Marketing.

[LEBC Tom]

So far this morning I've had 4 drivers pull over and come in asking more about e-bikes, what do other dealers do to encourage potential customers to come into their shop?

 

[jazper53]

Its Funny, but the time I am least likely to use my bike is to be at rush hour as that is when I feel most vulnerable on the roads these days.

 

[LEBC Tom]

I should have elaborated, outside my shop 3 times a day (sometimes more) for around an hour each time the traffic builds up leading up to Kingston Bridge, seemed like a good opportunity to get drivers staring at my windows thinking about an alternative form of transport.

 

[Hero Eco]

I should have elaborated, outside my shop 3 times a day (sometimes more) for around an hour each time the traffic builds up leading up to Kingston Bridge, seemed like a good opportunity to get drivers staring at my windows thinking about an alternative form of transport.

Great, proactive attitude Tom! I think its always important to sell the concept on fun too! Good luck with it, keep up the good work!

 

[Streethawk]

Why not put a sign in your window "If you had an electric bike, you wouldn't be sat in this traffic, burning expensive fuel. Come in for a chat."

 

[Electrifying Cycles]

A flash bike always works well. Something that catches the eye when people are in traffic

 

[cwah]

I would think about friendly way to initiate people to ebike.

Maybe start some service such as:
- Propose ebike to rent?
- Create some ebike tour for tourist? London is full of tourist. Initiate an ebike tour day for 15GBP/person? And sell next to that gadget, sandwich, etc...
- Organise free ebike initiation day?
- Organise ebike workshop day for free diagnostic??
- Create something similar to the hackerspace (member can fix their bike on their own for monthly membership)?
- Create offer such as ebike for 1GBP/day? In france we have that (Vélo électrique à moins d'un euro par jour)

THere are many many ideas to test if you have time

 

[ghouluk]

I'd suggest all you dealers and manufacturers give out bikes for free to people who've done more than 2517 miles since May

in return, i'd tell everyone that they should buy one!

(the only flaw in this genius piece of marketing strategy is that i already do tell everyone to buy one....)
(and yes in case you're wondering, thats why i have a marketing director )

In all seriousness though, the problem with ebike uptake is that the bikes are too expensive to simply take a punt, so you're looking for someone who has made the decision to spend some serious money on a bike AND who hasn't taken that decision on the basis of simply enjoying cycling and wanting to get serious about the area they enjoy.

I'm surprised no one leases ebikes to commuters to be honest, if you could make it <50% of the price of the tube/rail pass, i reckon you'd get people taking a chance - which is how cycling grows, people buy cheap bikes, then upgrade.....

of course you didn't ask me the question, but i always like to do anything i can on a Friday to avoid the work i should be doing.

I do think you are doing one unique thing right, which is holding stock of bikes to sell, so many of the bike shops i visited didn't have sales stock, only test stock, and as such, they lost my instant sale potential....it won't help with the thinking researching buyer, but for impulse purchasers like me, when i found a shop that had bikes that both me and the misses liked and could take home the same day - i blew my budget to the tune of 250% similarly when the bikes i wanted weren't in stock or available to buy, i continued to test ride and went elsewhere.

Its fascinating to me that the two shops that seem to understand this are owned by manufacturers but don't just stock their own brands. (obviously i haven't been everywhere, but i must have visited about 15 shops on my travels and testing)

 

[Streethawk]

Agreed on the stock part, people really want to walk in and ride out. You can do that in a normal bike shop, the expect to be able to do that in an ebike shop too.