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29 May 2025

The Bicycle Association (BA) has launched a new Action Plan calling for urgent Government action to address the number of fires caused by unsafe e-bike batteries, with a focus on closing legal...

29 May 2025

The World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) has launched the first-ever Sporting Goods Physical Activity Impact Report, highlighting the growing global physical inactivity crisis...

27 May 2025

Greater Manchester has rolled out 300 new e-bikes as part of its expanding bike hire scheme in a major step towards achieving its goal of one million additional sustainable journeys every day by...

23 May 2025

ACT service partner Bikebook has teamed up with leading industry publication BikeBiz in a boost to the BikeBiz ‘Mechanic of the Month’ campaign.

22 May 2025

A pioneering prisoner apprenticeship scheme is being highlighted after almost a year of successful operation, offering participants hands-on training and professional qualifications to prepare...

16 May 2025

ACT parent company Bira has said that members are hopeful the warm weather, Easter weekend and upcoming bank holidays will provide a much-needed boost to high street sales.

15 May 2025

UK economy delivers strongest quarterly performance in a year despite forecasts of business downturn.

15 May 2025

A new e-bike hire scheme is set to launch in Edinburgh on a two-year trial basis, with the aim of having bikes on the streets ahead of this summer’s Fringe Festival.

14 May 2025

The City of London’s ‘Square Mile’ has seen the biggest increase in cycling since records began, with daily numbers rising past all previous counts.

13 May 2025

Local Bike Shop Day 2025 brought a wave of...

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How Independent Retailers Can Stand Out in A Crowded Market

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

An interesting article has appeared in Forbes reflecting many of the issues that ACT members will be experiencing – the challenges and opportunities that are currently facing independent retailers.

Store owner

The article says that, with the rise of e-commerce giants and global chains, it's more important than ever for small businesses to carve out a distinct brand identity that resonates with their target audience.

The piece argues that the cornerstone of a unique brand identity is understanding what sets your business apart and that this should include some aspect of community-building to encourage business from your local area.

It also sets out how, in today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is non-negotiable, even for brick-and-mortar retailers. However, while online presence is crucial, it argues that it is also important not to neglect the physical store experience, providing immersive and memorable in-store experiences that big chains often cannot replicate.

The third element the article addresses is the importance of delivering outstanding customer service, and leveraging agility as one of the key advantages of being an independent retailer.

You can read the whole Forbes piece here.

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