Bike retailer Evans Cycles in talks with lenders as chain struggles http://news.sky.com/story/bike-retailer-evans-cycles-in-talks-with-lenders-as-chain-struggles-11492689
Parent company of Mavic and Enve are reportedly putting them both up for sale too.
I think Rapha are in the poo too. They have had loads more sales this year and their stuff has been on SportPursuit. I returned something almost 2 weeks ago which I had ordered in the sale to exchange for a smaller size and have still yet to receive a replacement or refund as they are struggling to cope and currently working outside their 5 day timescale. I think the market has dropped out of the high end expensive clothing as there are no new customers and existing customers don't need continual new stuff. They are probably also annoying their existing customers by continually selling their stuff off cheap in sales.
Over expansion and PE ownership?
Whodathunkit, eh?
Evans? Massive stock, massive overheads? Lots of prime locations?
Be one of the first to feel the pinch in a market contraction though.
Just ordered a Bell Super DH on back order from Evans as well. Bother. Still, paid on CC and at least I don't work there.
So who is making money in the cycling industry these days? Doesn't seem to be many
So who is making money in the cycling industry these days? Doesn’t seem to be many
Wiggle? Though it reminds me of the old civils bidding where everyone is willing to screw everyone for the loss leading job that will make them rich forever.
Arse. Ordered a Hope District from them. It's due in next week, hopefully it'll turn up.
Crap for the staff. Cycling hasn't converted into the new golf has it?
<span style="display: inline !important; float: none; background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.4px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I think Rapha are in the poo too</span>
Redundancies according to Telegraph Business
It’s a shame for staff, but I’ve always wondered if they were too physical to compete with CRC on price and too corporate to compete with proper LBS for service and that warm fuzzy feeling.
It’s a pretty old-school business model I guess, the Currys of the bike world.
Pinnacle in house bikes are brilliant, so hope they survive. Always had good dealings with Evans albeit all online based, not been to a shop of theirs (none local).
No kidding. I couldn’t believe when they opened up in Cardiff. Their location is really awkward yet expensive, and they did so in a city with a number of well-used, well-established LBSes.
i always wondered how they managed, and suspected that they would find themselves in trouble for having overexpanded.
Well the Bristol branch was open and trading this afternoon when I dropped in to pick up an order. They do seem to have a lot of offers coming through in email at the moment.
it'd be crap fro everyone affected if things do go awry but I doubt anyone’s current orders are at risk.
You'd have thought that the industry would have done quite well out of the weather this Summer, but I guess it might have only just served to prelong the inevitable of a general trend on the high street and cycling retail.
You’d have thought that the industry would have done quite well out of the weather this Summer
Evans have been doing trade in, discounts, price match I think(?), and hold shit loads of stock, the number of bikes in there is ridiculous some days, come march this year most were on a serious reduction.
Next up there has been a downturn in discretionary spending these days
The retail sector as a whole is rather suppressed right now going by what my customers at work are saying. People aren't really spending money on non-essentials right now. Evans have got the double whammy of price matching the likes of CRC but also having to pay for shops in pretty expensive places. Their click and collect service is great though.
Agreed on the Cardiff branch being in a really odd place, most people don't know it's even there! For those not local it's underneath a NCP car park and the only visible sign it's there is an Evans sign beside a few bus stops. Very little passing trade too as it's the 'dead' end of Queen St away from most other big shops too. Add in a large amount of established good LBSs and you have a poor situation for them.
Cycling hasn’t converted into the new golf has it?
They don't change the size of golf balls every two years. 1991 was the last new standard iirc. Still got a few of the smaller ones in the garage. Longer off the tee. Useful when money is involved. 🙂
Evans on Deansgate is staffed by knowledgable cyclists and is a pleasure to use. Many other branches, not so much.
Better spend the voucher i've got.
And yet there's a new bike shop opening up next to Evans in Gateshead... ironically in what used to be Maplins.
I was in that branch last week to get some shorts and was surprised how much bike stock they had on the floor. Clearly a big push on e-bikes as well.
They don’t change the size of golf balls every two years. 1991 was the last new standard iirc.
