Two of the more common questions, especially from stores that are new to the Workstand platform, are ‘what are the keys to selling more?’ and ‘what are the really successful stores doing to grow?’. Generally speaking, a shop needs to have four elements to generate revenue.  These four elements work together, and missing just one can kill growth.

1. Products that are in demand - Shops need to have products that customers are searching for.  That can be 'the next cool gadget', the hot color way of a bike or helmet, or simply the right size.  Supplier Sync items are great, but having products in stock will lead to more sales. I would encourage stores to have a strong representation of a brand instead of 4 headlights from 4 different brands. 
   1. Watch our recent inventory tips episode for more details on stocking and merchandising strategies and tactics
2. Competitive pricing -  To have competitive pricing doesn't necessarily mean to have to beat the lowest price on the market, but at least match the lowest price.  Online shoppers are inherently looking for deals, so by not being competitive, you are removing your shop from a sales opportunity. 
   1. Understand when/where you have pricing power and when you don’t 
3. Competitive shipping - Nobody wants to pay for shipping.  If your shipping rates are not competitive, especially for an item that can be generally purchased from 20 other shops, then you will most likely lose that opportunity. Shipping rates and rules can easily be changed, so take some risk and get a good feel of what works.
   1. Leverage Supplier Fulfillment
   2. Listen to the recent episode where we discuss shipping as a marketing tool
4. Google Ads - You can have the above 3 elements covered, but without ads, your products are less likely to be seen.  However, without all 3 elements mentioned above, your ads can be ineffective.  
5. Bonus - have all of the payment options for customers, Stripe/CCs, PayPal, Financing

Finally, don’t forget the basics. Merchandising matters in the store and on the website. Keep it updated, keep it fresh, keep it seasonally relevant. Most of all, keep it accurate. Provide clear calls to action, focus on providing value and actionable information to your customers/the customers you want.

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

Taking a moment to reframe some thinking that evolved negatively from brick and mortar processes, and that should be thought of as growth opportunities these days. Shipping costs aren't just a dead expense. They can be a tool for strategic growth and customer satisfaction.

Read more in this blog post

• Shipping Best Practices
  • Your shipping out expense should be considered a marketing expense, and not just a margin killer 
    • Similar to your in-store sales, which have a rent, utility, wages, and expenses, online sales will have their own expenses.
  • Utilize services such as Supplier Fulfillment
    • For a low, very reasonable cost, items can be picked, packaged, and shipped on your behalf directly to your customers’ doorsteps using Workstand's Supplier Fulfillment feature.
  • The mechanics of shipping
    • Bike Flights (save 5% from QBP’s Bike Flights Top Shop program) / Kitzuma 
    • Shippo
    • Recycle Packaging
    • Labeling

You can reach David at david.m@workstand.com!

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

Julie Walsh, Account Manager and Marketing Strategist from the Workstand Marketing Agency Team, joins the podcast to talk about successful strategies for sales success during the 2025 holiday season. Julie has also published a new blog post with even more details and additional resources to help you grow sales in a challenging and competitive market.

The high-level tips are:
1. Look through the eyes of your customers
If your homepage feels a little out of season, revamp your website for the holidays with a homepage takeover.

2. Make shopping easy
Shoppers prioritize convenience when purchasing online.

Simplify things by bundling content and scheduling it through the end of the year with pre-built content like Cyber Week, Holiday Sale, and Last-Minute Gifts.

3. Win local search campaigns
Corner your local cycling market with Google Ads. Shoppers often look to Google first for desirable products—get your inventory at the top of search results so it’s always top of mind.

4. Stay top of mind on all channels
Staying connected with your customers is key to keeping them engaged through the holidays and into the new year.

Don’t forget the power of traditional mail, too. Sending a physical holiday postcard or flyer to your customer list adds a personal, memorable touch that stands out in a digital-heavy season.

5. "Set and forget” customer communication
When you don’t have time to plan out email campaigns, you can still keep in touch with customers by sending out automated emails after they’ve made a purchase with Workstand IQ Loyalty.

6. Leave it to us
There are plenty of ways you can take the pressure off, we have everything you need to get your site ready for the busy season.

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

Key Accounts Advisor, David Martinez, works with Workstand merchants to improve many aspects of in-store and online sales execution to grow sales while increasing margin. Inventory management is an important part of David's work with bike shops.

As we’ve brought on more dealers to the Digital Advisor Services program, some trends have emerged, offering useful tips for other stores. Obvious, you say? If they are obvious to you, that’s great, but they come up often enough that we think they are worth covering. What may not be obvious is that we’re talking about both in-store and online sales. 

