Group 1 Automotive’s Post

Here's another one for the collection. www.sampledrop.co.uk If you know me, you'll know I was raised on skis. I've competed, coached, instructed, and worked within ski and snowboard retail. Having the combination of the beautiful (queue sarcasm) genius' behind Brexit and the unfortunate event of Covid meant I had to leave my coaching and ski days behind. To say I miss it is an understatement. Not the ski racing politics in the slightest, but the Snowsport Industries of Great Britain (SIGB) are to thank for some of my best memories on snow. So how could I slot back in, I wondered. *Enters Sample Drop. I started up Sample Drop in May. Smart, let's start a winter shop at the beginning of Summer, I know... But the ideas there. Samples are somewhat a pain in the industry. They are used for two purposes only (sales to retailers or media photoshoots) and then left to gather dust. Some samples aren't even samples; they are produced as part of a previous run or a guaranteed run, knowing they're going into the market. So they are as new and made to the same quality. Most of my skis are still in cellophane! Not to mention, it promotes sustainability, making use of something that has been used for its job already. Sample Drop hosts these items and sells them at a price better than anything else I've seen. We only have one-offs, so be quick. I'll happily direct you to a local retailer if you miss out. I've started with what I know, which is ski related. But my vision is to bring all sorts of samples from different sports to the website. Check us out. As always. Open to feedback and interrogation. However, if you disapprove of my personally designed logo, you're black listed 😆

From the linked Vosper article, it's interesting to read how despite common belief, data shows that many of the new cyclists from the COVID surge are still out on their bikes. Insights from the National Sporting Goods Association and PeopleForBikes show cycling participation remains strong, with adult ridership holding steady at higher levels than pre-pandemic. Despite this, the industry still faces challenges with excess inventory and sluggish new bike sales. Service revenues look to be up as more riders bring their bikes in for maintenance, showing a positive trend compared to the sales hurdles. To hear Specialized anticipating pricing pressures and inventory issues extending into 2025 shows both hope and a need to still weather the storm. Overall, as the market adjusts, the resilience of cycling participation offers a silver lining for the industry and hopefully communities as a whole. #Cycling #BikeIndustry #MarketTrends #RetailRecovery #CyclingCommunity https://lnkd.in/gBccxQ_H

Race your bike, then get a tattoo at the finish line? This past weekend, I competed in the 200km "The Traka" off-road cycling race in Girona, Spain. At the finish village, there was an intriguing sponsored stand offering competitors a free ice cream or a free small tattoo from a selection of eight pre-designed templates. While getting some new ink to commemorate an athletic achievement can seem appealing in the moment, the potential pitfalls of making permanent decisions in less-than-ideal states makes it unwise. After hours of intense cycling ranging from 5 to 20 hours, many finishers were likely dehydrated, fatigued, and emotionally charged - whether elated from achieving their goal or disappointed if they fell short. In such compromised physical and mental conditions, our judgement can easily be clouded. And yet, our organisations and teams often make decisions in suboptimal states. For instance, research shows 42% of leaders get less than 6 hours of sleep per night (https://lnkd.in/eRQR7p8y.). Making major decisions while sleep-deprived increases the risk of flawed reasoning and poor choices. We're also susceptible to projection bias, where we wrongly assume our current preferences will remain unchanged far into the future. A tattoo design that resonates today may not appeal to our future selves as tastes and identities evolve. Ditto for assumptions about the preferences of customers and stakeholders. Within organisations, major initiatives like product launches or asset sales can be derailed by decision-makers who are overly influenced by factors like: -Emotional investment after months of work on a project -Conflicts of interest or rivalries among stakeholders -Group-think or inertia preventing a candid re-assessment Great decision-makers stay aware of how their physical and psychological states can distort judgement. They actively combat biases through techniques like: -Deliberately delaying high-stakes decisions until reaching a calm, well-rested condition; -Having a dialectical process to thoroughly air divergent views; -Using pre-commitment decision rules and heuristics For decisions big or small, being self-aware about our inherent human vulnerabilities to biases, and proactively managing the decision-making process, leads to higher quality choices, and over time that leads to success and fulfilment. And, BTW - I passed on getting any new ink. #decisionmaking

👟👟👟 Modern Running... A performance art? 🩳🩳🩳 In this article, we dig into the emerging culture (and sub-cultures) around contemporary running. Because we love running. And, running is 𝙘𝙤𝙤𝙤𝙤𝙤𝙡 in 2024 - it’s emerging as a coveted aesthetic and lifestyle by millennials especially - often in the place of more hedonistic pursuits. It's evolving from a performance practice, into a bit of a performance art. Runners are planning their fits. Runners want to look cool while they sweat and die out on the track. So, what comes first to the modern runner; the medal or the race day photo dump? Race down to the link to find out 👇🏾🏁 #running #modernrunning #runningconsumer #consumerinsight #runningbrands #runningmarketing #consumerbehavior https://lnkd.in/eiPR_wH3

