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Old 10-24-15 | 09:48 AM
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Gresp15C
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Originally Posted by jfowler85
... First, what is the trend for the number of local bike shops over time, and what is the current market share of online sales relative to LBS sales? Comparing the two trends should tell you where the love really is. The emergence of huge, profitable online bike and parts retailers points away from LBS love.
That would be interesting to know. One article [0] suggests that Internet sales account for a relatively small fraction of bike sales. I'm guessing that bigger threats to LBS's are big-box and general sporting goods stores. Used bikes also cut into new bike sales. Granted, this is all anecdotal and speculative on my part, but I know lots of people who have bought new bikes, and nobody who has bought a bike online. I know very few people who buy parts to use or install themselves, as opposed to getting them installed at a shop.

Another indication is when I look at bikes around town, I rarely see a brand that I don't recognize as being sold through normal retailers including big-box stores.

I think that online bike sales will be an uphill battle, because fit and comfort remain important, an very few people have the mechanical skill even to assemble a boxed bike. The skill to identify the correct size and type of part (even tires) and install it will continue to give local retailers an edge.

[0] Industry Overview 2014 - National Bicycle Dealers Association
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