This unique research effort for bicycle shops represents the most up-to-date comparative financial performance information available anywhere. This study is designed to serve as an easy-to-understand tool for specialty bicycle retailers to evaluate their own company’s operating results in order to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses, and improvement opportunities.

In early 2024, the National Bicycle Dealers Association mailed a strictly confidential survey questionnaire to all NBDA member firms, as well as a random sample of non-member firms

The survey collected detailed financial and operating information from industry operators by sales revenue size, store type, geographic region, and number of locations.

The NBDA Cost of Doing Business Survey was compiled, tabulated, and prepared by Industry Insights, Inc., a professional research and consulting firm which specializes in industry operating surveys, compensation studies, educational programs, and customized research services. Completed surveys were returned in strictest confidence through early 2024, to Industry Insights, Inc. Bicycle retailing firms responded to the survey, providing completed and usable questionnaires to Industry Insights for processing. All company identification, if any, was removed from each questionnaire and only a confidential identification code remained. The data was then coded, keyed, and edited by Industry Insights’ financial analysts for validity. Computer processing was performed on all data to insure statistical validity and to produce the financial and operating ratios contained in this study.

Using this information, bicycle retailers can compare their own figures with other firms in their revenue category; with other single or multi-store operators; with stores of similar size; with stores of a particular geographic region, and with the high-profit firms (i.e., those in the upper 25% based on before-tax return on assets). Spotting significant differences between your own store’s performance and the industry composites can be the first step toward improving performance. However, deviations from industry norms do not automatically call for some action.

To use this report, determine which of the above data groups pertain to your operation so that you can compare your own store’s results to retailers that are comparable to your own. Be concerned only with those sections of the report that are relevant to your business.

Price: $399. NBDA members can receive a copy for $99 if first signed in. All reports delivered as a PDF file only. Retailers who submitted data will receive report direct from Industry Insights.

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Retailers were asked to rank E-bike system suppliers based on overall quality, satisfaction, training, brand recognition, attractiveness, service timing, warranty and support, maintenance, and batteries.

The clear standout from the survey was the Bosch E-bike system, which received top rankings across multiple categories. Bosch has been at the forefront of innovation in E-bike drive systems for over a decade, offering top performance, quality, and digital services that shape the future of E-bike mobility.

While Bosch emerged as the frontrunner, other notable system standouts included Shimano, Specialized Turbo, Giant Sync Drive, and Bafang.

A detailed analysis of the survey revealed several key insights:

• Bosch emerged as the clear favorite in overall quality, receiving five times more votes than other popular brands such as Shimano and Specialized Turbo.

• Bosch also led in terms of satisfaction, with Shimano following closely behind.

• Top performers in technical training included Bosch, Shimano, and Bafang.

• Consumer brand reputation favored Bosch, Giant Sync Drive, Specialized Turbo, Fazua, and Shimano.

• Service and warranty support were highly rated for Bosch, Shimano, Specialized Turbo, and Giant Sync Drive.

Additionally, comments from retailers emphasized the importance of warranty, support, and training provided by E-bike system suppliers, highlighting the central role of the Independent Bicycle Dealer (IBD) in the customer experience.

The post Electric Bike System Survey May 2024 appeared first on National Bicycle Dealers Association.

This is a valuable opportunity to find out if your employee training, physical location and processes are as seamless and successful from the customer perspective, as you mean it to be!

At purchase, please in the “Notes” section provide, the address you want shopped, including your phone number and URL.

After purchase, a member from the NBDA team will reach out to secure a time and other logistics for your secret shop visit.

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Many key aspects of bicycle retailers are covered in-depth, including the location and size of the store, product category mix, brands carried, business financials and performance, marketing, mobile bike services, technology, advocacy, and challenges in business.

Business confidence questions cover such areas such as supplier relations, protected market areas, mass merchants, and competition from the Internet and mass merchants.

The U.S. Specialty Bicycle Retail Study was conducted in the first quarter of 2023 and released in July 2023. A random sample of approximately 3,000 specialty bicycle retailers were invited to participate, and the study is based on 140 usable surveys. Too few responses were received from large multi-location bike shop owners to include them in the analysis so this survey serves to provide averages and the percentage distribution of mid-to-small bike shops representing the majority of owners.

