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16 months after opening, Giant Store Sheffield has found the proportion of female cycle customers is becoming ever more significant.
The store, centrally located on Queens Road, close to Bramall Lane, has cited inspirational results from British women riders and the introduction of key races like La Course by the Tour de France and the UK’s own Women’s Tour.
According to the retailer, nearly a third of all their bike customers in 2014 were female riders. The shop includes a dedicated Liv area within its stores, as with the rest of the UK’s Giant Stores.
The shop offers rides, special evenings in-store and more that are tailored to its female customers.
Store manager Andy Liversidge added “After our well attended Breeze evening, working closely with our friend, local Breeze Champion, and Liv Avail rider Janine Morrall we have established a series of progressive road rides for 2015 that will be fantastic for any woman looking to build up mileage and fitness on the road, along with learning some valuable climbing and descending techniques. They’ll include a coffee stop and finish with a nice warm brew in the shop too. It will be great to see groups of our customers getting together and enjoying cycling, that’s exactly what it’s all about.
“Female cyclists are part of a massive and ever growing market, you cannot ignore that. I had a strong insight into what vast numbers of women wanted from a local bike shop before opening and there was an obvious lack of out of hours activities. This is something that we have really pushed hard to establish over the last 12 months. Product offering is key, but beyond that we’ve listened to our female visitors and customers, adapted, and then catered accordingly. Some women are off put by bike shops, but not here. They’re encouraged to come in and it’s great to see that so many women are continuing to appreciate our efforts. Our level of service is very strong, my staff are knowledgeable and genuinely passionate about what they do which is great.
"Having female staff in the store also bridges the gap when it comes to being able to offer first had experience of products, highlighting something as small as being able to put a pony tail through the back of a helmet tension system is priceless! We’ve established women only maintenance classes, title sponsored women’s races such as the Tickhill Grand Prix, hosted several women only evenings, our latest being an introduction to the Breeze Network working closely with five local Breeze Champions. All these things have attracted a large female customer base that we continue to help and guide on their cycling journey.”
For more details on the women only rides visit Giant Sheffield Events page. Giant Store Sheffield have several more out of hours events lined up throughout the year for both women and men plus mixed socials. Find out more at www.giant-sheffield.co.uk