• Curating your product assortment
  • Listen and learn from  your customers, staff, and community
    • What are customers asking for that you don’t have?
      • Bonus tip: Supplier Sync as an indicator of interest
    • Products your staff actually use - Your staff will enjoy selling items they actually use
    • Consider ancillary products - Are you in a beach town and do lots of rentals?  Offer beverages, towels, sunscreen, etc.
  • Curate around your brand/focused categories (MTB, road, e-bike, family) - it’s easy to be a roadie store that also sells MTB and not take the extra step for what isn’t your primary focus, but it matters
    • MTB’ers need gloves, helmets, tires, sealant, and colored pedals
    • Roadies love nutrition, sunglasses, and computers
    • E-bikes: mirrors, bells, baskets, battery chargers, phone mounts
    • Family: fun helmets, bells, horns, burley trailers, 
  • Buying is important, but sell-through is what matters most
    • Monitor your aged inventory and strategize a plan for markdowns
    • Take notes on what is working and what’s not working.  Don’t make the same mistakes season after season.  
      • How many different brands of black shorts/bibs do you need?
    • Does your assortment/levels align with your floorspace
      • Maintain as little backstock 
        • Minimizes shrinkage, theft, and aged inventory
      • How many of ‘X’ fit on a hook on your floor

Bonus Topic

• 2nd tier e-bike brands
  • The market is FLOODED with these brands.  
  • Margins can look attractive, but brand recognition is low, so you and your staff really need to believe in the product
    • Online sales can be difficult because of low brand awareness
  • Service parts can be difficult to get, causing a bad customer experience

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

It's time again to review the data and metrics from the Workstand platform and talk about what we can learn from sales across our platform. 

• August Workstand platform metrics
  • Ecommerce sales saw another month of double-digit growth on Workstand. 
  • Online order volume was the strongest it’s been all year, with a YOY increase of 8%, with 20,459 orders being the highest volume of any month this year. 
  • Sessions saw another month of decline at -11% (assumed from AI search adoption), but revenue per session remains strong at +24%. 
  • For the first time since February, the typical dealer did not show growth. Instead, platform growth was driven by high-volume sellers. 
  • We don’t like to see that number because our typical dealer tends to be predictive of the overall market numbers we’ll see from PFB within the coming weeks. 
  • We don’t see any changes in category sales trends that I’ve commented on over the last several months.
• Google search data
  • Online research for “best bike” at 2022 levels
  • By that measure, demand might be stabilizing, even if unit and dollar sales volume overall, as measured by People For Bikes, is still down, a promising sign
  • Searches containing “bike shop” continue multi-year decline
  • We’re talking 2005 levels!
  • That doesn’t mean bike shops can’t thrive, but you need to connect with customers in a more modern way
  • You have to win Google searches for products! You NEED ecommerce. 
  • There will be no “return to normal” in this metric. Retail has changed.
  • This is an alarm bell metric that bike shops need to adapt to if they want to meet the consumer demand that’s recovering

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

Matt Lolli came to Workstand after a long career working in successful bike shops. Matt works with brands and suppliers who want to use Workstand technology and services to support local bike shops in growing sales and better serve their customers.

Here’s a high-level overview of Brand & Supplier services that we’ll be discussing in detail later in the episode. 

• Why do brands and suppliers choose to engage with us? 
• What is in it for merchants? 

Catalog Enrichment

• Cornerstone of our service - adds products to the Workstand library
• Reduces work for dealers - allows them to devote more time to what they’re good at
• Free for brands & suppliers

Price Integrity

• Updates your pricing (MAP + MSRP) across our ecosystem with a single file upload to correct accidental pricing violations 

Supplier Sync

• Allows dealers to display an expanded inventory assortment they don’t have room to stock, or are sold out of, that is available in a supplier’s warehouse. 

Supplier Fulfillment

• Allows dealers to capture sales transactions online and pass the fulfillment process to their suppliers.
• Suppliers get more sales activity out of their existing network of dealers, and by leveraging their logistical excellence, get products into the hands of customers faster & more efficiently.

Buy Local Now

• Product location integration that connects ready-to-buy consumers on a brand’s consumer-facing website with stocking dealers nearby.
• Retailers need not be a subscribing hosted dealer to be included in the search results (Free BLN Accounts) 

Buy Local Now PRO

• We offer brands a twice daily report that shares dealer’s stocking levels down to the SKU level (QOH).

 Partner Pages

• Workstand can build marketing campaigns using a brand’s assets to promote and amplify product launch, national campaign style sales, evergreen brand pages, and more.

Wrap up

• How can brands and suppliers get involved? Email matt.l@workstand.com
• What should individual merchants do if they work with a brand that isn’t working with us yet but should be? Tell the brands to reach out to Matt!