No but you do need new clubs ever year, the golf put down for new riders is a bit dull though. Growth in sales has shows things work but at the moment bigger factors are at play for people's money in the UK.
According to bike biz Rapha made a lot of staff redundant lately, Evans seems to have lost a lot of staff as well, and not much choice in bike brands either, compared to how they used to be.
Perhaps a merger with Halfords bike branded shops and a cull of surplus shops is on the cards as a way out ,
I quite like evans, click & collect is great & prices are competitive, staff are usually quite helpful
however there are probably 5 stores within a 5km radius of my work, which seems bonkers, really
Agreed on the Cardiff branch being in a really odd place, most people don’t know it’s even there! For those not local it’s underneath a NCP car park and the only visible sign it’s there is an Evans sign beside a few bus stops. Very little passing trade too as it’s the ‘dead’ end of Queen St away from most other big shops too. Add in a large amount of established good LBSs and you have a poor situation for them.
snap Leeds - no idea how to quote on this shit forum anymore
Rapha might do a bit better if they had stuff in stock at their flagship London store rather than coming out with we're waiting for new lines and flogging off lightweight summer tops at the end of August
No but you do need new clubs ever year
Not true. I've some blades from the 90's that are just as as newer irons.
Putters change every year, makes no difference.
Bigger woods are easier to use, but that's about it.
the golf put down for new riders is a bit dull though.
Accurate though. 🙂
Growth in sales has shows things work....
Which things and how do they work?
I like Evans, always good for a price match, and the fact I can use Tesco vouchers always makes it feel like a bargain.
I seem to be in the Evans dead spot between York and Durham though. The staff in the Durham store have always been great when I've been in.
I got quite tempted to buy a Pinnacle Arkose so many times, but being between sizes, I wanted to test ride first... Yet the nearest store to Southampton until Easter(?) this year was Basingstoke, now it's Havant, but still a bit of a bind to get to without a car.
I like Evans, always good for a price match, and the fact I can use Tesco vouchers always makes it feel like a bargain.
both of which are probably not good for long term business
Not true. I’ve some blades from the 90’s that are just as as newer irons.
Yeah but marketing says....
See the difference there? The bike you ride gets no worse each year, never any need to replace.
Which things?
The UK is in an interesting financial position at the moment in the middle of huge uncertainty that at it's very definition would impact discretionary spending.
Apparently post takeover, Rapha are on a mission to ''educate the customer to pay full price' 🙂
I wish them luck.
Apparently post takeover, Rapha are on a mission to ”educate the customer to pay full price’
3 for the price of 2 in the outlet store was full enough price for me 😉 Great stuff though, my first choice in road gear from the wardrobe at the moment.
Yet the nearest store to Southampton until Easter(?) this year was Basingstoke
To open in the Stoke instead of Southampton or that other place with the Skates is a very odd decision.
I didn't even know there was one in the Stoke!
See the difference there? The bike you ride gets no worse each year, never any need to replace.
New bikes are better, according to most people. Not so much with clubs. And new grips fit old clubs. No need to upgrade, unless fashion.
The UK is in an interesting financial position at the moment in the middle of huge uncertainty that at it’s very definition would impact discretionary spending.
Yes, I know. But you said..
Growth in sales has shows things work….
Which things have worked to increase bike sales?
British success and increased positive media coverage seem to be the drivers (sorry).
Which other things do you think have 'worked' in that context?
Which things have worked to increase bike sales?
The world bike market has grown over the last few years, it's been growing but there have been some contractions, UK economic situation is a massive thing though Growth I refer to has been pre brexit
Sorry Mike, I don't understand.
Growth in sales has shows things work but at the moment bigger factors are at play for people’s money in the UK.
Which things do you think have worked to increase the growth in cycling?
The one in Reading is in the town center, right by the big shopping center multi storey. But the wrong side of a big ring road roundabout. Even cycling into town its on the wrong side of the road.
Considering its my 2nd closest bike shop (Rotec Cycles are closer) I've been in twice in the 5 years its been there.
It's become more popular, I don't have the sales figures to hand but it's been a little boom, slide and calm sort of profile The demographic of who is buying is more interesting and high end from what I've seen is holding, maybe the middle is slowing a bit.
Based on talking to people selling bikes and bits.
