Rockets and Rascals introduces pay monthly workshop scheme for cyclists
Plymouth’s Rockets and Rascals has introduced scheme for its customers where they can roll their bikes in for repairs as part of a 12 month service contract.
Aimed at the enthusiast and commuter customer, the Pro Service Plan is just one of owner Steve Toze’s ideas to put a spin on how a traditional bike retailer operates and serves its customer.
He told CyclingIndustry.News: “Innovating the way we do business is crucial to our survival and this has been on the agenda since I acquired the whole of the business 12 months ago. It’s been a rocky uphill climb for Rockets and Rascals over the past four years, however our hearts have been set on not only building a great brand, but also creating the best bicycle based environment in a city that we love.”
The Pro Service Plan draws inspiration from Toze’s other line of work – design. He explains: “We’ll be intrigued to see if it works. On paper it’s a great idea, from the consumer side it makes total sense, the cost is the equivalent of one major service per year, plus a few tune ups, but they get all year round cover and a raft of special extras. From the business side it helps us work customer retention levels and eventually I hope will provide a solid foundation to grow the workshop business.”
Two plans are available at £15 and £20 per month, the latter of which includes a monthly degrease, wash and fresh lubrication. Additional bikes are charged at +50% per bike. Parts, tubes, tyres and cables are obviously not included.
Since opening, the modest business has made a large impact in the region, organising the inaugural Trans Kernow event this year and becoming one of a handful of Cinelli flagship stores. The Barbican District-based store also boasts a great retail mix of both cycling and non-cycling products, as well as an expanding range of own brand product.
“I had to come to terms with the fact that retail is and will always be a brutal game. Not just through increased competition from other stores and online retail – but also with the fact that sometimes you literally haven’t got the products, the skills, or the prices to sell your own mates something. There’s been a wave of asking people to ‘support’ their local independent store but the fact of the matter is we shouldn’t need well-mannered support, we need to work hard, get customer feedback, data, innovation and decent product – and hopefully somewhere in there is a reasonable margin so I can take my kids on holiday.”
To take a look around Toze’s store you can check out the interactive Google tour here.