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1 Jul 2024

ACT member e-Velo is to open a new store in the Royal Arcade in Norwich in July, selling a range of e-bikes from some of Europe's top brands.

1 Jul 2024

Bicycle manufacturers say they are optimistic about the bike industry’s growth prospects, anticipating a boost in sales – supported by a ‘positive impulse’ from the...

1 Jul 2024

Although London has some of the best cycling infrastructure in the UK it continues to lag behind European cities including The Hague and Paris, according to a new global survey.

1 Jul 2024

ACT partner V12 Retail Finance has been announced as the sponsor for the Retailers Category at the BikeBiz Awards 2024, in association with Push.

1 Jul 2024

Consumer confidence is up in the UK for the third month in a row, according to GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index.

24 Jun 2024

A cycle shop owner has criticised the police’s “abject apathy” towards bike theft after thieves attempted to break into his store for the second time in a year, on the same...

19 Jun 2024

Cytech-partner Activate Cycle Academy, which has specialist cycle maintenance training centres in Oxford, Guildford, Stafford and Darlington, will be exhibiting at this weekend’s York...

19 Jun 2024

Last week was manifesto week and Bira, the parent company of the ACT produced a simple table comparing manifestos for Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Green Party and Reform UK, and...

19 Jun 2024

Better Bike Social, a festival of cycling that will include a range of talks, workshops, and weekend rides, is coming to Brighton next month.

17 Jun 2024

Cycling enthusiasts in Shrewsbury and Warrington being treated to new cycle shops.

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Retailer Spotlight - Elmy Cycles Ipswich

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

For our latest retailer spotlight, we spoke with Steven Grimwood from the brilliant Elmy Cycles in Ipswich, who has been working in the cycle trade since he was 14 years old.

Elmy

Last year the business, which is an ACT member, marked its 100-year anniversary, with Steve spearheading the company for over 30 years, having taken over from Mr Elmy in 1992.

Steve explains, “I think the future looks great for independent bike shops - just in the way we are starting to see the resurgence of local book shops and local coffee shops, customers can get tired of the big corporate machine and drift away, looking for something more personal.

“Us indies have a great opportunity to curate interesting product lines, individual niches and react quickly to new products and trends. There are still a lot of questions for the future, like how suppliers can work with our market, perhaps by offering more indie-focused product lines or rotating stock to ensure the right models are on the shop floors. And of course, supporting dealer initiatives.

“One of the biggest mistakes suppliers sometimes make is treating retailers as a customer and not a partner. If they viewed their dealer network as their showrooms to the public, they could make much better use of us and our expertise.”

The Elmy team regularly attends and supports events such as a recent local Cyclo Cross which had over 300 riders present. An Elmy team took part in the ride last month, with Steve dressed as Santa to add to the fun!

“We have just completed a renovation of the store, with a new coffee shop area, function space and showroom. Just last month we hosted an open day with Oliver Bridgewood from Global Cycling Network, with over 90 customers attending a film night at a local cinema and a shop ride the next day.

“The future looks bright; despite the tough times the trade is in right now we have been here before - and it will go full cycle - we will get over this hill.”

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