General Cycling Discussion - Question for shop owners

I've been working at a bike shop now for a couple weeks, and I'm looking for way to increase the shop's business. I'm putting up a clearance table, and put I've up flyers for stuff on sale. But I need ways to get people into the shop, at relatively low cost. Do you guys have any ideas? The people we would attract will most likely be older folks, families, beginner MTBers, and middle of the beginner road cyclists. I'm thinking maybe a bike rodeo with giveaways and BBQ might work, a moonlight ride, a family ride, and a MTB race series. The shop used to have a MTB race series, and every year we get tons of people from all over the state asking when we are going to do it again, so I think it is time.

Don't overlook inexpensive posters at Senior Centers, public recreation sites and the like.

sounds like you have some pretty good ideas already.

It seems like most LBS have weekly scheduled rides road and trail that they host and invite anyone to join. If you do this, and get the word out to the community, it will be sure to attract enthusiasts to your shop.

One way that my local bike club attracts new people is through the yearly free bike repair event. Nothing brings people in better than the idea of getting something for nothing.

Thanks for asking. Your ideas are great. I do have a suggestion though, a newspaper add.

Originally posted by D*Alex
One way that my local bike club attracts new people is through the yearly free bike repair event. Nothing brings people in better than the idea of getting something for nothing.

Cool! That is a fabulous idea! I am definetly going to use it.
How about bike repair "classes" ? That would cost people, but we could probably put an affordable price on it and just do stuff like lubing/cleaning the chain, and how to fix a flat at home or on a ride.

Sometimes Local or Weekly papers will give you a free write up if they think it will be of benefit to the community, and "news worthy." Contact the Sports or Community Editor. Remember they receive several calls a day from some group or organization looking for a plug. You have to make it really sound good.

When I got my first job at a bike shop, it was because the shop owner had put a coupon in the Val-Pak mailer, and gotten lots of tune-ups as a result. The Val-Pak is one of those envelopes full of coupons from local merchants, maybe your region has something like it.

In his case, he had a coupon for a free pack of four or five assorted stickers for kids, a coupon for a free saftey inspection (somewhat of a gimmick, since we'd do this anyway), and a coupon for $5 off a tune-up.

The other notion I just had: get peoples' email addresses when they bring bikes in for repair. Have a legal pad under the counter and ask a few customers if they'd be interested in getting an occasional email announcing sales or specials. If the response seems encouraging, you can start an email list and perhaps they'll forward them to other enthusiasts once in a while. Golden rule for email: be extremely brief and to-the-point :)

Become a sponsor of the local bike clubs. In my area, just about every shop offers club members a 5% discount on new bikes, 10% on parts and accessories. Volunteer to do a basic bike maintenance class--lube, flat tire repair--at the club's monthly meeting. Provide mechanical support at club events.

Congratulations on your new career! While I'm not a shop owner, like you I'm focused on mastering the trade. You might want to review...

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Also please check out:
http://www.bicycleretailer.com/bicycleretailer/index.jsp
for an appreciation of the state of the industry