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

Ryan has again been on the move. Visiting Workstand team members and merchants in Oregon recently. He'll be here in Colorado soon!

• July Platform metrics
  • Total online sales last month showed a recovery from the slowing trend of May and June, which was a likely hangover from the pre-tariff burst in March and April. 
  • Total order volume and units sold were relatively flat, but higher average order value drove results. 
  • Higher prices on mountain bikes had the largest impact based on volume and higher price points. 
  • It’s hard to isolate whether import taxes and inflation impacted this number, but more apparent in children’s bikes. 
  • Unit sales for children’s bikes were down 31%, and prices were up 34%. Sport Performance road continues the strong performance for the year. 
  • Overall site traffic continues to be down, but add to cart and conversion rates remain high. This combination is possibly due to increased zero click search behavior, and a higher percentage of traffic intent on buying. 
  • Merchants across categories are growing online, not just high volume sellers. 
  • Ecommerce sales across the board outperforming in-store sales in the IBD channel could play into our favor in selling websites for the remainder of the year.
• May Total IBD Retail Sales Results 
  • Total bike industry retail sales (including mass merchants) was down 3.3% in May.
  • Prices are increasing at mass merchant retailers more than at independent bike dealers, but it’s still too early to tell the effects of tariffs on bike prices. 
  • The report highlights that sales in most categories peaked in March, with sales softening in April and May. 
  • But shop services have remained relatively steady and electric bikes have remained in the positive growth category.  
• Policy
  • De minimis exemption eliminated
  • Import taxes “more permanent”
    • If this policy does stay in place, then several countries the bicycle industry relies on for production are heavily impacted
    • The administration also announced it is raising tariffs on Canada to 35%, 
    • China was exempted for the moment, the temporary agreement with China was set to expire but the exemption was extended
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics data concerns
    • Political involvement in firing the head, nominated a partisan for the role
    • Need reliable data for business decisions, very concerning

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

Mark is joined this week by Matt Viara, leader of the Workstand paid Google ads team. What are paid ads? How do we help bike shops participate in paid Google programs? What are the costs and benefits? We talk about all of that!

We give a high-level overview of our paid ads programs and touch on the 4 offerings that we’ll discuss in detail during the episode.

• Why Local and Full Service?
• What is product vs awareness?
• Why do we differentiate in that way?

With that groundwork in place, we’ll move to explaining each program and who should consider them.

Deeper explanation of each program:

• Local Awareness 
  • Help local consumers find you via the most popular general search terms. Great for connecting with local people who don’t have a preferred shop
  • Get top map pack placement via sponsored ads in search results
• Local Product + Local Feed
  • Show people close by that you have the products they are looking for in stock in store
• Product
  • The best way to jump start your ecommerce
  • Target regionally or nationally
• Awareness
  • On top of local Search Ads we can also get the word out about seasonal content, sales, events via Display (image) and YouTube video ads

FAQ:

• Costs of the different programs?
• Are there any setup fees?
• How are budgets determined?
• How long are retailers committed to the program?
• How do we set expectations for results? Dollars, sales growth, timelines?
• How personalized are these programs for a specific retailer?
• How do we deal with serving multiple Workstand merchants in the same market?

You can reach Matt Viara at matt.v@workstand.com or read more about all of these programs.

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

Boulder visit

• Doggy happy hour
• Coffee
• Bike ride
• PFB let me work from their office

Upcoming BRAIN article about scheduling software

• Service Appointment Scheduling feature (drop off)
• WorkstandIQ staff scheduling

NBDA State of the Industry webinar reinforces our value

• The recent National Bicycle Dealers Association hosted a webinar with expert guests, with a lot of time spent talking about what successful retail looks like. 
• Turns out our company perfectly matches their recommendations. 
• Speakers were adamant about the need for merchants to have an ecommerce presence.
• You can find the recording on the NBDA YouTube channel.

June Platform Sales Results

• High single digit growth in June, but also continues the downward trend from March/April results of over 25% growth.
• Isolating our “typical dealer”, which removes top performers, June online sales were slightly down. I really want clients to work on getting their website aligned with best practices and engaged with our marketing services like Google Ads. 
• Platform traffic was down significantly in June, but conversion rate, average order value, and revenue per session were up.
• Only a handful of analog bicycle categories showed growth; gravel, full suspension MTB, and BMX. 
• Electric bikes were up in every category
• Helmets and shoes did very well for the month. Helmets are good signals for overall ridership and shoes signal enthusiast riders needing more performance.

