Local Bike Shop Day 2023 exceeded engagement expectations
Dame Sarah Storey and presenter Jeremy Vine were among the many who engaged with this year’s Local Bike Shop Day, which clocked up over 500,000 views on Twitter alone, with similar numbers on other social media platforms.
The initiative, designed to drive custom towards and raise awareness of independent bike retailers, didn’t require bike shops to formally register to take part, but instead to take advantage of the project and hashtag. This year’s event was sponsored by Cytech, the international training and accreditation scheme for bicycle technicians.
The day was supported by number cycling organisations and partners including the Department for Transport, which posted a video from the Bromley Bike Store, explaining why going into an actual store can be to your benefit when buying a bike. Others supporting included the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking (APPGCW), Members of Parliament around the country promoting bike shops in their constituencies, Cycling UK, Cytech, Freewheel, Love to Ride, Cyclehoop, Life Cycle and Bikeability among others.
In addition to cycling organisations, the day was promoted by several non-cycling organisations, including Small Business Saturday, Independents Day UK, and the Independent Retailers’ Confederation.
Organiser ACT (Association of Cycle Traders) has collected some stories from Local Bike Shop Day 2023:
On Instagram, Ipswich’s Elmy Cycles posted: “Wow, what a fantastic Local Bike Shop Day we had. Super busy with lots of happy customers, new bikes sold, bike fits, repairs done. Thank you to all our wonderful customers for your support.”
Ceredigion’s BikeWise & Run, which opened three months ago launched its new website on the day and offered free bike health checks and 10 per cent off everything in store, including bikes, parts, clothing and accessories.
Exmouth Cycles, an independent bike shop in Devon used Local Bike Shop Day to announce the opening of a new beach side shop offering hourly hire in Exmouth’s Sideshore Watersports Centre.
Pictured top is Graeme Ferguson of Lanark Cycles, a sole trader who started his business last year and offered some sale prices to celebrate Local Bike Shop Day.
Jonathan Harrison from the ACT said: “Local Bike Shop Day is one of the highlights of our year, it brings the cycling community together to recognise and promote the incredible service and character offered by the UK’s cycle traders.
“We would like to thank all the bike businesses, shoppers, cycling organisations, brands and our sponsors, Cytech, who got behind this year’s campaign – we hope they join us in celebrating and supporting the sector all year round.”
Cyclescheme also gifted six shops £150 worth of vouchers to treat themselves and their staff to a night out. The winners were RedSky Bikes in Thirsk; Saddle and Paddles in Exeter; Heyford Bike Service & Repair in Bicester; Laid Back Bikes in Edinburgh; Elmy Cycles in Ipswich, and Bicycle Links, a Social Enterprise bike shop in Norwich.
The ACT is expected to announce a date for Local Bike Shop Day 2024 in the early part of 2024.
https://localbikeshopday.co.uk/
