Best Buy has made a good decision betting on the future of the electric bike but certain things have to happen for them to win both short and long-term.
In the short-term a spike in gas prices or a “new worsening” in the broader economy could increase the sale of low-end e-bikes. In the long-term and if they expect to sell more e-bikes and high-end models, they will have to follow the lead of Trek and others in campaigning for an overhaul in the attitudes of the American consumer with regard to the bicycle as a convenient and comfortable form of transportation.
The majority of Americans still can’t comprehend commuting by bike. They just don’t see a bike as a means of getting from point A to point B. But get them to ride an e-bike and the mind and heart begin to open up to the possibility.
If Best Buy and others can convince enough prospective buyers that bicycles aren’t just for exercise anymore then their early bet on the future of the electric bike may pay big dividends.
The Largest All Electric Bike Shop to Open in San Dimas, CA, Dec. 17
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009The Largest All Electric Bike Shop to Open in San Dimas, CA, Dec. 17
There is a ton of investment money now coming into the e-bike market. This store is about to be the biggest physical location dedicated to offering e-bikes. It appears most of the bikes are straight off the boat from China and there may not be a lot of value added but the fact that the store is opening at all goes to show that the investment community sees green(and I don’t mean environmentalist green) in e-bikes.
This is a good thing for the electric bike market in general. After all a rising tide lifts all boats. There are many smaller e-bike only shops that have opened in the past year and there are a few that have been revolutionary and have been around for years. As more store like the one in this article begin to open and hopefully prove they can be a viable business, even in a poor economy, hopefully those pioneer businesses will begin to gain some popularity too.
This should be a clear sign for the local bike shop owner. I don’t care how pure your shop is and how opposed you are to opening your business to electric bicycle products, if you don’t grab the opportunity that e-bikes present you are going to be missing out. E-Bikes are going to gain in popularity and use. Anyone that has ridden one knows the benefits that come with an electric assisted bike. Local bike shops looking for increased revenues should stay open minded when it comes to electric bikes.
Although the higher quality e-bikes are expensive there is an alternative in the e-bike conversion system. With an e-bike conversion product local bike shops can offer their customers an affordable alternative to owning an e-bike. This saves your customers’ money and it give the local bike shop two opportunities to increase revenues. Not only will the shop make 40% or so on the sale of the kit but they will also be able to charge for the conversion service. And by performing the conversion they can guarantee their customers have a positive e-bike experience.
The investment is coming and the opportunities are great. Are you ready?
Tags: e-bike business, e-bike investment, electric bike investment
Posted in E-Bike Insight & Opinion, E-Bike News, E-BikeKit Blog, News Commentary | Comments Off