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.
Ilene and Eric Marcos, Bicycle World, Mt. Kisco, N.Y.
We feel proud yet exhausted with this season's demand on our time and coping skills. Flexibility is strength these days. Gross profit is up 35%. Margins were very strong and we cleared out anything old! I think demand in 2021 will be less than 2020, and supply will be lagging behind that reduced demand.
There is some wholesale "creep" where our suppliers are charging high shipping rates for fewer than five units but requiring we release product without the chance to aggregate bikes for better freight terms.
We bulked up on youth bikes when we could, now that riding outdoors is a new norm for kids. We have put aside savings from this strong year and paid our mortgage and other fixed costs in advance through spring.
We are holding steady with current staff. Working the extra hours ourselves, as owners have to. Many weeks of over 70+ hours still on our feet!
