We're Evolving - Pre-Owned Bike Sales!
The bicycle industry is loaded full of statistics. There are buzz-words for everything. But statistics... oh man, you can find any statistic you want if you search for it. Pointless statistics and theories about what is going to happen next. The current topical nonsense is 'survive till 25'! A notion that the industry is rammed full of post-Covid bubble stock and once this stock is all sold, life will be stable again.
But will it....? What does that even mean? Ever since we opened the doors to Big Maggy's back in 2009, we've lived through crisis after crisis. The banking collapse, the inflation explosion, COVID, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Middle East crisis. There is always something happening that affects the retail market. Especially in Jersey as a finance & banking centre.
So what do we do about it? Err nothing really that any business shouldn't do anyway i.e. keep our heads down, work hard, try to offer a great level of service and be consistent. We just continue to believe that if what we sell is good and we work hard, the rest will be what it be's......
Such Useful Statistics Huh!
2024 has been a year of big changes. A lot has shifted. How people think, how they spend and even their circumstances. It’s created an industry that looks very different from the one we once knew.
This year feels like the first where we’ve truly seen things take a significant turn. With disposable income at lower levels, the unpredictability of life, a skyrocketing cost of living, inflation and mortgage rates through the roof, it’s clear that spending large amounts of money just isn’t the go-to option for many people anymore.
For us, the market has shifted significantly. We’ve seen a noticeable decline in big bike sales but a massive increase in workshop flow. This meant we had to adapt quickly, revising our processes to streamline everything and handle a much higher volume of work. Summer was particularly challenging, with lead times of six to seven weeks at one point. We simply couldn’t get through the workload fast enough to keep everyone happy.
Surprisingly, there’s been a strong demand for servicing and upgrading existing bikes rather than buying new ones. Recognizing this trend, we decided to focus more on providing quicker, more efficient servicing. This also led to the introduction of our 'Scheduled Service Plan'. This plan helps both you and us keep better control over your bike maintenance, ensuring it’s done at the right time and in the best way possible. We think it’s a game-changer and will really improve how we work together to keep your bikes in top shape.
This year has been a real eye-opener for many regular bike riders. A lot of people have realized that riding on the road isn’t always as safe (or as fun) as they’d like it to be. More and more riders are discovering that gravel riding is not only enjoyable but also surprisingly safe.
We’ve seen a big shift, with many of our customers looking to improve their skills and have more fun in the process. Gravel rides have been incredibly popular, especially on Tuesday nights, and they were a hit right up until the weather turned bad. With any luck, as we head into next year, we’ll see even more people getting into
gravel riding and taking advantage of the many locations that aren’t typically an option for road cycling.
Some people are even exploring gravel as part of a one bike strategy. It’ll be interesting to hear Tony’s thoughts on his 'One Bike for All' project—check it out here.
Big Maggy's Pre-Owned Bikes Project
Another exciting step for us has been moving into the pre-loved bike market. This shift allows us to offer great options for those with smaller budgets while also ensuring the bikes are thoroughly serviced, tested and ready for new owners. We work closely with sellers to guarantee the bikes are in excellent condition and marketed properly. This not only gives buyers confidence but also provides more affordable alternatives to buying brand-new bikes.
Plus, it’s an environmentally friendly step forward. By giving pre-loved bikes a new lease on life, we’re helping reduce waste and making a positive impact on the planet—something we’re really proud of.
All these changes have been about staying flexible, thinking on our feet, and focusing on what matters most: giving you great service and solutions that work for the times we’re in.
How did this happen - why was this not a thing before?
Some of you may be aware that in the motor trade in Jersey, there exists a scheme called 'The GST Margin Scheme'. This has been in place for many years and enables the motor trade to sell second hand / used cars - the industry needs to be able to sell pre-owned vehicles in order to function. It's simple; you can't buy a new car until you sell your old one. It's like musical chairs.
We identified a need in the last year or so. We had many customers asking us if we could sell their bike for them. You know us Brits, we don't like confrontation and it's frankly uncomfortable, standing face to face with someone negotiating over the price of our beloved bike! No thanks! Let someone else do that, it's just not fun and we're all busy people.
We approached the Government and as suspected, the idea was greeted with approval. If it's done in the motor-trade, why not the bicycle industry where we are trying to encourage not only people onto bikes to commute to work but also, to encourage people to re-cycle or 'up-cycle'. Whatever you prefer, as long as it involves some form of 'cycling' we're cool with it.
Thankfully, it was agreed that this amendment to the law was not only required but a no-brainer. Less than 1 year later, we received the nod from the Economic Minister via the GST team and boom, off we go as of 1st January 2025.
Visit our Pre-Owned Bikes Page - Click Here
