Bike shop

[MidnightMike]

Motogb at the mount has a nice highend look/feel and good service.
A cafe would be cool, depends if peeps will use it regular.....if its like the Ace Cafe in London it'd be awesome. Cafe would have to be open weekends though.
Dyno is always handy as long as its cheap enough, and you have someone good to set it up.
Service and friendly staff who are genuinely interested....

I agree, moto gb are a great place, how about little electric bikes for the bikers kids who come in? Just a suggsetion. And a sausage sizzle every day too.

[Lou Girardin]

I think all up friendly and prompt service would be good. But don't be nice to people who are rude and obnoxious (sp).

Hear this Finn? I'm not going to be nice to you any more.

[Lou Girardin]

I almost forgot, everything at cost for cops.
(Does this count as bribery?)

[XP@]

You can get something of everything in nz, but you don't have much choice.

Your shop would not stock the run of the mill gear, but instead Hein-Gericke, touratech, and the other decent euro brands.

[rok-the-boat]

Personally, I don't like boutique bike shops with sales clerks in suits. However, I do recognise there is a market for such - just look at the modern Harley dealership. So for me, I would like a bike shop to look like the grimy insides of an old engineering workshop, with real salt of the earth people wearing oily overalls that have no time for you because they are working on a bike.

[Paul in NZ]

Mate...

Stuff the bike shop, open up something like this..

http://www.ace-cafe-london.com/

[T.W.R]

Designing a shop that essentially has a Boutique Euro flavour to it won't appeal to the masses (it's a niche' market). Sure the exotic eye-candy appeals to peoples tastes but in reality only the minority can enjoy such things.
Check the diversity of Motorcycles that KB members have, we're a fairly good representation of the NZ motorcycling population and the European marques are in the minority.
The solid core of the business should be based on a consistant product.

An atmosphere that appeals to a variety of customers is hard to build & only time and understanding gets the balance right. Staff that deal with specific areas instead of bluffing their knowledge base on products.
Mechanics who actually aren't just trapped in a vortex of machines only a couple of years old or current and don't go running for the backdoor if a bikes over 5yrs old.
A mobile workshop can be a helpful tool sometimes too, for both the customer & the shop.

[Skytwr]

Parking Parking and More Parking.

A place for your riding gear would be nice, but overall a bloody good website with the prices of the gear and or specials.

But overall good service, I do not care about the price so oftern now as the service from the staff. Not being treated like a lepper casuse my bike is not the lastest or the fastest model on the road.

I have used Motohaus in Morningside and received bloody good service and a great deal on the price.

[Kendog]

I agree, moto gb are a great place, how about little electric bikes for the bikers kids who come in? Just a suggsetion. And a sausage sizzle every day too.

That's a great idea, maybe something for the wives who don't ride too. My hubby hates going anywhere near an outlet shop/underwear shop/Ezibuy, and always says if they put like a golf shop or computer gaming shop next door they'd get women who are allowed to shop longer and men who don't have to louter(sp) outside. (Ever been past Bendon outlet store in Otaki, tons of men milling about outside!)
Mrs KD

[igor]

get sales staff that are motorcyclists as well not just sales staff.

theres nothing more that pisses me off than a salesman that doesn't know what the feck he is talking about, cause all he is a salesman, and his hobbies are oragami and cross sitch

i am not asking for the world here but its not hard to have a little basic knowledge of hat ya selling.

ya ask him a basic question and ah I will have to get back to ya.

and bums on bikes sells bikes. give im a test ride and they may buy it. some salesman just cause ya from outatown and pop in to look at a bike say no. for fuck sae i didnot ride all this way just to have a look at it, i may buy it ya feckin moron.

um i don't know a lot about this model, well fuck off and sell shoelaces then ya MORON

i think i have made my point

[Morepower]

Free beer

[mdb]

Decent coffee (i.e. hire a GOOD barista)
Decent gear (i.e. don't stock crap that isn't up to the safety standards)
Servicing & WOF's that you don't have to book 3 weeks in advance for

[gav]

OK, heres a few ideas, have you read a book by a bloke named Carl Sewell (I think?) called Customer for Life, or something. He's the guy that owns the biggest Cadillac dealership in the States. He now does motovational speakeing for car dealers etc. Anyway, try and apply as much of this to your business as possible, its all about trying to build loyalty into your customer base.
The thing with a bike shop is generally most people who work in a shop are enthusiasts themselves, they all tend to ride and/or race, trying to find staff who want to work weekends can be tough going.
Have faith in the staff you employ and back them up. Nothing worse than having your boss undermind you in front of a customer. Let them learn from their mistakes if need be. Everyone always wants to deal with the boss all the time, be prepared to delegate and only get involved as a last resort. Nothing pisses off say the workshop service manager or parts manager more than when customers go straight to the boss when somethings not right without first being given the chance to put anything wrong right. ie Be prepared to try and have staff resolve issue before getting involved. Sometimes you have to but try not to put down staff as a result, just causes poor morale etc.
Employ staff with a great personality, sure they are hard to find, employ some chicks, yeah yeah, nothing like a bit of eye candy, but make sure they know what they are talking about or have enough good customer service skills to follow up anything. If they say they'll get back to the customer with a quote etc, make sure its carried out. Have staff that can cover each other, so if Parts man Jim is off to lunch or on holiday other people can carry out job smoothly, ideal too if looking at being open seven days.
You'll get drop kicks in for sure, kinda suprised that someone wanting to buy a brand new Honda wouldnt think of going to a Honda shop , if you were looking at buying a new Ford Falcon would you walk into a Toyota
dealer?
All the best and remember you gotta have fun doing what youre doing but it can seriously grind ya down. Most "bikers" are tight buggers, they all think they should get retail for their trade in and buy their new bike at dealer cost!

[Madness]

There are two bike shops within 500mtrs from my house (lucky aye?).

Shop A is where I bought my Zed (the second love of my life) and very little since.

Shop B is where I shop for parts and accessories, get my servicing and (sssh!) repairs done. I ride with the guys from shop B on a semi-regular basis. I do not haggle as much as I should over price etc. I am happy to spend what little I have left from my pay packet with them without question.

The difference??

The people. That's all.

[Edbear]

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?

Pick me! I'll work for a measly $100k! (Plus company vehicle..)