NBDA Retailer Summit Central Brings Retailers, Suppliers, Advocates, and Industry Partners Together for Three Days of Learning, Connection, and Action
Bentonville, Arkansas - June 2026 - Nearly 200 bicycle industry professionals gathered in Bentonville, Arkansas, June 9-11 for the 2026 NBDA Retailer Summit Central, creating one of the largest and most engaged gatherings of Specialty Bicycle Retailers, suppliers, service providers, advocates, and industry leaders in North America.
The event brought together an even mix of participants, with approximately 50 percent retailers and 50 percent industry partners - suppliers, service providers, consultants, and advocates. Designed as a catalyst for industry progress, the Summit focused on strengthening relationships, sharing insights, addressing challenges, and identifying opportunities to move the specialty bicycle industry forward together.
"The goal of the Retailer Summit has always been bigger than a conference," said Heather Mason, Executive Director of the National Bicycle Dealers Association. "It's about creating meaningful conversations, building trust, and giving retailers and industry partners the tools, data, and relationships they need to create stronger businesses and a stronger industry."
Throughout the three-day event, attendees participated in keynote presentations, educational sessions, industry panels, workshops, networking opportunities, and countless hallway conversations that many participants described as equally valuable as the formal programming.
Attendee Feedback Highlights the Value of Connection
Post-event feedback reflected the impact the Summit had on participants.
- "I left with an abundance of new knowledge and strategies to take back to implement in my business and share with my employees."
- "The Retailer Summit lets us get together in a relaxed environment to brainstorm and debate important ideas, policy, and trends."
- "Connections with retailers and suppliers are incredibly valuable. It's easy to be stuck in my bubble plugging away. The Summit gets me out of my routine. I'm learning things I can bring back to my business and connecting with people in the industry."
- "The event was great! Outstanding speakers, fantastic staff support and an engaged, knowledge-hungry audience."
One attendee who recently entered the bicycle industry after a 35-year career in restaurants shared:
"Before I came to the Summit, I was not sure if changing industries was a good move. After the Summit, I have a lot of optimism for the future of bicycle retail if we all work together, and I think the NBDA is making sure that happens by providing the resources for all of us to grow this industry."
Key Takeaways and Industry Insights
The Summit featured discussions on profitability, retail operations, service department performance, inventory management, data intelligence, e-mobility, advocacy, and industry trends.
Retailers cited several actionable takeaways, including:
- Strategies for adding services that increase margins and profitability.
- Better understanding of current market conditions and consumer behavior.
- New approaches to community engagement and customer acquisition.
- Data insights showing bicycle imports down approximately 20 percent during the first four months of the year.
- Market intelligence highlighting that e-bikes under $2,000 now represent roughly 50 percent of the used e-bike market.
Attendees also praised the NBDA's willingness to listen to feedback and facilitate open discussion.
"Thank you for being open-minded and welcoming feedback. The NBDA's power for change will grow with this attitude."
While the atmosphere throughout the event was optimistic and collaborative, attendees also identified important topics they believe deserve continued discussion.
Several retailers expressed interest in creating opportunities for more direct and transparent conversations between retailers and bicycle brands regarding discounting, closeouts, territories, policies, inventory strategies, and business terms.
Others highlighted concerns around the industry's increasing focus on premium products while potentially overlooking entry-level riders, children, and families entering cycling for the first time.
The importance of safety emerged as another major theme. Participants emphasized that growing ridership requires addressing the concerns of new riders and parents while helping retailers communicate safety, education, rider etiquette, rules of the road, and confidence-building practices more effectively.
Discussions also focused on balancing the opportunities presented by e-bikes with the responsibility of educating consumers about safe and appropriate use. Retailers expressed interest in future educational resources and sessions dedicated to helping bicycle shops become stronger safety advocates within their communities.
A recurring theme throughout the Summit was the industry's responsibility to grow participation in cycling by creating welcoming pathways for riders of all ages and experience levels.
Attendees discussed the importance of youth programs, community initiatives, advocacy efforts, safer streets, expanded bicycle infrastructure, and responsible e-bike adoption as critical components of the industry's future success.
The Summit reinforced a belief shared by many participants: the future of specialty bicycle retail will be built through collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to serving riders at every stage of their cycling journey.
One attendee summarized the event simply:
"Overall, I thought the conference was outstanding, and I truly appreciate all the hard work that goes into making it successful. Thank you again for the opportunity to participate and contribute."
The NBDA Retailer Summit series continues with the inaugural NBDA Retailer Summit Canada, taking place July 29–30 in Whistler, British Columbia, where retailers, suppliers, and industry leaders will continue the conversations started in Bentonville and work together to strengthen the future of cycling.
About the NBDA
The National Bicycle Dealers Association is the premier trade association for specialty bicycle retailers, dedicated to supporting independent dealers through advocacy, education, and industry partnerships. The NBDA provides comprehensive resources, including retailer education programs, profitability initiatives, advocacy efforts, and networking opportunities designed to strengthen the specialty bicycle retail sector across North America. The NBDA is a non-profit organization that strives to elevate the bicycle retail industry and empower dealers for long-term success. NBDA membership is open to retailers, individuals, suppliers and providers, mobile units, and other non-profits. The NBDA community is the most active in the industry, providing real-time solutions and support to help businesses succeed and strengthen cycling communities nationwide. The NBDA's annual retail survey has been a cornerstone industry resource for understanding market trends and benchmarking retail performance. For more information about the NBDA and its initiatives, please visit www.nbda.com.
