Applications to be accepted February 17 – April 28, 2023
Irvine, CA: The National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) has officially opened applications for its 2023 Retailer Excellence Awards (REA) program. 2023 marks the eleventh year the NBDA will highlight and award bicycle retailer excellence. The 2023 program features an elevated award tier, the President’s Award. Only 5 retailers from across North America will be awarded with this high level of distinction.
“The goal of the Retailer Excellence Awards is to highlight exceptional retailers across North America and further provide them the tools to share their excellence with their communities. For 2023, I personally will extend an additional honor, the highest recognition, a President’s Award to those retailers who are truly making an impact in their communities, to their staff, the industry and at the same time running profitable sustainable businesses,” commented NBDA President Heather Mason.
The NBDAs Retailer Excellence Award (REA) celebrates diversity and excellence in bicycle retail. With a focus on inclusivity, the program unites retailers, suppliers, industry organizations, advocates, and consumers in identifying and highlighting exceptional bicycle stores across North America. Recipients will be acknowledged and awarded not only for their excellence in retail but their integrity, inclusiveness, spirit, and commitment to grow ridership.
The former America’s Best Bike Shop program received a major overhaul in 2021, with changes including a new name (Retailer Excellence Award), reformatted application, and removal of all barriers to entry. Retailers will be met with a detailed application which features a series of highly analytical questions each asking the retailer to dive deep into the “why” of your business in several areas. The questions are pointed and designed to make every retailer take a deep look into multiple aspects their business and describe in detail exactly why and how their actions resonate into excellence.
“We worked diligently on this year’s program. Every retailer in North America is encouraged and welcome to take part in the program,” stated NBDA Development Director Rachelle Schouten.
The 2023 REA application will not require payment or NBDA membership. The 2023 recipients will be announced in July, then formally acknowledged at a winner recognition event. In addition to the awards of President’s, Excellence, and People’s Choice, participating retailers will also have an opportunity to receive scholarships for NBDA Membership.
Going through the application and educational materials will be insightful to your business practices, and those retailers awarded the REA title can be proud to promote the award via their website and in store. Continuing is an additional People’s Choice component to the program, allowing retailers to promote their shop in their local communities to receive an extra acknowledgment.
The Retailer Excellence Award is one of many programs spearheaded by the NBDA in the pursuit of strengthening the specialty bicycle retailer and leading bicycle retail to excellence. For more information on sponsoring REA please contact the NBDA here.
The National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) is the bicycle industry retailer association formed in 1946, representing and empowering specialty bicycle dealers in the United States through education, communications, research, advocacy, member discount programs, and promotional opportunities.
