How to open a shop for bicycles and scooters

You have decided to start your own business and have decided to open a shop for bicycles and scooters. Your idea is not bad at all, as long as you know not only how to open the store, but also how to make it successful.

How to open a shop for bicycles and scooters

Preparation of a business plan

You need this plan to know what funds you have and how to allocate them so that you can open the store more easily and without surprises.

The parts that your business plan should include are two:

Financial part

In this section, enter the financial resources you have to start your business. In a separate column, describe and calculate all the initial costs you need to make before opening the store.

Marketing part

In the "marketing" section of the business plan, describe how you plan to reach the target group you are targeting. Decide how and where you will advertise to promote your store and attract the interest of buyers.

Company registration

In order to be able to work and offer your product completely legally, you must have a registered company. Before registration you must choose a type of company and follow the registration steps.

Choosing a room for a shop

To attract the interest of children and parents to their products, the room you rent should be a communicative place and close to places that children like to visit. Therefore, you should take enough time to look at the rental space available in your city.

Separate from them all the rooms that are far from the urban traffic, away from schools, kindergartens and playgrounds. Remove from your list and premises that are located near large or specialty stores that offer bicycles and scooters.

Decide what range of goods you will offer

When determining the brands and models of bicycles and scooters, it is important to look in advance at what the competition has to offer and to be ready to offer your customers something more and different. Whatever you decide, to stand out from the competition, however, it is important to be able to provide your customers with the most sought after models and brands.

Your store should have models of bicycles and scooters that meet the demand of different age groups:

Bicycles for the little ones (with a tire size of 12 inches)

These size wheels are designed for children aged 2 to 4 years and are available in two versions - with auxiliary wheels or as balance wheels. Bicycles for the little ones are most often bought, so try to have a variety of colors and brands.

Preferred brands of bicycles with size 12 by Bulgarian consumers:

• Zizito
• Mamatoyz
• Kinder Kraft
• First Bike and others

Wheels for older children (sizes 14, 16 and 18)

These bikes are designed for children from 4 to 8 years, come with lightweight frames and a number of additional extras that are very popular with children.

Bought and sought after bicycles with sizes 14, 16 and 18:

• JOUAUTO
• Zizito
• BYOX
• SCOTT
• Mamatoyz and others

Bicycles for teens (size 20)

These size bikes are among the most sought after and bought by parents, as they are designed for children who already ride confidently and want a "more serious" and more opportunities bike. The size 20 bikes are available in several different models - hybrid, mountain and BMX .

The brands that Bulgarian buyers most often choose:

• Zizito
• DinoBikes
• JOUAUTO
• BYOX
• SCOTT and others

As for scooters, it is good to have a variety of models in your store for all ages. Usually parents start looking for scooters for their children after the little ones are 2 years old.

Suitable scooters for this age group are either with two wheels at the front and one at the rear or vice versa - with one wheel at the front and two at the rear. To be calm, it is good to equip your store with both models so that you can respond to the wishes of children and parents immediately.

Popular brands of scooters for the little ones, sought after by domestic users:

• Amaya
• Zizito
• Micro
• Spartan
• Worker

Be sure to fill your store with scooters for older children aged 3 - 5 and 5 - 7 years, because they are also in great demand and bought by parents. This type of scooters is very popular with children who already ride confidently and love not only to compete, but also to do different tricks with scooters.

Popular brands and models of scooters for children from 3 to 7 years:

• Razor
• Globber
• Zizito
• Amaya
• Micro

Concluding a contract with a wholesaler

To withstand the competition, your store must always be well stocked. And to do this, it is good to stop at a wholesaler who can offer you the latest models and brands of products to sell in the store.

The benefits of working with a wholesaler are not limited to this. If you regularly buy goods from it, you will not have to keep a lot of goods in stock, you will always have the latest models and brands of bicycles and scooters in your store and you will buy them at great discounts.

Equipment and layout of the store

The product you offer is specific, so you need to pay special attention to the layout of the store. You must have enough shelves on which to display at least a few models of bicycles and scooters of one brand. Do not overload the shelves so as not to repel customers, but also do not leave them empty, because this will have a negative effect.

When arranging the store, use the classic shopping trick that is used in all physical stores. Place the most expensive models at the front and at eye level, and the cheapest on the lowest or highest shelf.

Place suitable accessories near the different models of bicycles or scooters:

• Helmets
• Knee pads
• Water bottles
• Baskets
• Gloves
• Other optional accessories.

Pay special attention to the design of the window. Use all your creative skill to show your customers that you offer the most sought after and desired models of wheels and scooters.

Determining the price range

The prices at which to offer the products largely depend on the location of your store and the models and brands of bicycles and scooters that you want to offer. For example, if you want to sell high-end bikes and expensive brands and models and you want to buy them, you need to open your store in a neighborhood where families with above-average incomes live. And vice versa. If you want to sell affordable brands and models, then your store will be successful in neighborhoods where middle-income or lower-income families live.

Additional services

To stand out from other stores selling this type of product, you must be willing to offer some additional services.

You can offer one of the following additional attractive services:

• Coupons with 10 or 20% discount for next shopping within the month.
• Subscription card
• Sale of parts and accessories (spare tires, accessories, etc.).
• Warranty service
• Out-of-warranty repair of bicycles and scooters

Marketing and Advertising

Don't compromise on advertising at all, because it determines whether your store will become popular or not. Fortunately, we live in a digital world, so you can start advertising yourself first. Create store pages on all social networks and advertise your products through them.

Write in a release (press release) and send it to the local media or contact the local TV to make a short paid report for your store. A good marketing and advertising technique to increase sales is to make regular discounts on certain models and brands, to organize competitions with prizes or to sponsor children's bicycle race.