Preston-based bike brand and retailer Ribble Cycles has opened a pop-up store in Cardiff city centre.
Located in the St David’s Centre in the heart of the Welsh capital, the store covers 3,000 square feet and is located next to the Apple Store, reports Cycle Industry News. The store will be open until early next year.
It will feature the latest offer from the Lancashire brand, including its 2017 range which was unveiled last month at the Cycle Show.
Bikes ordered there – including via Ribble’s Bikebuilder service which allows customers to put together a bike to their own specifications – can either be picked up from the store once ready, or sent to a work or home address.
The company’s CEO, Jon Owen, said: “Ribble is well known for designing and building fantastic bikes, and offering customers endless customisation possibilities through our e-commerce platform.
“With this exciting pop up showroom initiative in Cardiff, we’re trialling ways of bringing that range to life, so customers who want to touch and feel our bikes can do just that.
“We’re really excited about the potential.
“Cardiff and the surrounding area is a perfect place for cycling.
“There are a number of great clubs in the area to help introduce people to cycling and the region is known to have produced top cycling talent.
“We look forward to welcoming the local cycling community at our showroom,” he added.
Ribble is the latest brand to open a pop-up store, with Sigma Sport launching a clearance outlet in Kingston and Temple Cycles opening a shop in its home city Bristol last month - although both of those were very much short-term ventures and are now shut.
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5 comments
Here we have a Lancashire based company opening up a new shop in Wales yet on another story we have a Lancashire based company, CycleLife Ratcliffe's of Leigh, closing down.
I know Ribble are not at fault for this but its a shame when you see the bigger companies opening new premises when the small "corner shop" style businesses, which most people love to visit, are closing down.
If I had to buy something on the internet then I'd choose Ribble over Wiggle or CRC any day. But I can't help feeling that any LBS in Cardiff isn't going to be happy at losing their xmas trade to a pop up.
Perhaps but the competition already existed online.
Anyone who does even a cursory bit of research before buying a new bike will be aware of Ribble already.
In the era of direct selling LBSs will probably have to focus more on maintainance/servicing in order to survive.
Most car dealerships offer servicing packages with a new car, maybe the LBSs should do something similar?
Ribble is a cracking brand, they may not have the panache of a high end brand but I dont think you get much better bang for your buck. I nervously bought a R872 this year and its a cracking bike and a hell of a lot better than the £950 I paid for it, especially when, despite paying for 105 they end up fulfilling the order with full Ultegra!
I think for those of us who cant afford a Bianchi, Mason etc they are pretty good and better than giving your money to Halfords.
It's a cracking initiative and I like seeing Ribble fight back as I think they've become a little forgotten. Rents are huge there so it won't last. It would be nice to see some clothing etc on sale as well but there we are. This sort of shop is becoming quite popular now.