The report is 48 pages long, including extensive charts and graphs. It is available only as a PDF file. The research was conducted by Human Powered Solutions for the NBDA.

Non-members may purchase the report for $199. Members of the NBDA may buy at the discounted price of $75. The NBDA is providing the report to its Retailer Members as a free membership benefit – Click Here and scroll to the bottom of the page to get your free copy.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
• Bicycle Retail Overview
• E-bikes
• Marketing and E-commerce
• Operational and Support Systems

The post Specialty Bicycle Retail Study 2023 appeared first on National Bicycle Dealers Association.

The National Bicycle Dealers Association, in partnership with Jay Townley, Human Powered Solutions, have released the NBDA US Bicycle Market Overview 2021 Report on the state of the US specialty bicycle retailer market.

“The information contained within this 95-page report is valuable to both retailers and suppliers alike. Historical data combined with emerging trends will help us as a collective industry best position ourselves forward,” commented NBDA President Heather Mason.

The US Bicycle Market Overview Report is a detailed overview of the bicycle market in the United States in 2021 compared to the last 21-year history, compiled and written by Jay Townley, Resident Futurist at Human Powered Solutions.

It includes information on imports, exports, the cycling population, participation in bicycle riding, cycling consumer research, bicycle riding and consumption per thousand population, e-bike consumers and market, reshoring, and future bike shops. The report is based on numerous individual studies and research reports, along with statistics from the U.S. Customs Department, as well as Delphi panels.

The report is the 22^nd chapter of a chronicle, a chronological record and history of the American bicycle business spanning the last twenty-one years that views 2019, the pre-pandemic period and the 2020 surge in consumer demand during the pandemic, in historical context that covers a fifty-seven-year history from 1965 to 2021 that includes the Bike Boom years of 1971 to 1974.

Jay Townley, Resident Futurist at Human Powered Solutions added, “The NBDA Consumer Research Study performed last year provided current data on the emerging ebike business and category in the American market and identified consumer preferences and future purchasing intentions. This research was used to guide an expanded chapter on the Rise of Electric Bicycles in the 2021 NBDA U.S. Bicycle Market Overview Report, which all will help guide marketing and sales strategy.”.

Retailers and other industry professionals can purchase a copy for $299 or free for NBDA members who are signed in.

In addition to the report, those who purchase the report have special access to a 3-part webinar series presented by Human Powered Solutions to take place on January 18, February 15, and March 29, 2023. These 45-minute presentations will dive deep into specific content, giving those who purchase the report an analysis from the author.

The post US Bicycle Market Report 2021 appeared first on National Bicycle Dealers Association.

This unique research effort for bicycle shops represents the most up-to-date comparative financial performance information available anywhere. This study is designed to serve as an easy-to-understand tool for specialty bicycle retailers to evaluate their own company’s operating results in order to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses, and improvement opportunities.

In early 2022, the National Bicycle Dealers Association mailed a strictly confidential survey questionnaire to all NBDA member firms, as well as a random sample of non-member firms

The survey collected detailed financial and operating information from industry operators by sales revenue size, store type, geographic region, and number of locations.

The NBDA Cost of Doing Business Survey was compiled, tabulated, and prepared by Industry Insights, Inc., a professional research and consulting firm which specializes in industry operating surveys, compensation studies, educational programs, and customized research services. Completed surveys were returned in strictest confidence through early 2022, to Industry Insights, Inc. Bicycle retailing firms responded to the survey, providing completed and usable questionnaires to Industry Insights for processing. All company identification, if any, was removed from each questionnaire and only a confidential identification code remained. The data was then coded, keyed, and edited by Industry Insights’ financial analysts for validity. Computer processing was performed on all data to insure statistical validity and to produce the financial and operating ratios contained in this study.

