Tuesday, 11 February 2025
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Citrus-Lime’s Grant Hadwin outlines how IBDs stay ahead in 2025

Grant Hadwin, head of sales and supplier partnerships and retail solutions provider Citrus-Lime has some advice for the industry going into 2025 on what IBD should do.

New challenges are emerging as the landscape for independent bike retailers shifts. IBDs have faced challenges including; booming demand, under-supply, over-supply, and now stock management whilst maintaining margins.

Hadwin states the fundamental question at hand is how IBDs can sell what they have and maintain a healthy margin. He proposes the answer is to create a seamless retail experience. By making it easy for customer to make purchases it will enhance customer experience and therefore sales.

Using the online website to drive customers into the store where they can have a good experience can help increase sales. A big factor is not forcing customers to adapt to the shop, but rather adapt the shopping experience to fit inline with customers habits, making it easy for them.

Stagnation was also highlighted as a great threat to independent bike retailers, even greater than competition claims Hadwin. He warns the trope of ‘business as usual’ can be a slow path to irrelevance, leading to shirking margins, sluggish sales, and stock mismanagement. This can all result in a disconnect with customer needs.

Adapting to change doesn’t necessarily mean losing unique features but rather compounding what a business is already strong at. Consolidating expert advice, personal service, and community connection can build on what companies already have, whilst adding data insights.

According to Hadwin, customers are no longer just looking for a product, but rather an experience as well. Shoppers want expert advice, personalised service, and a sense of community. IBDs have historically excelled in providing this, but without constant innovation they can be overshadowed by convenience and price wars.

Changing business direction usually requires courage, strategy, and a willingness to change. This entails embracing ecommerce, having better stock management, using accurate data for insight, implementing time-saving tools, and creating community bonds.

The opportunities for bike shops will continue to grow in 2025, but so will the challenges. Hadwin believes the best way to mitigate these challenges is to embrace the opportunities coming their way.

Other 2025 news is starting to emerge, with predictions and forecasts for the coming year becoming public. 

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