April Total IBD Retail Sales Results

• PeopleForBikes released total April sales results showing the total IBD sales (in-store and online reported by Circana) was virtually flat with 2024. 
• The top line sales results were positively impacted by very strong service department sales, +11% for the month. 
• Top bicycle categories continue to be throttle assist electric bikes for transit, leisure, mountain, and cargo. Class 3 electric road bikes are showing solid growth too. 
• Gravel and hardtail mountain bikes showed the best growth in the analog category. 
• BMX bike unit sales were +8% continuing a promising trend largely influenced by younger riders
• Children’s bike unit sales were up slightly overall

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

Ryan and Mark discuss results from May, with a quick note on the strong March and April numbers that we didn't get to talk about due to Ryan's many travels when we'd normally record an Around the Workstand episode.

We mention this recent episode with our Key Accounts Advisor, David Martinez, and the Digital Advisor Service he's offering Workstand clients

NBDA Summit recap

• A good number of supplier attendees
• Solid presentations
• Don’t know about the May date, stores are busy, but the meeting is valuable
• Finally get Bentonville, so much going on there
• NBDA Summits are great, try to make a 2026 event

May results

• Online sales in May were +17.5%, with order volume +21.5%. 
• Promising sign for the health of the market and online sales at bike shops
• Bike sales did, however, decline in dollars and units, with electric, road, mountain, and BMX showing growth but offset by declines in other categories. 
• I’m still speculating that the early peak of bicycle sales in March and April was driven in large part by consumers attempting to beat tariffs, but new product releases and popularity in the growth categories are also contributors. 
• Overall platform growth is coming across the board from parts, accessories, and apparel. 
• Those are good indicators that people are riding bikes and engaging with cycling. 
• On the whole, the results are outperforming my expectations
• That being said, I don't hear a lot of positives about YTD results when I talk with clients
• Online sales are a bright spot, but in many parts of the country, foot traffic and total sales are down

U.S. Bicycle Production and Assembly Act

• Legislation introduced in Congress this week would eliminate tariffs on components used to assemble complete bikes in the U.S.
• Goal is to create hubs as a step toward frame manufacturing
• Chris Cocalis founded Pivot Cycles and Charlie Cooper with PFB at BLC

Celebrating Pride Month and we'll be close for Juneteenth, but will have an on-call team for support. So, response times may be a bit slower than normal, but still reach out if you need help.

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

The idea of leveraging catalog-enabled websites and ecommerce to grow sales beyond a retailer's home market is one of the main reasons Workstand has so many bike shops using our platform. In addition to the website platform, Workstand's marketing agency team helps more than 400 stores manage their digital presence and promote their store locally and nationally. As our Key Accounts Advisor, David Martinez wraps all of that technology and marketing know-how up and combines it with his years of experience in successful bike shops to add in-store processes, strategic buying and inventory management, and professional presentation of all aspects of a purchase to elevate local bike shops as effective commerce merchants. Most people think selling online is all about price, but David has proven repeatedly that it is more about high-level execution in buying, inventory management, and customer experience that allows any store to sell more and grow faster.

We talk about all of that in this episode of Around the Workstand and encourage all stores to reach out to David at david.m@workstand.com to learn more and enroll in our Digital Advisor Service.

https://workstand.com/bike-shop-marketing
https://marketing.smartetailing.net/products/email-automations-pg197.htm
https://marketing.smartetailing.net/products/google-ads-pg182.htm
https://marketing.smartetailing.net/products/email-marketing-pg207.htm
https://marketing.smartetailing.net/products/premium-content-packages-pg101.htm
https://workstand.com/bike-shop-performance

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

Ryan Atkinson has continued his travels and brings us the latest in how brands, suppliers, and merchants in bicycle retail are feeling during some uncertain times. There are bright spots and some optimism, particularly among retailers. 

Themes from industry events

1. Bicycle Leadership Conference (suppliers)
2. NBDA Retailer Summit (both) - join the Midwest event in Bentonville in May
3. CABDA West (both)

• Uncertainty among suppliers, optimism with dealers
• Tariff confusion and frustration
• Throttle electric bikes
• Used and pre-owned
• Tap into health/beauty, active lifestyle, prioritize health
• Profitability
• Ecommerce

March online sales performance

• US sales +9% and orders +7%
• CA sales -18% and orders -32% (sporting goods generally -6.9%)
• Dollar growth was fueled by road and mountain bikes, plus the surprise performance of comfort and commuter bikes. Electric bikes had a surprising slump.
• CA non-essential discretionary down, calls from concerned clients
• US consumers getting ahead of tariffs

Cyclingnews article on DeMinimis (Ryan’s rant)