Only had two dealings with Evans (many years ago) and they were awful both times.
The demographic of who is buying is more interesting and high end from what I’ve seen is holding, maybe the middle is slowing a bit.
Hence the golf comparison being accurate. 🙂
In my experience, cycling has been adopted wholesale by the middle classes.
I meet more working/upper class folks on bikes, but the vast majority of newbies over the last decade or so have come from the cash rich, time poor middle classes. Ex golfers, if you will.
Would be great to see some actual figures, but that seems to be the case in my experience.
snap Leeds
Really, the Leeds one gets thousands of people a day passing to and from the train station and is right in the centre, perfect for a quick browse of a lunch time and accidental spending!! Couldn't get a much better location.
Fair enough you probably can't test a bike in among the taxis, but I bet they sell shed loads of random bits and for click and collect stuff it's perfect.
Hence the golf comparison being accurate.
In my experience, cycling has been adopted wholesale by the middle classes.
And the real question is what does class have to do with cycling?
One of the best things about climbing is where 2 people can sit on a ledge and talk without mentioning jobs, money or class. Maybe that is the world I came from but some bike riders need to take a look at themselves.
Eh?
You brought up demographics.
It was a genuine observation without malice!
I don't care who I go riding with. Two research chemists, a nurse, a care worker and a lab assistant on our last ride.
Similarly our Mountaineering club has everyone from bus drivers and postmen to life and hereditary peers. Everyone gets on.
I'm interested in what has driven the growth in cycling and why.
Yes, the demographic has changed. Why?
Ahh that’s shite for Evans.
reckon I’ve spent a grand at least with them since they stopped advertising in the mail during the stop funding hate campaign.
Dunno how wiggle/chain reaction keep going with their stock overheads? Anyone ever checked out the wiggle eBay store? The amount of returned/shop soiled stock they churn out is unbelievable
Oh man! I do hope not. The plymouth store is in a slightly odd location but does have parking. The are staff are enthusiastic knowledgeable pleasant people and have become my go to LBS as a result. Brought 2 bikes, loads of parts and servicing from them. Always been super helpful. I wish them all the best and hope the staff are ok
I hope not too, my local Evans is a 10 minute walk away and some of their online deals which you can order to store are the cheapest place to get stuff. OK, they never have a good stock of bikes, but for general stuff mine are pretty good. The other local shop in my town is abysmal by comparison.
Feel sorry for them, every time I walk in half the staff are really friendly / helpful, while the other half are pretty useless. It's a nice brand and believe there is still potential in the business as long as it remains impossible to get a service or test ride without visiting a shop.
As an outsider it looks like bad leadership, both internally and from their PE owners from the perspective that they don't appear to be passionate bikers and don't understand the needs of their customers / changing market.
If I was in charge I would:
Fire the bad 50% of staff. The ones that don't even know their DMR Vault or Magic Mary (or road equiv) and look on blank faced / confused rather than just looking it up on Google or their computer. To counter the bad I've also had great experiences where staff would recommend decent trails and dial in my suspension really well.
Double down and train the workshop staff properly - if you run a workshop you really should be able to bleed some hydraulic brakes properly and service forks. Even with their limitations the workshops always seem overbooked.
Partner with Canyon and YT for initial setup and 1st services, maybe even rent them some floorspace for display / demo models and handle warranty shipping (if it doesn't erode margin). No need to actually sell them but it's not like they are going anywhere. I don't see them eating into their road, own brand low-mid spec mtb/hybrid, or high end sales from the likes of Santa Cruz. I wonder how many £3-5k Trek / Spec End/DH bikes they actually sell?
Relocate all the stores two streets back, or maybe a little more to save on rent (even my nan can use google maps to search for a bike shop these days).
Stock decent items in-store. Every store sells bad pedals, multitools, co2 pumps rather than the highest rated. Not sure if the loss in sales volume wipes out the margin.
Become a TK Maxx for sales of last season / off colour clothing from higher end brands like Rapha. Let Rapha focus on making coffee in their own shops 🙂
Anyone else got any ideas to help save them? If only Wiggle survive in a few years I imagine their prices will rise pretty fast.
What's the Wiggle eBay store name?
