Cycling Weekly publisher to launch Britain’s Best Bike Shop poll

Time Inc has announced a campaign to find Britain’s best bike shop with a soon-to-launch consumer-facing poll on its Cycling Weekly and Mountain Bike Rider websites.

With industry backing from Leyzne UK, Muc-Off and soon to launch BikeZaar – an online portal designed to support independents – the campaign will be promoted heavily on the publisher’s websites, social and other channels.

Both an overall winner for a standout road and mountain biking store will be chosen, as well as regional badges of honour for Scotland, the North East, North West Yorkshire, the East Midlands, West Midlands, Wales, East of England, London, South East and South West.

Sean Igoe, head of market for Cycling Weekly and MBR said: “Britain’s Best Bike Shops is a really important campaign for Time Inc. and one I am extremely proud to be involved with. Every meeting I go to there is always a conversation on how IBDs are facing challenging times. With the heritage of Cycling Weekly I thought it was important for us to help support the industry and help drive footfall into local shops, this is where the idea first came.

“I am really pleased we are getting this campaign off the ground and delighted to have three partners in Leyzyne, Muc-off and Bikezaar, who also share our drive to support bike shops. This proves to be a really exciting campaign and we urge local IBDs to drum up support to get their vote.”

Bike shops are invited to campaign among their own customers and are encouraged to give customers a bit more background about their businesses on social media channels leading up to the September winner’s announcement.

The publisher has now set up a page with a downloadable flyer and digital banner to help stores promote to customers. The hashtag #bbbs2017 will be used across social channels to promote the competition.

Voting opens on June 28th.