SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. (BRAIN) — Interbike has announced the addition of a new educational track whereby key retailers will share their experiences on specific topics relevant to all IBDs today. These Retail by Retailers sessions will be presented in either a one-on-one interview or panel discussion format during the Interbike Expo, Sept. 18-20.
The Retail by Retailers discussions were designed based on feedback from the Interbike Retail Advisory Board and in partnership with The Mann Group and the National Bicycle Dealers Association. The objective was to highlight important topics affecting IBDs today and to learn from other retailers who are having success in those areas. Early confirmed sessions include:
- Successfully Integrating Mobile Bike Repair into Your Shop. Retailer: Ian Christie, the founder and CEO of Summit Bicycles, with five locations in Northern California
- Hiring and Retaining Mechanics That Are Invested in Your Business. Retailer: Steve Williams, the director of sales & continuous improvement at Mike's Bike Shop, New Brunswick, Canada
- Service Writing: Elevating the Level of Contact Between Service Employees & Customers. Retailer: Hill Abell, the owner of Bicycle Sport Shop, with five locations in the Austin, Texas, area
- Magic Numbers: How to Use Metrics to Benchmark Your Business. Retailer: Jeff Selzer, general manager, Palo Alto Bicycles, Palo Alto, California; Tim Krone, the owner of Pedal Bicycles, with two locations in the Kalamazoo, Michigan, area; Sheri Mann, co-owner, Summit City Bicycles & Fitness, Ft. Wayne, Indian; Hill Abell, owner of Bicycle Sport Shop, with five locations in the Austin, Texas, area.
"No matter what industry you're in, education in the form of peer-to-peer advice, support and perspective can be the some of the most effective ways to learn and overcome challenges," said Justin Gottlieb, Interbike's interim show director. "We're excited to have this esteemed group of retailers contributing their time to this new track, and hope to have packed rooms for each session."
Another session under the Retail by Retailers education track will be the Interbike Innovation Awards retailer presentations. Moderated by Brandee Lepak, the NBDA's board chair, and Megan Tompkins, the publisher of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, this session will feature short presentations by the winning independent bicycle retailers that have implemented innovative ideas and strategies to their businesses with positive results over the past 12 months.
"Learning from professional speakers can certainly be helpful to all retailers, but there's nothing like hearing from those that truly speak our language," said Lepak, who is the co-owner of Global Bikes in Arizona. "I know these topics are on the minds of many IBDs today, and my staff will be attending each one of them."
All educational sessions at Interbike are offered at no charge to registered attendees. More information on the Retail by Retailers track and the complete lineup of educational sessions at Interbike can be found at Interbike.com/events/education.