• Bummed how they characterized Bob Margevicius’ testimony
• Bob is a VP for Specialized
• He’s an exceptional representative for our industry on trade issues
• Nobody knows EU, Asian, and US manufacturing/trade as well
• Tireless contributor and just awarded PFB lifetime achievement award
• Author conflated legitimate tariff frustration with DeMinimis
• DeMinimus exemption increased to $800 in 2016
• PFB has lobbied for change since
• Reason for so much cheap product disrupting IBD market
• Cheap D2C electric bikes, cheap helmets and lights on Temu, etc
• Unsafe for consumers, erodes value proposition for retailers, takes away high margin retail sales
• I want to encourage listeners not to spread click bait rumors just because they think the headline gets attention

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

In this episode, we delve into the intricacies of conducting successful promotions, a pivotal segment in our ongoing year-long marketing program aimed at empowering businesses. We focus on strategies that not only help retailers remain competitive but also enhance customer engagement, particularly as we approach the prime spring sale season. Our discussion emphasizes that promotions extend beyond discounts; they can also include introducing new products or spotlighting significant changes within a business.

https://blog.workstand.com/successful-sales

We start by laying a strong foundation: your website serves as the digital storefront that consumers first interact with. We stress the importance of ensuring your website is user-friendly and accurately reflects any promotional efforts you undertake. This includes maintaining consistency between online pricing and in-store prices to avoid alienating customers. Customers today are well-informed and intermediaries like your website often form their first impression, so we highlight the necessity of making it easy for them to find information and navigate through promotional content.

Emphasizing the logistics of running a promotion, we tackle essential operational aspects such as point-of-sale (POS) system synchronization, which ensures consistency across platforms. Details like enabling shopping cart functionality for in-store pick-ups and offering financing options through partners like Klarna and PayPal allow businesses to provide a seamless shopping experience that can significantly impact conversions.

As we transition from logistics to aesthetics, we explain the need for a compelling homepage hero image that reflects the current promotion—a focal point to capture attention upon entry to the website. We reminisce about the importance of keeping content relevant and up-to-date, ensuring that promotional messaging resonates with seasonal themes. 

When it comes to actual outreach, we prioritize email as one of the most cost-effective methods to notify customers of promotions. Social media plays a complementary role, providing a platform for sharing specific products, staff picks, and engaging visuals that build excitement. We also cover paid advertising strategies, including Google Shopping ads and the use of YouTube ads, which can be powerful tools to reach wider audiences and drive targeted traffic during promotional periods.

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

Ryan is back with us after some travel, but he's not done yet! There are a few more trade shows and industry gatherings on the horizon, and he'll be presenting at most of them. We talk about those shows and the state of the bicycle industry, and the vibe and attitude of the dealers Ryan is meeting at shows like CABDA.

• CABDA Midwest
  • Split, dealers looking to diversity with ecommerce growth
  • Dealers looking for foot traffic
  • Universal interest in Google advertising
  • Lot of POS conversations
  • Lot of praise for our customer service team 
• Seminars for CABDA and with suppliers like Specialized, QBP, and J&B
• CABDA West
  • Day early for the NBDA retailer summit
  • Heather and her team host important conversations
  • 2 days of CABDA connecting with largely western dealers
  • Vibe from Chicago was optimistic
  • Hoping for the same thing
• Bicycle Leadership Conference next week
  • PeopleForBikes
  • Senior management from suppliers
  • Weighty topics like finance, forecasting, and government policy
  • Sustainability, ridership, and health benefits of cycling
  • On a panel discussion reviewing 2024 data and looking ahead
  • Real discussions will happen off the stage
  • Expect to learn a lot about sentiment and expectations
• Online sales
  • Last year online sales on Workstand outpaced the overall IBD space
  • 2025 is off to a good start
  • Up 7% through the end of February
  • Largely driven by twice as many electric bikes sold online YTD
  • Site traffic is -12% suggesting a drop in shopping activity
  • Electric bikes are driving up average order size and revenue per session
  • Make sure you’re actively marketing your electric bikes online
  • Consumers are buying
• Optimism for the spring
  • Overall economy and consumers are uncertain
  • Bike shops on the whole are running business lean
  • Gotta keep energy levels up to keep staff motivated
  • Be ready to be busy
  • Do the work to get busy
  • Ramp up marketing to get foot traffic and try to get some momentum
  • Lean into the categories that are moving
    • Electric bikes
      • Class 2
      • Class 3 road and mountain
    • Aluminum drop bar bikes
  • Market your service department starting now

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

We continue our series on marketing your business for sales growth in-store and online in 2025 with tips on website and marketing setups that make shopping your online store easier and reduce purchase friction,

For more details, check out our latest blog post - https://blog.workstand.com/make-shopping-easy

