Bike shop

[Freakshow]

One other thing that was annoying is stay open late one maybe two nights a week so that those who work 9-5 can drop bikes off and pick them up.

[Badcat]

1 - BIKE PICKUP AND DELIVERY for service.
2 - open sat and sunday - with all knowledgable staff including workshop.
3 - good range of actual accessories (unlike motomails new ponsonby boutique)
4 - a high quality tool dealership - like snap-on or stahwille
5 - decent coffee and a meeting area - waiting room

and all the nice to haves, like big screen TV for the motoGP, etc etc.
wireless broadband near the coffee area...

[dawnrazor]

You asked mate.

How many dealers in NZ sell the more exclusive european brands? How many do they sell each year? Have you done the market research to see if there is room for another dealer shipping them, bearing in mind that Motomail sell MV as well?

You'd do better to run the core business on shit that you can shift in decent volumes.

Ferrari would be fucked if they weren't propped up by Fiat and Lamborghini's core business is tractors. Bit like Ducati I guess.

Agree with this, look at "Cuntinendtrail cars" in newmarket, what a bunch of wankers - you'd think they where selling something really worthwhile and special instead of overpriced cars AND a shed load of slightly overpriced european cars (which seem to be their core business).

I reckon there are enough places in Auckland (it is auckland your talking about setting up in) selling european bikes.

[SARGE]

im actually watching this thread myself.. might steal some of your ideas

[The_Dover]

hey Coleman's sells MV.. Motomail has them.. just dont sell them...

I know you sell them Mr MV man, I was under the impression that Motomail were or are going to be selling them too (some dude in the shop told me.)

My point was not just about the cost or sales volumes of the euro brands, it was as much about the "untouchable" aura that goes with places that focus on sales of premium brands.

Yer average greasy oik on a 250 isn't going to feel hugely comfortable in a place like that and probably wont stop by for all of the sundry spares and accessories he wants or needs.

A mainstream core with the exotica as a sideline, making it visible and accessable to Joe Average, would be a better approach IMHO, a la colemans.

But without the homos.

[Badcat]

A mainstream core with the exotica as a sideline, making it visible and accessable to Joe Average, would be a better approach IMHO, a la colemans.

But without the homos.

it wouldn't BE coleman's without the homos.

[SARGE]

it wouldn't BE coleman's without the homos.

hey @#%^ you all

most of you wish you were me anyway

all the homo's are FIXING your bikes..we only employ the BEST Seat Sniffers

[Rosie]

A couple of things I didn't see while skimming this thread:

Priority motorbike parking.

A decent area to leave your jacket, helmet etc while browsing. Moto GB have a really roomy accessories section, and a couple of chairs where you can leave your stuff while you are looking around.

Decent sized changing rooms. Not a broom closet sized afterthought, or a store room where you expect one of the mechanics to come in looking for a tyre at any moment.

[Badcat]

hey @#%^ you all

most of you wish you were me anyway

all the homo's are FIXING your bikes..

actually sarge - i didn't mean you, but now i know i'll be vigilant.

[Switch]

If its in Auckland, can i clean your floors so i can earn some money

[Lou Girardin]

According to what I've seen on here;
You need to serve customers instantly, unless they don't want to be served instantly. You won't be told this, you should know.
You should have demos of every bike on the market. Preferably in all colours so that they can check their look in shop windows on their three day test ride.
You should not have any profit margin.
You should allow everyone to try gear for at least two weeks before buying.
You will need to be open 24/7, in case someone needs a widget for the 1955
James at 3.00AM Sunday
You should have a cafe/drying room, plus a room for sex in case your staff (who are all Hooters graduates) are overcome with lust for the next spotty L plater who screams up in a cloud of flying engine parts.
Don't forget the cafe with the award winning Barrista. (Free cafe that is.)
Good Luck.
PS Gizza job?

PPS How are you going to squeeze the franchises out of existing dealers?

[WickedOne]

As far as I am concerned, the most important thing for a bike shop is the people. If you have got friendly and knowledgeable staff who are willing to take the time to spend with customers you will have loyal customers.

A nice range of accessories is always a drawcard but a shop with a "good personallity" where one feels welcome will come up trumps.

Good luck mate, all the best, looking forward to see what comes of this...

[The_Dover]

I think Lou is getting the idea.

[Lou Girardin]

I went to a shop and was wanting to that day buy a new Honda CB, I said do you have any and he said no we are not a Honda dealer and left it at that now i dont know the ins and outs of that but should he not have said
"we are not Honda Dealer but if you want to buy one from here i will get you one"
Extra mile great service

Yeah, I can just see Blue Wing selling a bike to a non-Honda dealer.
They don't even like multi-brand dealers.
I think you're asking for extra light-year service.

[Lou Girardin]

- AMPs and the new Motomail store in Auckland have a pretty good feel about them. I like the lounge look at AMPs but it's kind of hidden away and I don't feel like I could plomp my ass down for 10 minutes to watch the videos
- Buxom serving girls - who know stuff about bikes - okay, that could be hard to manage. Not many of them around.

You seem to manage Mousy.
And there's no way I'm getting implants and a nip/tuck for you.
Anyway, we have a hotty starting soon.