BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — As this unforgettable year comes to end, retailers are eager for a little off-season rest, but anxious about the prospects for 2021. Will they have enough supply? Enough workers? Will a soft economy or COVID-19 lockdowns curb demand, or has everyone who ever wanted a bike already got one?
For a feature in our December magazine, we touched base with 16 retailers to get their take on the 2020 season and their predictions for 2021. We'll be sharing snapshots from those interviews online over the next two weeks.
Charlie Fetzer, LakeShore Bicycles, Jacksonville, Fla.
The season as a whole has been very good for us. Bicycles were deemed essential in Florida so we were bombed busy at the beginning of the pandemic. Seeing no end to the demand, our sales rep tripled our previous years’ preseason order. We then went to regional vendors in our truck and trailer and cleaned out their remaining stock.
No crystal ball here, we’re guessing about 2021 like everyone else. Sales of most bicycles are falling into a busy but regular pattern. The exceptions are e-bikes and large-wheeled BMX bikes which no one seems able to supply.
Our staff was excellent and we’re not planning any changes. We did add several mechanics over the summer. We will continue to mask up and hope for a great 2021! Not what we went through in 2020, but better than 2019 by a long shot.
