In a very short period of time, companies like VeloFix and Beeline Bikes have been driving (pun!) a new kind of business in our industry by bringing a complete service department to your front door. VeloFix is taking it one step further by partnering with multiple bike brands to bring you your new bike as well. With VeloFix DIRECT, consumers will be able to purchase a bike and not have to hassle with the un-packaging, assembly, adjustments and fit.
Check out why this could be a bigger game changer than you think, as well as where it falls short and may not be for everybody…
There has been a constant struggle within the industry, especially in brick and mortar bike shops, trying to adapt their business model now that the consumer is making all of the calls as to how and where they buy. With unprecedented global access (compared to primarily depending on their local bike shop for all their needs pre-internet), customers want convenience. And that means clicking rather than leaving home or office to make a purchase. That is now a fairly simple task to accomplish with parts and accessories, however complete bikes is another story.
We are aware that this service may not apply to many of our greatly appreciated audience here at Bikerumor, who are highly tech savvy and can assemble an internally cable routed tri-machine with their eyes closed while eating a protein bar. However, when you consider the greater majority of the bike buying population that don’t wrench on bikes all the time, things change drastically. Even when bike buyers have their own tools, the best instructional videos aren’t good enough for some, but the much BIGGER part to all of this is that the general consumer just doesn’t want to do it. They want to click and have a “ready to ride” bike appear at their doorstep, and VeloFix DIRECT will do just that.
“E-commerce and the expectations from consumers for a direct model are forcing change in the Bike industry. Today all bicycle manufacturers need to have a dependable and efficient last-mile delivery program in place. The single biggest challenge to fulfill customers expectations for a direct sales model in the bike industry is the need for the bikes to be assembled, fit and for a safety check to be performed”.