Running a BMX Shop during the pandemic: BMX24SEVEN (NED)

Dec 28, 2020

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 3222 times

Shop name: BMX24SEVEN
Location: BOXMEER, NL
Years in business: 21 YEARS
Best year yet: 2019
Worst year yet: Our company grew every year, in 2020 we cannot continue the growth.

2020 has been, well, different. When did Covid-19 turn up and start influencing your business?
Sander Bisseling: Almost immediately, when covid 19 appeared in China at the end of 2019, this had a direct impact on deliveries and productions that we deal with.

Did you take any action from the start or were you thinking this would be over in a few weeks?

Sander Bisseling: I think the whole world was skeptical. We all thought it will stay in China but that is of course an unfair thought with all the travel movements that are made nowadays.

Now, being in this situation for many months, how did you manage to keep your business rolling?
Sander Bisseling: After the delays in China that we had to live with, the virus eventually also came to Europe. So when China started to reboot a bit in March, countries in Europe were locked. We immediately noticed this in the online sales, but the biggest impact was the closing of the sports clubs in the Netherlands and the countries around us in March. In the first weeks we had enough work in arrears. But after a while it became quiet and we asked our staff to think along and take days off where possible, which they eventually did. Focusing on a different way of selling was quite difficult as the entire sport was really closed. We were, however, able to work ahead towards the 2021 productions.

The supply chain has also suffered. Has it been a challenge getting the bikes/product in stock that you needed for your customers?
Sander Bisseling: We always have a fairly large stock, so when BMX clubs reopened in Europe, we were able to deliver immediately. After a while it became more difficult because productions are now months behind and deliveries of certain models are not possible.

Have you been able to keep your shop open all this time?
Sander Bisseling: The store has only been locked for 2 weeks now, when the government decided to do so. We are still doing repairs and we focus on online sales, which fortunately now continues with the sports clubs still open.

If so, what are measures you had to take to keep the door open?
Sander Bisseling: From the entrance, you will be guided to the counter by construction fences, where customers hand in their bicycle for repair and collect it in the same way. The store is therefore not accessible to visitors. Everyone who enters must wear a mouth mask.

Have internet sales/mail-order sales made up for loss of shop sales?
Sander Bisseling: Not made up for the loss, but limited the damage..

During the pandemic has it been difficult to organize local events to support the local scene and get the customers in the shop?
Sander Bisseling: Yes, that was certainly difficult, you are expected to comply with the regulations and then you are limited. For example, we removed our end-of-year show from this week from the calendar some time ago.

What mouth masks do you sell?
Sander Bisseling: We currently do not sell masks

When do you believe this mess will be over?
Sander Bisseling: We wish it were over, of course, but it will take a while. Fortunately, almost all countries have started to vaccinate, which will hopefully ensure peace in the summer. The mutated virus that is currently coming from England is bothering us.

Thanks to?
Sander Bisseling: First of all, of course, all our customers, many of them are and remain loyal to us, even in these difficult times. Of course also to you, Bart, keep on providing us with the latest news in the BMX scene.

Your website: www.bmx24seven.com