I am curious what type of relationship many community shops have with bicycle retail suppliers such as QBP. As of now, we have a relationship with a few local bike shops to purchase tools and parts. However we are trying to move into some small retail (mainly locks, tubes and helmets). I looked up the requirements for an account with QBP and J&B suppliers, both looked like they didn't fit our model, which is primarily youth programming with community bike shop hours two days a week. We fall under a larger non-profit that works on community and youth development, so we are not exactly an economically independent organization either.
More importantly in Salt Lake we have strong relationships (and understandings) with all the Local Bike Shops (LBS), most of which are with the owners on a first name basis. It really helps to have a LBS on your side as a reference when you apply. So should they complain, they feel comfortable going to us before the distributor.
Anyway, we have accounts with QBP, J&B, Wilson, UB, as well as vendor specific accounts with Chome, Velocity, White Industries, etc.,...
Typically we only sell basic locks, lights, and wearable items (chains, tubes, etc.,...). However we did start stocking fixed gear components (mainly wheels) since no LBS was.
http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Distributors
I was able to set up most of the accounts using connections made at Interbike.
http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Interbike
We currently only have a wholesale account with SBS (seattle bike supply), but this information and link from Jonathan is really useful.
Since our project is recycling oriented and also we don't want to screw over local bike shops, we stock the minimum of new parts - locks, lights, tubes, patches, cables, single speed freewheels, tires etc - but we have a huge inventory of used bicycle parts, frames, components and other stuff built up over the 10 years we have been around. Want a french bottom bracket? You come to us.
Simon http://www.austinyellowbike.org
Jonathan Morrison wrote:
More importantly in Salt Lake we have strong relationships (and understandings) with all the Local Bike Shops (LBS), most of which are with the owners on a first name basis. It really helps to have a LBS on your side as a reference when you apply. So should they complain, they feel comfortable going to us before the distributor.
Anyway, we have accounts with QBP, J&B, Wilson, UB, as well as vendor specific accounts with Chome, Velocity, White Industries, etc.,...
Typically we only sell basic locks, lights, and wearable items (chains, tubes, etc.,...). However we did start stocking fixed gear components (mainly wheels) since no LBS was.
http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Distributors
I was able to set up most of the accounts using connections made at Interbike.
http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Interbike
-- Sincerely,
Jonathan Morrison Project Coordinator Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective 2312 S. West Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84115 w: 801-328-2453 c: 801-688-0183 f: 801-466-3856 www.slcbikecollective.org http://www.slcbikecollective.org
On 9/10/07, * adam schwartz* <adamgs@umd.edu mailto:adamgs@umd.edu > wrote:
I am curious what type of relationship many community shops have with bicycle retail suppliers such as QBP. As of now, we have a relationship with a few local bike shops to purchase tools and parts. However we are trying to move into some small retail (mainly locks, tubes and helmets). I looked up the requirements for an account with QBP and J&B suppliers, both looked like they didn't fit our model, which is primarily youth programming with community bike shop hours two days a week. We fall under a larger non-profit that works on community and youth development, so we are not exactly an economically independent organization either. -- adam schwartz Bicycle Education Program Coordinator Renaissance Community Bike Shop Riverdale, MD rideyourbicycle@gmail.com <mailto:rideyourbicycle@gmail.com> <mailto:adamgs@umd.edu> _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org <mailto:Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org <http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org>
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participants (3)
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adam schwartz -
Jonathan Morrison -
Simon Z