Simple one really, near me we have Merlin that seems to do well and also Buy-A-Bike, but I've only ever noticed one other small LBS that doesn't seem to do much. Are they a viable business when they're up against the might of the mail order companies or are they just a labour of love to the owners?

what about the roadie ones Ribble and Paul Hewitt qalso local.
I suspect the either service a niche market or labour of love. My mates dad has a shop and he specialises in high end stuff for roadies and mtb and relies on them needing bikes repaired upgrading yearly and staying loyal. He is just seeing itout to retirement really. Cant compete price wise mid to bottom end on price.

One of thos though we want evrything cheap and local but it will be one or the other sadly
How was the alps?

I suspect [although I have no evidence] that the commuter/general cycling market is quite strong & profitable

What do you mean by 'much money'?

There are some very profitable LBS out there and there are some that seem to be run by people who are happy making enough to pay for their hobby.

Alps was much fun, nothing broken this time:) Will tell you all about it next time I see you……….my internal organs are arching sice I've been back, I think threy're missing the regular red wine.

Keep thinking about a change of career and ideallly want it to be something I'm actually interested in – I suppose when I say much money, I mean just a reasonable standard of living – not talking multi-millionaire but wouldn't want to be living hand to mouth struggling to pay the suppliers each month.

Ex-shop managers will know the answer to the OP's question.

I imagine, for most its peaks and troughs that keeps them in the business.

Sadly, one shop was doing soo well that they opened a second. Meanwhile in the honeymoon period of the new shop (still getting known/established), sales at the original store suddenly dried up. Net result- business closed 🙁

It will probably amount to noithing, but owning and running a bike shop does appeal to me greatly, I just struggle to see how they compete with the big online shops – for the record Merolin is my LBS but I don't think they're a typical case.

Went into an Evans in the weekend – they were heaving.

A good LBS will have an extremely busy workshop, this is key to turning a profit. Knowledge and customer service are prime in competing with on-line retailers. Make the customer feel they have been given the best levels of these and make them feel warm inside about the whole experience. That counts for a lot.

MisterP – my thoughts exactly

I just struggle to see how they compete with the big online shops

You're looking at it from a specialist point of view – most cyclists have never heard of CRC or Wiggle – Halfords is the bread & butter competition

aye, the Murchilago is being valeted as i type this.

Murcielago. I had to nip out and check the badge on mine for the spelling 😆

Very true uplink. You won't make a lot if your target market is the type of folk who come on here.

A local bikeshop to me. They are booked weeks in advance assembling new bikes in the workshop. Come winter though they can see you at a minutes notice.

Maybe thats where they are going wrong? Churning out cheap (low margin?), low end bikes to Summer punters and not balancing out with relationship building come the winter months can be a problem? Then again, the summer months/new low end bikes is probably business you wouldnt want to turn down!

well I set up a shop a few years ago and its been growing ever since, and its hard, but rewarding, we held our first race at the weekend and its a lot of fun at times.
just beware that the distributors and suppliers are totally shit in the UK.
I am looking to get products elsewhere as they either sell all their stock to the big internet companies and leave you with back orders that can take months to fulfill making you look like a tit and the customer then more detemined to stick to online ordering or they dont carry sufficient spares to fulfil warranty work, but the job is cool and its not going to make you a millionaire.
but get a good local scene going, sort local rides and do a good job of fixing bikes, and dont worry too much about the internet forums as the guys on here are the minority not the rule.
your average biker hasnt heard of singletrackworld, bikemagic, bikeradar etc.

and dont worry too much about the internet forums as the guys on here are the minority not the rule.
your average biker hasnt heard of singletrackworld, bikemagic, bikeradar etc.

Rather than knee-jerk and get angry thats probably quite true.