BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news

The July edition of Bike Biz magazine will contain a meaty sector guide devoted to BMX. Suppliers of BMX products should get in touch ASAP if they want to be featured.

Sales of sat-nav and iPod connection kits have helped Halfords to report better-than-average retail sales for a High Street player. Sales of its own-brand bikes have also been strong. The company will release its full-year results on Thursday and because it faces few "strategic challenges", a City analyst firm believes shares in Halfords represent an "attractive investment."

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Or how the Old Bill wanted custom neckwear from Fort Bill...

Half of small businesses across England are missing out on money that "could make the difference between staying afloat and going bankrupt," a survey by the Local Government Association revealed today. "Many of the shops that face the biggest cost increases are the very ones that the local community depends on," said the chairman of the LGA. "They have nothing to lose by contacting their local council as they could see their rates bill slashed by half."