Comments on: Update on Commuter Station http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/01/05/update-on-commuter-station/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:00:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: siouxgeonz http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/01/05/update-on-commuter-station/comment-page-1/#comment-101986 siouxgeonz Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:21:38 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2985#comment-101986 So these are professionals purchasing the bicycles, then... it's the category of person buying it, not the activity, I suppose. (I would have categorized mountain biking, road biking, and doing triathlons as "recreational activities.") So these are professionals purchasing the bicycles, then… it’s the category of person buying it, not the activity, I suppose. (I would have categorized mountain biking, road biking, and doing triathlons as “recreational activities.”)

]]> By: Arleigh http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/01/05/update-on-commuter-station/comment-page-1/#comment-101982 Arleigh Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:29:43 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2985#comment-101982 Andy, Most shops in our area specialize in high end mountain, road or triathlon. About 1/4 of our store is dedicated to those types of bikes and 1/2 is towards recreational. Andy,

Most shops in our area specialize in high end mountain, road or triathlon. About 1/4 of our store is dedicated to those types of bikes and 1/2 is towards recreational.

]]> By: Andy http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/01/05/update-on-commuter-station/comment-page-1/#comment-101971 Andy Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:05:37 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2985#comment-101971 You write "[...] recreation. This means hybrids, commuters, comfort bikes". So, what kind of biking is non-recreational? Professional delivery services? You write “[...] recreation. This means hybrids, commuters, comfort bikes”. So, what kind of biking is non-recreational? Professional delivery services?

]]> By: Carl http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/01/05/update-on-commuter-station/comment-page-1/#comment-101851 Carl Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:01:47 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2985#comment-101851 I'm not a professional merchandiser, but as a consumer, I really prefer to look at the merchandise out of its packaging. For a bike accessory, I'd like to see it mounted on a real bike, or something close enough that I could imagine it on mine. For example, mount one of each light on a piece of tubing the same diameter as a handlebar and bolt it to the top of the display table, then hang the packaged goods under their display. Keep the batteries fresh so people can get some idea of relative brightness. Or have on of each bell out so people can ding them and compare. The one LBS I frequent most (and there are dozens to choose from in Portland) doesn't even bother putting a lot of stock on the floor. You just look at the examples mounted on real bikes and say "I want one of those". If necessary, they ask the appropriate questions to get you the right size or shape, and go get you one out of the stockroom. As a consumer, I have a lot more confidence that I am getting what I want and that it will work on my bike. I’m not a professional merchandiser, but as a consumer, I really prefer to look at the merchandise out of its packaging. For a bike accessory, I’d like to see it mounted on a real bike, or something close enough that I could imagine it on mine. For example, mount one of each light on a piece of tubing the same diameter as a handlebar and bolt it to the top of the display table, then hang the packaged goods under their display. Keep the batteries fresh so people can get some idea of relative brightness. Or have on of each bell out so people can ding them and compare.

The one LBS I frequent most (and there are dozens to choose from in Portland) doesn’t even bother putting a lot of stock on the floor. You just look at the examples mounted on real bikes and say “I want one of those”. If necessary, they ask the appropriate questions to get you the right size or shape, and go get you one out of the stockroom. As a consumer, I have a lot more confidence that I am getting what I want and that it will work on my bike.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/01/05/update-on-commuter-station/comment-page-1/#comment-101834 Ryan Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:18:08 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2985#comment-101834 Great looking shop, I love the headers for each section. I work at a shop here in MA and it could sorely use some nice classification of sections for our customers to be able to find things on their own if they are the independent customer type. Are you by any chance a Trek Concept store? Great job, keep it up! Great looking shop, I love the headers for each section. I work at a shop here in MA and it could sorely use some nice classification of sections for our customers to be able to find things on their own if they are the independent customer type. Are you by any chance a Trek Concept store?

Great job, keep it up!

]]> By: siouxgeonz http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/01/05/update-on-commuter-station/comment-page-1/#comment-101815 siouxgeonz Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:15:34 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2985#comment-101815 ... so fast bikes aren't for recreation? :D I like the insert to go with the bike idea. The map thing is a big one - our shop has an "escape map" that's very popular, and last year we had a bicycle commuting map made working with the League of Illinois Bicyclists. It's a good thing to have online so people can print their own, too, but unfortunately Indiana doesn't make that easy as Illinois does. Illinois has digital maps online that are easy to pull off and Do Things With (which I suppose I'd better do in case somebody decides that's a problem). … so fast bikes aren’t for recreation? :D
I like the insert to go with the bike idea.

The map thing is a big one – our shop has an “escape map” that’s very popular, and last year we had a bicycle commuting map made working with the League of Illinois Bicyclists. It’s a good thing to have online so people can print their own, too, but unfortunately Indiana doesn’t make that easy as Illinois does. Illinois has digital maps online that are easy to pull off and Do Things With (which I suppose I’d better do in case somebody decides that’s a problem).

]]> By: siouxgeonz http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/01/05/update-on-commuter-station/comment-page-1/#comment-101814 siouxgeonz Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:11:27 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2985#comment-101814 One of my co-workers has noted that the first several times she drove by the bike shop, she thought it was me, riding in the window, instead of the mannequin...we deque out much the same. One of my co-workers has noted that the first several times she drove by the bike shop, she thought it was me, riding in the window, instead of the mannequin…we deque out much the same.

]]> By: Juan http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/01/05/update-on-commuter-station/comment-page-1/#comment-101801 Juan Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:09:20 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2985#comment-101801 I don't think Peter would like to see me on my commute ;-) Cool looking shop!.....and I'm looking forward to the review of the Trek rack/bag system. I have an intergrated system from Topeak that also works with a button push, and I love it. I don’t think Peter would like to see me on my commute ;-)

Cool looking shop!…..and I’m looking forward to the review of the Trek rack/bag system. I have an intergrated system from Topeak that also works with a button push, and I love it.

]]> By: Peter http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/01/05/update-on-commuter-station/comment-page-1/#comment-101787 Peter Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:11:55 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2985#comment-101787 i would love to walk into a bike store and see a huge, beautiful overhead sign with a big picture of a bike commuter, no helmet, dressed normally, full commuter bike with full chainguard, just chillin on his or her way to work. i would love to walk into a bike store and see a huge, beautiful overhead sign with a big picture of a bike commuter, no helmet, dressed normally, full commuter bike with full chainguard, just chillin on his or her way to work.

]]> By: Shiny Flu http://www.commutebybike.com/2009/01/05/update-on-commuter-station/comment-page-1/#comment-101778 Shiny Flu Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:41:12 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=2985#comment-101778 Looking good. I like the idea of having some basic commuter-friendly parts in one spot. I know that as an LBS you try to sell service, but try a simple/basic printed out checklist that you can either handout or display near the product. I've made one and kept it pretty simple. We've got a bunch of them on the counter (with shop logo of course) and have been putting them in with the bike manual-books for each commuter-friendly bike (hybrids, flatbars etc.) and it's worked out pretty well with a lot of return business as many don't want to spend $500 on a bike plus $500 on accessories in the one day. Looking good.

I like the idea of having some basic commuter-friendly parts in one spot. I know that as an LBS you try to sell service, but try a simple/basic printed out checklist that you can either handout or display near the product.

I’ve made one and kept it pretty simple. We’ve got a bunch of them on the counter (with shop logo of course) and have been putting them in with the bike manual-books for each commuter-friendly bike (hybrids, flatbars etc.) and it’s worked out pretty well with a lot of return business as many don’t want to spend $500 on a bike plus $500 on accessories in the one day.

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