• Design - minimal clutter, accessibility 
• Make it easy for shoppers to find what they are looking for
  • Search function
  • Navigation - minimal clicks, don’t bury the shop button, organization
  • Distinct calls to action - send shoppers to intuitive links where they can purchase the item your suggesting
  • Single page checkout - new enhancement 
• Follow up and post purchase communications
  • The purchase journey does not end when they complete their purchase on your website - think of this as just the first step in their next purchase with you
  • Communicate clear fulfillment expectations
• Leverage your website to keep them coming back
  • Keep fresh content up so return visitors see something new
  • WorkstandIQ Loyalty - automated, transactional emails

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

Around the Workstand Daily - we are often asked about training and our How To videos are the most viewed videos we produce so Around the Workstand Daily hopes to address frequent, short, videos to help our clients learn important features and do so more efficiently than the production work that goes into a more planned video. So, they won’t be perfect sometimes but they’ll help those who would rather watch a video than read a help center article. Here's our Around the Workstand Daily playlist on YouTube.

Ryan and Brian are at CABDA - visit them at booth #815

What’s working best for Workstand retailers? 

• Google ads
• Supplier sync and direct fulfillment
• Premium themes - great way to set yourself apart and create a consistent style for your website and marketing

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

Today is the first episode of a series for 2025 focused on helping bicycle shops effectively market and grow their businesses. We’ve always talked about marketing on the show however, we saw in 2024 that merchants who proactively promoted their businesses, the ones who engaged with the tools available to make their stores more visible to shoppers, those stores had impressive wins while business owners who took a passive or underresourced approach lost ground and saw shrinking sales year over year. As the head of our Google Ads Team, Matt Viara says, “Engagement = Growth” and that was certainly true in 2024 and will continue to apply in 2025 and beyond. We iterated Engagement = Growth during this episode and came up with E=G3 (that's G cubed) because there is leverage in engagement and it is significant.

Let’s move on to the first of eleven Around the Workstand episodes this year focusing on a specific action area. For February it’s Win Google Search.

Welcome Around the Workstand!

Blog post for reference 

1. Website, website, website
   1. Maintenance
   2. Localize your content
   3. Page titles/meta descriptions
2. Control how you show up - Google Business Profile (GBP)
3. Leverage free shopping listings 
4. Compete for the best placement with Google ads
   1. Search - great for awareness
   2. Shopping - connect with ready-to-buy customers
      1. Regional or National is possible for a few
         1. Cash flow was the focus
         2. Free shipping - start at $100, can always lower the threshold 
         3. Retailers were special buying and discounting
      2. Local
         1. Where the majority of bike shops see great ROAS
         2. Big plus: shipping, discounts, advanced processes not required
      3. Attribution 
         1. Making shoppers aware is the goal 
         2. We meet people where they are, people buy lots of ways
      4. Budget - the most general level
         1. $20 a day - advertise bikes - the bigger footprint you want the more budget required for success
            1. Geo depends on your area
            2. $500/mo
         2. Local ads - $125/mo + 10% of ad spend 
            1. Monthly call, unlimited email, no contracts 
      5. Specificity - granularity thwarts success

Engaged = growth or E=G3

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

Wow, 2024 went by in the blink of an eye, faster than a Di2 shift, how was your year? Ryan, Suzie, and Mark take a look back at our bicycle industry sales results for the year, broader economic conditions that contributed, and where the winners made a difference. Then, a look at the trends heading into 2025 and what we can all expect for bicycle and aftermarket sales. Marketing and, specifically, Google ads, will play a big role for those aiming to grow sales and expand their footprint in 2025. Owning a successful bike shop isn't for the faint of heart but we've got insights, tips, and actionable suggestions to help.

• 2024 market recap
  • Roller coaster year at retail, with unpredictable demand/sales
  • PeopleForBikes says IBD -9% through October
  • S&P Global
    • 2024 - We anticipate a nearly 7% decline in total bicycle unit sales by the end of the year, with an expected total of around 12 million units
• 2024 on Workstand
  • Workstand platform +4% through Oct (mirror PFB)
    • Finished year positive 5%
    • Results driven by high performers in aftermarket and bike sales
    • Over half of bikes sold at discount, discounts averaged -27%
    • Consumers bought nicer bikes so ASP up 14%
  • Unfortunately, the typical dealer on Workstand down 11% for the year
    • Results dropped off in the second half of the year
    • Holiday shopping season especially poor
    • Need to find a way to get more dealers marketing
    • Clear division between those advertising on Google and not
• 2025 expectations
  • Cautiously optimistic for our clients as a whole
    • High expectations for top retailers
    • 17 dealers sold over $1M online last year (top nearly $7M)
    • 150 dealers solve over $100k
    • We can make a big difference in growth 
    • Uncertain aftermarket
    • Service will continue modest gains of about 2%
• What can a dealer do if they want to be a top performer in 2025
  • Identify categories that will generate growth
    • Ex: mid-priced aluminum road, class 2 electric lifestyle bikes, class 3 electric road
    • Build a stocking strategy accordingly
    • Market to stimulate further demand
  • Focus on local market share through Google search and local shopping
  • Lean heavily on selling bikes online locally

