7 percent of bicycle sales from 2006 to 2007 providing more than six billion dollars in sales.

In this week’s issue of the Bicycle Retailer and Industry News a report was made of the soon arrival of the 2010 Cycling Guide to over five hundred thousand bike shop customers across the country. More than one hundred ten stores representing fifty markets participate in this annual direct marketing program.

It appears that retail sales are still growing through bicycle shops. A retail sales report shows that this winter’s sales have exceeded the sales of a year ago by five percent.

Not only do bicycle shops provide a place to purchase a new bike, they are great places to get your two-wheeler tuned up and ready to go for the new season. In order for a shop to be successful they need to have a good bike mechanic and a real plus is to have someone who can coach people in the fine art of how to do those little tweaks to fine tune their bike while peddling along the trail.

There has been an increase in some baby boomers that have been bitten by the latest cycling craze to invest in their own bicycle shops as a retirement investment vehicle. That may not always work out, but while the wave is cresting it may be a good thing to get on and ride.