As it says
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
Edin Bike Co Op - creating jobs
(12 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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It is now planning to boost turnover to £20m and raise staffing levels from 160 to nearly 300 by 2017.
Posted 13 years ago # -
And to emphasise growth in the online side of the business. I've often wondered about that. I remember when EBC dotcom was first established in about 1995, and although it's improved since then, it has never appeared to be about much more than selling mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, road bikes, and clothes.
Online shopping with the likes of Evans and Wiggle and CRC and SJSC has meant that customers have come to expect every tiny little item to be visible and available alongside the bigger stuff. Hubs? Choose from 300 different kinds. Shoes? Guys and gals, we have a hundred kinds in every possible size. Headset bearings and spacers? Yup, we have them too, threaded and unthreaded, in a dozen sizes and thicknesses. EBC dotcom might have a couple of hubs for disc brakes, and most shoes by Specialized, and maybe Shimano, but not the ones you expect. Headsets are in short supply, but you have to visit in person to see if they have something offline and lurking in the cupboard. I expect EBC isn't going for that bicyclehypermarket model. But if you want anything non-componenty, like waterproofs, or shorts, or tights, biblongs, socks, gloves, mitts, cleats, helmets, lights, or rucksacks, or panniers, you can do it online as long as you know your size.
Posted 13 years ago # -
agreed. they could do with making a proper site
the EBC site isnt one I check regularly
I would say CRC is the one I check most often
also a proper reserve & collect system
EBCs at present is really a order online and have it sent to the store
I would like to be able to reserve the goods from shop stock, if availablePosted 13 years ago # -
I check the EBC site fairly regularly, but that's probably loyalty from buying MTBs from them in the 1990s. Also I'm in favour of the co-operative model. They are unique, they're not Wiggle, Chain Reaction or Evans. I'm the first to admit that I use Chain Reaction, SJS and CRC sites (and some others, eg. Practical Cycles) to find those
obscure components and accessories that neither my LBS nor EBC seem to stock.It's great news that they're doing well. I hope a few politicians read that story. We need more good news stories about cycling coming out of Scotland.
Posted 13 years ago # -
“The real opportunity is in places like London, Birmingham and Bristol."
http://www.bikebiz.com//news/read/edinburgh-bicycle-plans-to-acquire-more-bike-shops
Posted 13 years ago # -
Very interesting Scotsman article. Particularly these quotes:
A number of private equity players have recently entered the market, attracted by the growing fashion for cycling. Last month Bridgepoint paid £180m for Wiggle, while Cycle Surgery and Evans Cycles are also private equity-backed.
He hopes the business will develop along the same lines as the Co-operative Group’s food business, which nips at the heels of the big four food retailers.
“That’s an interesting model and something we would aspire to, especially in the shadow of these large powerful corporates that are coming along,” he said.Private Equity has not been good for other areas of retail (Focus DIY anyone?). An alternative, employee owned model is very progressive. It also gives the staff a real incentive for the business to succeed. What's more EBC is based in Edinburgh and successful. I look forward to seeing how they get on, and I really hope it will work out for them in the future.
If only they had a decent Audax bike in their product range (Next on the N+1 list).
Posted 13 years ago # -
Glasgow is so close and very into bicycling and the co-op but that leaves one word in the title of the firm.....
Posted 13 years ago # -
There was talk of Evans opening a shop here and this may still be going to happen and I think this publicity may be a shot over the bows saying don't bother we have it tied up, up here. Also EBC does not have branches in the south of England and those it does have in England are still considered int North...and frankly the likes of Evans have the SE of England sewn up, they are a really old family firm and have been going since the early 1920's. The brand name for EBC bikes is now Revolution and not Edinburgh so they could break into Glasgow, and be called the Bike Co-op. Great to hear that they are doing so well. However, as mentioned earlier they need to do something about their online shopping site, which is pretty poor for a firm of their supposed calibre and if this is where they are hoping to expand they need to pay the money for a decent web designer to sort it out.
As an aside another bike co-op is Brixton Cycles and their online shopping site is naff too.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Glasgow is so close and very into bicycling and the co-op but that leaves one word in the title of the firm..... Not a problem surely;-)
Edinburgh Woollen Mill has branches there and survives... The bikes are now Revolution brand too.
Things are changing rapidly though with even Amazon offering tandems and recumbents via associated shops. No Audax bikes yet but you never know...
Posted 13 years ago # -
Evans is no longer a family firm - since 2008 majority owned by private equity firm Active.
Then again, no different from much of the high st.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I suppose the Revolution Country Explorer could fit the bill. A bit heavy perhaps, but a lighter rack and minimal luggage would mean it could be up to the task.
Disc brakes though. Pluses and minuses there.
Very good deal just now on the lower spec, aluminium framed Revolution Country Traveller.
Tempting, but I already have kind of a touring bike in the Raleigh Pioneer Trail, albeit with old school component 'quirks'...
Dawes Clubman and Thorn audax type bikes very nice but not sure I can justify the outlay. Second hand bikes, when they appear, keep value quite well it seems. It would be nice to have a new bike... ;-)
Posted 13 years ago #
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