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

We’ll be taking some time away from the podcast during December so this will be our final 2024 episode. We thought we’d recap some of the accomplishments of 2024 and look forward to 2025. Around the Workstand will resume in January 2025 and we’re looking forward to another year of sharing tips and actionable information with you all.

Around the Workstand grew a lot in 2024 so thank you to everyone who watched and listened. It means so much to me, Suzie, and Ryan that you found some value and entertainment in the show.

New and/or returning Supplier Sync partners for 2024

• Santa Cruz
• Ibis
• Otso
• Gazelle - going live today!

POS enhancements

• Work order management
• SMS messaging 

Ecommerce enhancements 

• Variation tiles on Product Detail Pages
• New checkout being rolled out in phases
• Many other infrastructure enhancements

Most popular Around the Workstand episodes in 2024

Industry updates with Ryan were consistently the most viewed (video) and downloaded (audio) episodes

They were followed closely by episodes where we talked about our new POS features and by episodes where we gave actionable tips for growing sales

We’ll bring back Tech Tips in 2025 - we aren’t really sure why we stopped doing those but there were popular.

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

Tips for how AI can help in retail - what other ways are you using AI?

• Great brainstorming partner 
  • Start with clear goals 
  • Ask for specific results
• Use to break a big project or some event planning into easy action items
• AI tools within other applications are an easy way to begin to experiment - Apple Intelligence, email apps, text apps, etc, Grammarly

Warnings and pitfalls merchants should be aware of

• Images of people and bicycles are hard for AI
  • Avoid the uncanny valley:/ - it’s close but not really
• Don’t forget to edit - inject your personality and unique voice
  • Remember that if you can prompt an AI to create something that you use to represent you or your business, anyone else can do that. 
• Don’t let the machine run unchecked, unintended consequences abound.

Here is the experiment Suzie did so you can try it yourself. Let us know how it goes!

Prompt: What are good dos and don'ts for small businesses interested in leveraging AI for help with marketing? 

Using AI for marketing can be a game-changer for small businesses, offering tools to boost personalization, streamline operations, and make data-driven decisions. Here are some do’s and don’ts to guide you in implementing AI effectively.

Do’s

1. Do Start with Clear Goals
2. Do Use AI to Enhance Personalization
3. Do Focus on High-Impact Channels First
4. Do Leverage Customer Data Responsibly
5. Do Experiment with Predictive Analytics
6. Do Train Your Team

Don’ts

1. Don’t Automate Everything
2. Don’t Rely Solely on AI for Content Creation
3. Don’t Ignore Data Privacy Regulations
4. Don’t Expect Immediate Results
5. Don’t Neglect Testing
6. Don’t Overlook Costs

Bonus: Tools to Explore

• Email and Social Media Automation

By following these tips, your small business can harness AI’s potential effectively without sacrificing the authenticity and trust you’ve built with your customers.

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

It's hard to believe we are nearing the end of October 2024, but it's true. If you've looked at your inbox, gone to your mailbox, or watched any TV, you will have noticed that holiday marketing is in full effect. If closing out 2024 sales well is on your to-do list, now is the time to start implementing holiday marketing for your bicycle shop. We have resources, we have support, and Suzie and Mark are here to help.

Google ads as part of a local selling strategy

• Free shopping listings
• Shopping ads 
• Granularity dos and don’ts
• YouTube ads 
  • Great way to get in front of a captive audience
    • Mandatory 5 sec 
    • paying pennies per view 
    • DIY is working
• Tips for getting help managing ads

Holiday marketing on a budget

• Website content
• Leveraging your existing evergreen content
• Put your suppliers to work 
• Drive traffic 
• Ads 
• Last year’s episode with Lauren Webb for Holiday Marketing
• Industry trends episode from early October with Ryan Atkinson

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

September ecommerce metrics show consumers shopping but the typical bike shop not seeing the results online.

