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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.
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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.
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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.
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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…

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UK bike sales hit 20-year low but long-term outlook remains positive

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

The Annual Market Data Report for 2022 from The Bicycle Association (BA) reports annual cycle sales in the UK fell to 1.88 million units in 2022, a 20-year low, 27% below pre-COVID levels in 2019.

cycles parked

Sales of children’s bikes fell 28% below 2019 totals, dropping to 700,000 units sold in 2022. Sales of e-bikes have plateaued in the U.K. since 2020.

The report discusses key drivers shaping the market, including international comparisons between the UK and other markets. Sales in other key markets, including the US, have also been lower than pre-pandemic levels.

Although the outlook for this year remains challenging, it is expected that once the economic outlook has improved and overall supply and demand has returned to a more even keel, the longer-term prospects for the cycling market remain positive.

Commenting on the findings, Jonathan Harrison from the Association of Cycle Traders said:

“This will not come as a surprise to bike retailers, who are more than aware of the challenging economic climate and the effect it is having. However, we believe that by being creative, agile, and customer-focused, the sector will emerge stronger, particularly if together with government and local authorities, we can reinforce cycling’s position as a safe and attractive method of transport.”

The report shows how the UK bike market could recover, including selling more e-bikes, sales of which are far lower than in the rest of Europe.
Addressing this, the report adds, requires increased support and greater focus on cycling’s role in UK economic growth and net-zero strategy with local investment.

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