Association of Cycle Traders

*NEW* Generate Revenue Through Rental with Renticy We're thrilled to announce that ACT has partnered with Renticy's rental solution. By embracing rental options, retailers can not only boost their revenue but also make a positive impact on the environment. With Renticy, customers enjoy better value for money while contributing to the reduction of waste. Key benefits include: 1. Additional Revenue Stream - Tap into a growing demand for rental services 2. Customer Loyalty and Retention - Provide customers with more flexible, affordable options 3. Wider Customer Reach - reach a broad customer base across multiple channels, including online and in-store. 4. Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility - encourage reuse and reduces waste. What’s in it for You as an ACT member? ACT gold members benefit from a 12 MONTH FREE trial. You'll only pay a (reduced) transaction fee when an item is rented, plus insurance is included. Book a demo today - https://lnkd.in/e4x7eVQ9

Join Bira, the parent company at ACT in London on the Oct 16th as they mark 125 years of championing independent retail. Discuss trends, tech, sustainability & their industry advocacy. Celebrate the vital role of independents in our economy and Bira's future plans on protecting our high streets. https://lnkd.in/eCpnat76 #SupportRetail #IndependentRetail #Conference

It is with great sadness that we bring news that Peter Stow of Stows Cycles sadly passed away on 14th August 2024 at the age of 80. Peter was a well known and respected figure within the cycle industry, especially during the 70s, 80s, and 90s or the good years for those around long enough to remember. He held great relationships with Moore Large, Chickens, and Raleigh as a 5 Star dealer along with all those that have come across or worked with him. Peter was a director of the ACT from 1991 to 2000 and was a strong advocate for cycle mechanics to get the recognition and respect they deserved for the skills they had through cycle qualifications. He will be sadly missed by family, friends and work colleagues and will be long remembered.

A £1.5m project to refurbish a walking and cycling route in Coventry has been completed. The 500m stretch of the route between the University of Warwick and Charter Avenue reopened this week, Coventry City Council said. Dedicated cycleways and walkways have been created and improvements have been made to the public realm area next to Cannon Park shopping centre. The work is part of a wider scheme aiming to improve access to amenities for both university students and residents living in the southern part of the city. Councillor Jim O’Boyle said: “We are beginning to build us a really good network of top-quality segregated cycle routes – and this is important because the biggest barrier to cycling is perceived safety.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/e3CaGp47

Through this collaboration, our members can now access Bikebook’s state-of-the-art workshop management platform, Workshop, designed to streamline your operations, grow your business and improve customer experience. As part of this partnership, Gold members will receive a 20% discount on the Workshop subscription, while Silver members will benefit from a 10% discount. Find out more about how this partnership can support your business and why we’ve chosen to work with Bikebook to help you work smarter, not harder. 🔧 Book a demo today - https://lnkd.in/eQgqnD96 #Bikebook #RetailSupport

Cycling Weekly has reported independent bike shops across the country continuing the call for reform of the Cycle to Work schemes in their current format and encouraged the government to help educate large employers on the negative wider social impact some of the schemes on offer have. Business owners, alongside the Association of Cycle Traders, have spoken out against the flaws the current schemes have and called on the government to reform the programme, which allows people to save tax on bikes via 'loaning' them from their employers. Since Labour won the UK general election in July, traders have a renewed hope that the newly formed government will put into action a plan for overhaul at a quicker rate. "The changes I’d like to see would be the government taking the lead on this," Gavin Hudson ACT member and owner of Butternut Bikes in north London told Cycling Weekly. "I’d like to see a review in order for this to help local businesses in communities that make up individual MP’s constituencies. "I’d also like to see more accessibility to the schemes for lower earners. But how we widen access to it without losing the benefits that are there is quite a big conundrum. https://lnkd.in/ecQnP2dY

We’re excited to announce our new partnership with Bikmo! 🚴♂️ Through this collaboration, our members now have access to specialist advice and business insurance designed to protect your business. Gold retailer members will also enjoy a 10% exclusive discount on their business insurance, and 5% discount for Silver members. Learn more about how this partnership benefits you and why we chose Bikmo. https://lnkd.in/ekvjU_6f #ACT #Partnerships #CycleInsurance #CyclingIndustry

The ACT is thrilled to be collaborating with Bikmo, the partnership represents a significant step forward in our mission to support and strengthen the cycling industry. By offering our members access to specialist insurance services that understand the unique challenges of our sector, we are ensuring that they are better equipped to thrive. Robert Grisdale Insurtech Insights

E-cycling can change lives, save money, cut carbon, and boost health. Reputable e-bikes are a safe way to travel but new research by the Electric Bike Alliance reveals that concerns over battery fires deter a significant portion of the population from purchasing e-bikes. About 23% of the UK population are hesitant due to battery fire incidents, and 25% worry about e-bikes charging nearby. We’re proud to be supporting the E-Bike Positive campaign along with The Bicycle Association of Great Britain, demonstrating a unified effort to enhance safety standards across the industry, to help educate the UK public to make safer e-bike purchases. Sign up and pledge to be an e-bike positive retailer through the page on our site here: https://lnkd.in/ef7gYjAW Hundreds of bike shops and mechanics around the UK, including our members, have already signed our pledge to help the UK public be e-bike positive. Visit ebikepositive.co.uk to find out more. Steve Garidis Kirsty Woodcock Stephen Holt Georgia Yexley Marcus Bickerton Tom Payton Simon Irons Jonathan Harrison Daniel Roberts-Hoad

A bill announced in the King’s Speech that would address the potential fire risks associated with e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries, has been welcomed. The Product Safety and Metrology Bill will, “preserve the UK’s status as a global leader in product regulation, supporting businesses and protecting consumers”, according to the background briefing notes. It would also ensure a: “level playing field between the high street and online marketplaces”. The bill will support growth, provide regulatory stability and deliver more protection for consumers by "responding to new product risks and opportunities" to enable the UK to "keep pace" with technological advances, such as AI, and address challenges like the fire risk associated with e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries. "Without these powers, we will not be able to effectively regulate these high-risk products and protect consumers and workers," the document said. https://lnkd.in/eqwZ2R9g