I'm not so sure buying on-line, at least for C&V, is the LBS worst problem. If you know central NJ, perhaps you remember ProTour, they were in Westfield for many years. The rents skyrocketed there, and the owner ( son of the original owner) moved out to Rt. 22, to a poor location
Wasn't Rent....Westfield has a shop selling CF & Lycra and is doing very well, been there for years. Westfield is a rich man's town...they know their market. Riding through on a Saturday morning looks like the TdF for the 62 and over crowd
If you know central NJ, perhaps you remember ProTour, they were in Westfield for many years. The rents skyrocketed there, and the owner ( son of the original owner) moved out to Rt. 22, to a poor location behind a garden store. I stopped into see him last spring. He was down to working by himself, lamenting BMX kids couldn't get to the shop, and was planning on moving again to another town. I was in the area a couple of weeks ago, and they were long gone, hopefully to a better spot.
Again, missed the market....Pro Tour is now on the Blvd. in Kennilworth. Wrong town to be selling BMX gear....that's CF & Lycra territory.
I'm not so sure buying on-line, at least for C&V, is the LBS worst problem.
Maybe not but every $ on-line is one less in the local cash drawer....in a small shop $100 or $200 a day in sales can make or break the day.
Local shops can not exist if we do not support them...it's rather simple