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30 Jan 2024

A North Yorkshire cycle shop, which has become one of the largest bike businesses in the area, is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary.

30 Jan 2024

For our latest retailer profile, we spoke with Dallas Wiseman from BikeWise & Run, a Ceredigion-based bike shop that has become a hub for cyclists in the region.

30 Jan 2024

New data from market research firm Mintel suggests the UK bicycle market could on the road to recovery, with sales of new bikes set to reach almost £1 billion this year.
Mintel...

25 Jan 2024

With more than 500 cycle businesses having now signed up to its campaign for change to the Cycle to Work scheme, a delegation from the Association of Cycle Traders has met with All Party...

24 Jan 2024

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is taking enforcement action and warning consumers about a brand of e-bike battery – UPP – that has been linked to a number of...

16 Jan 2024

Walton Street Cycles, one of Oxford’s oldest bike shops, has been trading in the city since 1975.
 

16 Jan 2024

ACT Gold Member ICE Trikes has announced a new partnership announcement with British Cycling’s Limitless disability and para-cycling programme. This partnership will help to support the...

15 Jan 2024

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...

15 Jan 2024

The Guardian has reported that ministers decided to prioritise driving over active travel because of worries about “15-minute cities”.

15 Jan 2024

Go Outdoors, which operates 75 stores across the UK, has announced an apprenticeship scheme involving Cytech training with the aim of addressing what it terms a nationwide shortage of...

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Independents' Day blog: Prepare your business for a successful summer

Posted on in Cycles News , Creative News

Tayprint is a family run Dundee-based printing service that works with a wide variety of independent businesses from throughout the UK. From large format signage to custom printed garments, we’ve had the unique perspective of both adjusting ourselves, as well as witnessing how a wide variety of independent businesses have handled the changing commercial landscape of the last few years.

With a view on interesting trends that developed such as a shift from formal workwear uniforms to one off custom pieces for the print on demand industry, or the pivot from physical advertising to a larger online presence. However, with things swinging back to normal it’s important not to neglect these traditional staples.

With this summer and for Independents Day, especially after the last few years, it is crucial that businesses can make the most of the increased footfall of physical shoppers. With their experience, Independent's Day want to offer advice on some of the ways you can prepare your business for a successful summer.

 

    1. Firstly, before you commit any time or money to advertising it’s important to make sure your branding is unified, both on and offline. I’m sure you’ll know by now how important having an online presence is. However, it’s crucial that it links back to the rest of your business. Especially if you don’t rely on online sales.

    2. With physical shopping making a comeback it’s important to remember physical advertising. Whether it’s a few posters or a large format banner. Now that footfall is up to the highest level since 2019, and the UK being one of the most successful G7 countries for high street recovery, its important you use every opportunity to get your business seen.

    3. With all these big changes its easy to forget the little things, ways to give your business that extra professional touch. Getting a stack of personalised business cards doesn’t mean you need to be giving them to everyone that passes, but having some on display for anyone interested, or professional events, certainly helps legitimise your independent business. Another small addition is an updated uniform. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy, even just a branded hoodie or polo shirt adds that extra professional touch to an otherwise casual outfit.

    4. Lastly don’t forget about your shop itself! Everyone can use some spring cleaning and what better time than for Independents Day. Freshen up your premises and branding with crisp new interior signage. Whether it’s a PVC banner advertising temporary events and sales, or more robust Foamex boards that are ideal for permanent fixtures such as menus, informative signage, or simply just decorative branding. You’ll definitely catch your customers eye with these new additions. It’s also a great opportunity to show off on social media, and it’ll look great next to your Independents Day posters.

 

Find out how you can support Independent's Day here.

 

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