The rise of running into fashion, street and sub cultures as we can see it growing from the pandemic time 📈 100% agree with this analysis: a new kind of consumers is already here and this category expands. The modern runner seeks for a healthy mind, to get this endorphin shot / achievement feeling, to be stylish while running 🕺 “Half-marathons are replacing hangovers. Strava segments over sambuca shots.” This is a main shift into people’s habits, I also experienced it. Atm, both big running brands and newly created running brands got it. Running has now its own aesthetic. New runners want the latest carbon or glass fiber shoes to join the movement ⚡️ The running market is now a mix of : • “OG runners” who don’t care about style, they want sustainable shoes to run +1000km, a shoe they can rely on and who sticks to the brands they know. Always buying the same shoes, the latest version of it but on sale. • “pioneer runner”: the ones who run since a long time, but also have been part of developing this running aesthetic and trend. Usually athletes, local running groups leaders, retailers who are passionated about running. They were estimated as weirdos by most of the people a few years before the pandemic situation. • “modern runners” which run since a few years, which seek for new PB’s and to be stylish both on their easy jogs and on the starting line. They are the ones who broadcast this aesthetic. They are running enthusiasts, passionated about running but moreover the lifestyle around it. They are content creators (photographers and film makers) which participated into developing this aesthetic. The ones who are eager to discover new independant brands, to explore new challenges, to differentiate from the average runner, to buy the latest collab’ or trendy running accessory. • “newbie modern runners”: curious about running, looking at and then following the trend. Just started running, just got his/her first pair of Hoka Clifton, with a trail backpack to run through the city and aiming to get a pair of Nike Alphafly’s for their 1st 10k race. • “beginners / average runners”: they aren’t familiar (yet) with the running aesthetic in its fashion sense. They might miss it. They just run for fun, once a week, because they heard it’s good for their body and mind. And they’re convinced about it. They’re not especially eager to sign up for a race without a friend suggesting to do so. Honestly I’ve been part of the 3 latest categories, and there isn’t any negative thoughts by describing those. We all have a different approach to our running journey 🤷♂️ Key point is really is this mindset shift: people seek for mental health. Running is a good way to reach this balanced lifestyle. And the fact that running is spreading through a wider scope of old / regular / new consumers is a good thing for the entire society 🫂 Sport is one of the best investment you could do for your health. Let’s run 🏃♀️🏃🏃♂️

Nice approach of defining what "the modern runner" is and how subcultural running has become. Wanna talk about how lifestyle and running have merged already and how to interact with a contemporary running community as a brand!? Let's talk.

Let me share a tale about Juan, the mastermind behind fixing my #ElliptiGo and ask what you think about the motto I came up with for him. 💡 For those unfamiliar, the ElliptiGo resembles a gym machine on the loose. It's a head-turner on the roads, often sparking conversations with curious bikers.  I love it because it feels more like running than cycling and weighing 40 pounds, it’s beautifully inefficient, which makes for a better workout.  This unique bike, with its custom parts and intricate assembly, poses a challenge when it comes to finding reliable service. Enter Juan, the mobile bike repair shop. He spent hours replacing the housing, changing the load wheels, teaching me how to keep the rails clean.  He took so much pride in his work and meanwhile told me his story. His dad was a bike racer in Mexico. He worked in bike shops for 20 years, but hated the feeling of being rushed to get to the next bike.  He won a competition in Las Vegas among 9,800 fellow bicycle repairers. His boss gave him a raise, but eventually his shop closed and all the customers began calling him.  His business was born..  Brand Positioning for Juan Noting that all I had was his mobile number, no web site or business card, I asked Juan how he described his business.  Do you have a motto?  He looked down and said no.  An idea struck me.  What if I could describe your business in two words? He said, no I don’t think it’s possible. How about: The Bike Whisperer.  He smiled. Meanwhile I started imagining his web site and business cards and call script.  What do you think about positioning Juan as the Bike Whisperer?  Have you ever given marketing advice to a stranger?! 🚴♀️ 🎉

Owning a StarCycle studio is about more than just dynamic cycling classes—it's about creating multiple revenue streams to ensure your business thrives. One significant avenue is retail. From branded apparel to premium workout gear, our retail offerings not only enhance the member experience but also boost your bottom line. Imagine your members sporting stylish StarCycle gear both in and out of the studio, showcasing their commitment and spreading the word. Interested in learning more about maximizing retail revenue? Let’s chat about the endless possibilities!

Fall/ Winter Ride Essentials: Base Layers

Life is better on two wheels 🚲That’s what Mike’s Bike Shop from Dieppe, New Brunswick believes. From sweeping floors of a local bike shop to running his own successful cycling business, founder Rick Snyder is one of this year’s #BackingSmall winners! Rick’s story begins all the way back in 1979 when his fascination with BMX bikes led him to volunteer at a local business: “There was a cool bike shop at the end of my school’s street, and I would spend every spare hour there absorbing everything I could.” All that dedication eventually paid off when Rick was offered a job at the store, and his love of cycling only grew from there: “I can remember the shop owner telling clients that they should wait to talk to me because I was the expert. That was an amazing feeling!” After 25 years working at the store he grew up in, Rick and his wife Heather seized the opportunity to buy Mike’s Bike Shop. The small independent store now offers a wide selection of bicycles, parts, and accessories to cycling enthusiasts all over North America from their storefront in the Maritimes. The e-commerce side of the business has grown rapidly over the last five years and shipping has played a key role in their expansion: “In the online marketplace, your customer rating is the face of your business. We’ve learned how important shipping is: from timely and consistent store pick-ups from our courier partners, all the way through to consistent on-time delivery to our end consumer.” But for Rick, the real driving force behind the company’s growth is their mix of passion and people, something he reflects on when asked to share advice for budding entrepreneurs: “Hire smart people and allow them to have roles and freedom to make smart decisions.” It’s the reason why, when it comes to using their $5,000 #BackingSmall cash prize, Rick intends to make sure that everyone benefits: “We’ll decide on an important piece of in-store equipment that can make the workplace better for the entire staff.” To learn more about Mike's Bike Shop and the rest of the 2024 #BackingSmall winners, head over to fedex.ca/backingsmall #FedEx #SMB #entrepreneur