{$inpagemarkup}

Search News

Results: 1-10 of 650


Small Business Strategy Inquiry 2025 - ACT and Bira call for members to share their voice

20 Jun 2025

The House of Commons Business and Trade Committee has asked the ACT, and its parent company Bira, to help them reach out to small business retailers across the country, for their quick input on... Read more…

Beyond the discount: Restoring integrity to the cycle supply chain

18 Jun 2025

The Association of Cycle Traders believes the time has come for greater accountability throughout our supply chain, writes ACT Director Jonathan Harrison in an article published for BikeBiz.
Read more…

Bira welcomes Wales' business rates proposals but calls for key improvements

11 Jun 2025

Bira has welcomed the Welsh Government's consultation on business rate reforms for retail shops, whilst calling for significant improvements to ensure the proposals truly support high street... Read more…

New awards launch to champion Britain's independent high street heroes

9 Jun 2025

Retailers on Britain's high streets are being encouraged to put themselves forward for the first-ever Love Your High Street Awards, designed to celebrate the small businesses that bring... Read more…

"Tectonic shift" in employment law threatens independent retailer viability, warns Bira podcast

6 Jun 2025

Independent retailers are facing a "generational" transformation of employment law that could fundamentally change how small businesses operate, according to the final episode of Bira's first... Read more…

Retailers hope warm weather and bank holidays will boost high street sales

16 May 2025

ACT parent company Bira has said that members are hopeful the warm weather, Easter weekend and upcoming bank holidays will provide a much-needed boost to high street sales.
Read more…

Economic growth surges to 0.7%, but "April reality check" looms for high street retailers

15 May 2025

UK economy delivers strongest quarterly performance in a year despite forecasts of business downturn.
Read more…

Communities come together for Local Bike Shop Day 2025 celebrations

13 May 2025

Local Bike Shop Day 2025 brought a wave of... Read more…

ACT parent company Bira welcomes Bank of England's latest interest rate cut

8 May 2025

ACT parent company Bira has welcomed the Bank of England's decision to reduce interest rates from 4.5% to 4.25%, calling it a "much-needed boost" for the retail sector, including for cycling... Read more…

ACT parent company Bira responds to Beales' "Rachel Reeves Closing Down Sale" as iconic store makes final protest

8 May 2025

ACT parent company Bira has responded to the news that the 144-year-old Beales department store is staging a "Rachel Reeves Closing Down Sale" in its final weeks of trading, with giant yellow... Read more…

Back to news menu

Local Bike Shop Day 2020 postponed following retailer vote

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

On the 23rd March, retailers across the UK were left feeling uncertain after being informed by the Prime Minister that any unessential shops must close for the safety of people across the UK, following the outbreak of COVID-19.

However, due to the key role that cycling retailers play in the transportation of essential workers, bicycle shops were deemed as a "notable exception" and permitted to stay open.

During these times, bicycles offer a solution to many problems currently being faced by isolating Brits across the UK; a safe mode of transport, a way of keeping fit, a way to get fresh air, all whilst enabling the cyclist to maintain a 2 metre distance from others and have minimal contact with surfaces and objects.

Taking into consideration the key role that bike shops will be playing during these difficult times, and with public safety being of the utmost importance, it is with great sadness that the ACT are announcing the postponement of Local Bike Shop Day 2020.

Local Bike Shop Day was originally set to take place on Saturday the 2nd of May. This decision was not taken lightly, and since it is a day encompassing the whole trade, the final judgement was given to the bike shops that had signup to take part. The ACT surveyed all participating shops last week.

Out of all the respondents the overwhelming majority - over 90% - voted in favour of postponing. Furthermore, other key partners who were supporting Local Bike Shop Day, including Cyclescheme, Insync, Freewheel and Cycling UK were all in agreement that postponement was the right thing to do.

The information obtained through the survey also provided some guidance as to when Local Bike Shop Day should be deferred to. From the results there is a clear month the respondents have in mind; however the finer details need to be agreed upon with all engaged parties before a date is set.

Following suggestions from retailers and suppliers, there may still be some scope for a Virtual Local Bike Shop Day on the originally planned date of the 2nd May. If you have any suggestions how this could work in your shop, please let us know info@theact.org.uk.

More information on the new date and the virtual bike shop day to follow.

In the meantime the ACT have published the latest information and advice tailored specifically for specialist cycle retailers at cycleassociation.uk/covid-19.

The resources section contains specific advice for retailers choosing to remain open and operational advice for mobile mechanics has also been issued.

Back to news menu

Useful links

If you have any other queries please contact us.