Are you going to be OK though Paul? Have you got something else lined up?
The store I work at should be OK, they have pre-ordered enough to keep them going, with demand so high and supply so poor as soon as a bike arrives it's pretty much snapped up. That said on a purely personal note I am still part time-furloughed as my role is not really needed at the moment. I guess I will not know until the furlough scheme comes to an end and how the trade is at that time as to if I will be needed; or not.
At the moment stores are pretty much 'click and collect', we win a sale over a competitor as we happen to have the stock, I don't really play much of a part in that equation to be honest, I would have been far more when I was at Pearsons, GB and Corridori where I had more of a managerial role including product choices and stock control; with the exception of
Van Nicholas I am far less involved in that side of a bike store these days. Back when bike availability was better we would win a sale as hopefully the customer felt we deserved it as we offered a superior service, that is where my personal role as a bike fitter and someone who is happy to invest time with someone helping them choose their perfect bike in perfect size adds value to an employer as well as the consumer. Fingers crossed things go back to how they were as not only have I always felt that was the correct and proper way to do things, on a selfish note it is was part of my personal USP and has helped to keep me employed all these years and I hope will continue to do so.
My fear is that I don't see things reverting back anytime soon, it looks like demand will far outstrip supply for the next year or so. On a positive note it looks like we can resume bike fitting soon (with appropriate Covid safety measures) and even though bikes choices are diminished at the moment some are still keen to have a fitting prior to making that choice. There is also a chance that supply will improve and things will revert back quicker as restrictions lift; it's just a bit of a waiting game to see how things pan out really.
Odd times; thanks for asking Greg, much appreciated