• Site traffic remains strong at +7%
• Google search volume for “bike shop” comparable to last year
• Total ecommerce sales +7%
• Typical dealer ecommerce sales -11% (leading indicator for industry)
• 1,800 fewer click & collect orders than August = less retail traffic

PeopleForBikes Webinar

• Nerd Collective
• Stock to Sales ratio (retail and supplier)
• Discounting

The Pro’s Closet will close in October

Employees and clients impacted by Hurricane Helene - buy DeFeet socks

• 3 employees

How to Thrive this Holiday Season - webinar with NBDA 

• Thursday 11 am MTN 
• Focus on ways to create more selling opportunities this season
• Marketing is a numbers game - the more you get in front of potential shoppers, the more selling opportunities you’ll have
• Digital marketing + Google 
• Efficiency and effectiveness will be a priority

Keep up with website and POS features new releases

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

Gearing up for our season

• Fall is when shops start working “on” the business, not “in” the business
• For 25 years, without fail, our phone rings off the hook in the fall
• Gonna have a lot to talk about this year
• Always talking about websites, ecommerce, and Google search
• Point of sale is the center of a lot of our conversations
• BRAIN: 35% of shops are considering a change in POS in the next 12 months

We delivered for shops this summer

• Early adopters used all season
• Reviews have been great
  • Simple. Modern. Easy to use.
• Has the exact features most shops use
• Clients have great ideas that will make it even better
• Advantage of working with a smaller company like us
• We listen to our customers

Why we are the best choice

• Everything you need to streamline your bike shop
• 25 years of experience helping bike shops modernize
• Trusted by the entire bike industry
• Friendly and knowledgeable service by people that know the business of bikes
• No debate. We have the best data.
• Feature to feature we are very competitive
• Easy for everyone in the shop to use

What we have

• Everything you need to help a customer at the register
• Work orders to help you run a professional service department
• Better inventory management that companies like Square or Clover
• SMS text messaging built in
• Hands down the best supplier data integrated throughout the software
• Customer service you can count on

What to do if you want to learn more 

• Keep it simple
• Call us or request a demo
• No pressure. Want you to be informed.
• If you choose to sign up
  • Get you up and running fast with easy onboarding
  • A member of our team will be with you at every step

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

Ryan has a cool trip planned with friends on the Aquarius Trail hut to hut next week. 6 days in Southwest Utah with Nebraska friends and no logistics work required.

June retail sales PeopleforBikes

• Bright spot is inventory stabilizing across the channel
  • I’m joining a PeopleForBikes webinar later this month to discuss
• June is typically the high point for sales, but this year the month was very soft. 
• Bike shops were -11% in total sales dollars for the month
  • Bicycle sales -13% and unit sales were -17%
  • Higher unit prices and shift toward more expensive electric bikes
• Bike prices are still falling, but not at the same rate as unit sales. 
  • 29” wheel mountain and most road categories are showing some of the best price stability - likely a reflection of returning category health and new product releases. 
• Bicycle repairs are an essential revenue source for shops. June saw the highest YOY increase in bike shop service/repair dollars since 2020, but that’s paired with the lowest number of service orders in eight years. 
• While service departments are bringing in increased revenue, there’s a bit of caution mixed in as fewer bikes are likely being worked on. 
• Chart in the email tells a clear story on long term trends. Dealers need to join PeopleForBikes and start getting these monthly market reports.

August ecommerce results from Workstand

• Very good August for some (+11% compared to -2% in July)
• Better than July for most (-9% compared to -17% in July)
• Site traffic up all year, August best at +13%
• Trend continues - Order volume down and average order up
• Store pickup May-August 32,000 orders (lot of store traffic)

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.

We often get wrapped up in the day-to-day, putting out fires type activities, and we don’t want this to sound preachy but, cycling competes with other consumer goods for attention and dollars so bike shops that don’t stay top of mind with the shoppers who have already done business with them are at a disadvantage but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Sometimes I’m sure we all wish it weren’t this way, there is a lot of communication but people who make meaningful purchases receive communication from the stores they shop with. So today’s question is, are you communicating with your key customers in the way Home Depot, Best Buy, and Nordstroms are?

Importance of regular outreach - not just during major promotional periods. 

Busy season or not, consistent outreach yields better results than only communicating when you want to sell something.

How?

Social - use an 80/20 or 90/10 rule - 90% engaging, interesting, community info - 10% promotional

Physical events - be at the places your customers are just to be there

Transactional emails - reach out based on the products and services your customers purchased from you - want to try our WorkstandIQ Loyalty program? Mention this episode and get 6 months free! 

Be sure to email your questions to podcast@workstand.com. We read all emails sent and we look forward to hearing from you.

If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email support@workstand.com or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email info@workstand.com.

Find Us on LinkedIn
Ryan Atkinson, President + Co-Owner
Mark Still, Business Development

We also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email mark.s@workstand.com.