BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH…
March should bring optimism for bike retailers—longer days, better weather, and rising sales. But Perceptor PHI (product health indicator), a lead indicator, tells a different story. The bicycle market isn’t stabilizing—it’s retreating. PHI typically bottoms out in January sales, when retailers clear old stock. Yet, PHI has now fallen below those levels. Since February’s high, […]
HOW MUCH MORE TURBULANCE CAN BIKE RETAILERS ENDURE?
HOW MUCH MORE TURBULANCE CAN BIKE RETAILERS ENDURE? The bicycle market isn’t navigating bumpy terrain—it’s battling white-water rapids. With price volatility around 20% (matching yesterday’s tariff-related US market selloff), bike shops face uncertainty that would unnerve Wall Street veterans. At MangoMoon, our 10,000+ Perceptor data points reveal a stark divide: a few retailers finding more […]
BLACK FRIDAY – BLACK PLAGUE?
The cycling industry has leaned heavily on discounts, and Black Friday epitomizes this trend. This year, some discounts are exceeding 60%—an increasingly unsustainable approach. Consumers are fatigued by constant sales, creating a cycle of waiting, not buying. A bike is a long-term purchase—riders once upgraded every 2.7 years, now it’s over four years. With such […]
NEW BIKE SALES – TOO MUCH KOOL-AID?
The bicycle industry, much like the car market before it, may be overhyping the return of new bike sales. Are we “drinking our own Kool-Aid” by expecting significant growth in new sales to continue? Currently, 60-70% of global bike sales are new, but with rising costs, sustainability concerns, and better-quality pre-owned options, the used bike […]