Thursday, 28 March 2024
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Local Bike Shop day countdown begins – here’s how to get involved

Local Bike Shop Day, as organised by the Association of Cycle Traders, will return on September 5th, with shops interested in taking part urged to now familiarise with what’s on offer and how to maximise their impact with the event.

With the revised dates aligning the event with the return to school, this year’s event will have a particular focus on developing cycling for transport to and from places of education.

Secondary to that mission, Local Bike Shop Day will also seek to retain the momentum that has thus far surged through the global cycling business, leading in many cases to shortages of product.

“So far, 2020 has seen the use of bicycles reach an all-time high, with data showing that cycling levels during lockdown rose by up to 300%. Let’s show these new cyclists that there are endless reasons to continue cycling throughout autumn,” encouraged marketing director at the ACT Jonathan Harrison.

To participate, retailers can now get signed up and download materials to assist in the promotion of the event to customers and the creation of ideas to drive footfall. The first few hundred stores to sign up will also be sent a physical promotion pack with promotional posters, door stickers and flyers.

“Local Bike Shop Day provides an opportunity for independent shops to be saying equip yourself for commuting, equip yourself for leisure cycling, ensure your bikes are properly serviced and maintained and get the accessories you need,” adds Harrison.

“With something as important as a bike, it’s really important to buy based on quality and to do so from an independent cycle shop that can provide the specialist knowledge and advice that a mainstream retailer cannot.”

Those registered will appear on the ACT’s interactive map of participating retailers, found here.

The event also coincides with the Government-backed Bike Repair Vouchers scheme, which is keeping already busy workshops topped up with new footfall. Demand thus far has been strong, with the website overloaded in the first few hours of an initial batch being released to the public. Thus far the majority of participants have been unimpressed with the scheme with late payment, lack of communication and alleged red tape getting in the way of prompt payment for services carried out.