On 25 Apr 2013 at 11:58pm Cyclist wrote:
So there I was, pretty happy to see Future Cycles had reopened. Only it is nothing like the shop I knew before. Familiar faces but not the ones I was hoping to see.
After some digging about and asking various people what had happened, I was directed to the Facebook page of Matt the former manager.
Came across this post, makes for an interesting read -
For those that don't know, Future Cycles closed its doors on 14/02. After nearly 20 years of trading in Forest Row and just over 3 years in Lewes.
Even though my shop was breaking even, the Forest Row store was costing more and more to run. Such a large shop in a small village.
For the past month I have been attempting to purchase the remaining stock and to renew the lease under the new name of 'Hub and Handlebar'. Last week my offer was accepted by the liquidators and I was over the moon. The shop I spent many nights tearing apart and rebuilding, the buzz George and I created, the workshop evenings, the loyal customers, the cycle club was all to reemerge.
That was until another party showed interest right after my offer was 'accepted'. The bid they put forward dwarfed my own. Even then after securing more funds and a financial backer I managed to scrape enough to almost double my offer. This was still not enough. As of today I lost the fight for the shop.
Maybe I shouldn't be so sentimental about bricks and mortar, but i'm finding it difficult not to be. As those close to me know, that shop has been a large part of me and I'm sad to see it go.
I do wish the new owners all the best, all local shops need support in this climate of internet sales and decaying high streets. Why they feel the need to own the two bike shops in town, I do not know. Perhaps fear and paranoia.
Thanks to the select few that made Future Cycles great and to those that have supported me with food, work and beer over the past month. It's been a tough one.
On 26 Apr 2013 at 9:36am local wrote:
A story not without some regrets obviously, but I expect the creditors involved are pleased to get more of their money back thanks to the much bigger offer that came forward.
It does sound like this guy was trying to rid himself of his debts and start-up virtually unchanged in the same place, doping the same thing; I don't blame him - I'd try and do the same - but I'm not sure I have too much sympathy for him being 'gazumped'. I do though have real sympathy that his efforts to start and run a business have come to nothing.
On 26 Apr 2013 at 12:34pm GhostBike wrote:
"It does sound like this guy was trying to rid himself of his debts and start-up virtually unchanged in the same place, doping the same thing"
I don't think that's true - Matt was an employee managing the Lewes shop, the whole operation was owned from and started from Forest Row. I don't think he had any ownership, but I might be wrong.
In any case I go to Sydney Street bikes now in Brighton. Only 15 minutes away on the train, as it's right next to Brighton station. There are loads of other bike shops around North Laine, a lot of competition, so standards have to be higher.
On 26 Apr 2013 at 1:15pm Local wrote:
Sorry if I was wrong, but the description read like that of an owner, not an employee. Is there any reason why you don't patronise a Lewes bike shop, Ghostbike?
On 26 Apr 2013 at 4:48pm GhostBike wrote:
Local - I'm not an owner at all, I work in an office job that is nothing to do with cycling.
I do use Lewes shops for servicing and a few odds and ends but when it comes to buying bikes or equipment the choice on offer in Brighton is much better. It's still pretty local to be fair.
On 26 Apr 2013 at 4:54pm GhostBike wrote:
And maybe, like an awful lot of people in Lewes, I work in Brighton?
On 26 Apr 2013 at 6:27pm Really? wrote:
Well done gb, buying in Brighton has always kept the Lewes economy going. Good thinking brother
On 26 Apr 2013 at 8:23pm Cycleman wrote:
If the other bike shop in Lewes is getting hold of Future Cycles then they are doing it to reduce the competition.
Isn't that what the car parts business in the existing future cycles shop do with the car parts shop at the top of town a few years ago. Ran it for a year and then closed it.
On 26 Apr 2013 at 10:07pm Local wrote:
Says in Viva that it's their 'specialist' shop...
On 27 Apr 2013 at 6:55am Grumpy trader wrote:
@ cycleman , yes we did , and the intention was to keep them both going however there just wasn't enough trade for both , oh and how history repeats itself hey ho , At present we still have a high street of sorts but its under a lot of Internet pressure , from my experince I would just say try to shop local if you can .
On 28 Apr 2013 at 4:33pm Winner wrote:
Really? - Well done gb, buying in Brighton has always kept the Lewes economy going. Good thinking brother
So all the London money that comes to the town because Lewes people have jobs in London that should stay in London, right? And all the Tesco/Waitrose/Boots/Superdrug'WHSmith profits that leave Lewes, that's fine too, eh? Try thinking.