Bicycle shops ‘losing trade’

Press, 7 September 1981, Page 5

Bicycle shops ‘losing trade’

Bicycle shops in Christchurch were having their trade undercut by competitors who were cashing in on a fading boom in sales of 10speed bicycles, the president of the Master Cycle Traders’ Federation, Mr Pi M. Bennett, has said. The glut of bicycles in the market after the bicycle boom of 1979-80 meant that a large range, of bicycles was available to any' retailers wishing to sell them. Some big chains of retail shops were cashing ir. on the trade. A move by service stations to sell bicycles was also worrying the federation.

Mr Bennett said, “We can offer the repair and back-up service that they cannot.’’ He believed that the trend for chain stores and service stations to sell bicycles would be short-lived. Christchurch bicycle retailers said that the demand for 10-speed bicycles seemed to be dropping. A spokesman for Morrison Industries in Hastings said their rate of production of 10-speed bicycles had not dropped. They were making about as many bicycles now. as during the boom of two years ago.