Using this information, bicycle retailers can compare their own figures with other firms in their revenue category; with other single or multi-store operators; with stores of similar size; with stores of a particular geographic region, and with the high-profit firms (i.e., those in the upper 25% based on before-tax return on assets). Spotting significant differences between your own store’s performance and the industry composites can be the first step toward improving performance. However, deviations from industry norms do not automatically call for some action.

To use this report, determine which of the above data groups pertain to your operation so that you can compare your own store’s results to retailers that are comparable to your own. Be concerned only with those sections of the report that are relevant to your business.

Price: $299. NBDA members can receive a copy for $99 if first signed in. All reports delivered as a PDF file only.

The post Cost of Doing Business Study 2022 appeared first on National Bicycle Dealers Association.

Key Study Highlights:

• What are the key cyclist segments in today’s market?
• How do these segments buy? How do they interact with IBDs?
• How have buying channels changed? What channels are the most important for each segment?
• How have bicycle buying habits changed?
• Will the changes be long term?
• How can we take advantage of the changes?
• Is the new cyclist segment significant? How big is it? What is the long-term potential?
• What are the most important buying factors in each segment?
• How does my brand perform in each segment?
• What messages resonate with each segment? How do I reach them?

Purchase of the report includes access to a four-part Educational Series hosted by the NBDA, HPS and SMS.

The NBDA teamed up with Keith Storey, President of Sports Marketing Surveys and Brad Hughes, Managing Director of Human Powered Solutions to execute this project.

The post NBDA Bicycle Buying 2021 – Consumer Research Study of Pandemic Bicycle and Ebike Buying Habits appeared first on National Bicycle Dealers Association.

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The report is the 21^st chapter of a chronicle, a chronological record and history of the American bicycle business spanning the last twenty-one years that views 2019, the pre-pandemic period, and the 2020 surge in consumer demand during the pandemic, in a historical context that covers a fifty-six-year history from 1965 to 2020 that includes the Bike Boom years of 1971 to 1974.  Bike Shops need to review the whole report to understand the vitally important role their channel of trade has played in the bicycle business that is about to emerge into the post-pandemic era, and suppliers need to review this report to understand the history that has shaped the future they are about to experience.

To capture emerging and ongoing trends, the report draws upon a variety of data sources including US government agencies and bicycle industry organizations.

1. Why Retailers Need This Report: Bike Shops need to review the whole report to understand the vitally important role their channel of trade has played in the bicycle business that is about to emerge into the post-pandemic era.  While all the chapters will be helpful in crafting and adjusting business and strategic planning, the last four should be particularly helpful to bike shops.
   • How Best Used: (1) Read through the whole Report; (2) Determine which chapters and data sets will be most helpful for business and strategic planning; (3) Carefully study the last four chapters for suggested business strategies.
   • Key Takeaways: (1) Write down your most important findings from the 2020 Report; (2) Commit to your own business plan with financial benchmarks and Key Performance Indicators; (3) If you are not already a member, join the NBDA; (4) Join an NBDA P2 Group.
2. Why Suppliers Need This Report: Suppliers need to understand the statistical history of the American Bicycle Business and the important trend lines emerging from twenty-one years of chronological data that includes the disruptive pre-pandemic and chaotic surge in consumer demand during the pandemic.  There are also valuable insights into the vitally important Bike Shop channel of trade.
   • How Best Used: (1) Read through the whole Report; (2) Determine which chapters and data sets will be most helpful for business and strategic planning.
   • Key Takeaways: (1) Write down your most important findings from the 2020 Report; (2) Commit to your own business plan with financial benchmarks and Key Performance Indicators; (3) If you are not already a member, join the NBDA as an Associate Member.

In addition to the report, those who purchase the report have special access to an 8-part webinar series presented by Human Powered Solutions beginning June 2021 and lasting through September 2021. These 45-minute presentations will dive deep into specific content- giving those who review the report an expert-delivered analysis of the material.

In addition to the webinar series Jay Townley will present on the US Bicycle Market Overview 2020 Report at select trade shows in the fall of 2021; Big Gear Show and all CABDA shows (Midwest, West, and East).

The post US Bicycle Market Report 2020 appeared first on National Bicycle Dealers Association.