Concierge Bicycle Sales

Concierge Bicycle Sales

Nigel Laver
Founder / Owner / Magician
Concierge Bicycle Sales

I’ve been around cycling for close to 4 decades. In the last 2 decades I’ve seen a lot and learnt a lot. On occasion I’ve been asked to advise friends on a “best-buy” scenario. Normally those who know nothing about bicycles. Recently I went through this process which has spurred on this “Business idea”, enter Concierge Bicycle Sales.

The Story of Conception

My wife has a friend from work. This friend, let us call her Deborah (cause that’s her name) had recently lent a camel pack from Bron (my Wife) to compete in a Triathlon round the Cradle (Road). Her bike of choice: a borrowed MTB with skinny tires (yes, I know, we’ve ALL started there). Bron said, at some stage, through some conversation about cycling “if you ever need help upgrading PLEASE speak to Nigel first” … Deborah was reluctant, citing that she didn’t want to “Bug me” (oh please, do BUG me)… a few weeks later she did and so the process that could be your process began.

I met Deborah and Yolanda one Saturday morning (after my ride) at our first of 6 bicycle shops. A short quiz before we entered to ascertain what their budget was and what they wanted to do on a bicycle (road, off road, race, cruise…). They will be the first to admit they knew NOTHING, well, this is how we approached this exercise anyway. I was also aware not to “Mansplain” (too much), did I? We looked at bicycles near their budget. I explained the difference between group-sets and why one cost x and one cost y. I showed them bikes way out of their budget and I showed them bikes bang on their budget. We did this in 3 shops on the Sat and another 3 shops on Wednesday afternoon after their work around town. We then had a little sit down debrief over tea and milkshakes to assess our “finds”. During the “Physical Shop” excursion I too sent them many links to bikes I found online to explain the difference between NEW and USED. Now they could understand when I said “You’ll might get Ultegra and possibly carbon if you looked at previously owned vs. buying new out of the shop” … this sentence made NO sense to them before they could see for themselves what was what. Also, Bike Shop Owners, I’m not knocking “Shop New”, I’m highlighting the potential of GREAT bikes to be found in the “Previously used” bin.
 
Anyway, the process finished with them walking out of a bicycle shop the following Saturday with two beautiful NEW Carbon Fiber Giant’s (TCR/LIV), one bought in store, one found online (yes, still NEW). They went through a basic bike set up, they both bought pedals and shoes and the shop even up-sold them on a set of Thule Roof-racks to fit the top of their Mini. I may have vito’d that last decision if I wasn’t away racing that day… The point is. TWO happy customers who now have swanky new bicycles to ride that are RIGHT-4-THEM. A severe upgrade from the two borrowed MTB’s they probably will never ride again. I’m of the belief they were able to make confident decisions because of my guidance and their new found knowledge of the cycling world.