After a successful launch of a £70,000 crowdfunding campaign to renovate its shop and workshop, the Scottish e-bike firm Electric Cycle Company has reportedly announced its plans to move to a 4000 sq. ft., carbon-neutral Edinburgh-based premise, which will be the largest e-bike shop in the UK.
Sources cite the construction work of the new electric bike store is expected to begin next week and will take an estimated six weeks to finish. The new premise will be the four times the size of the existing workshop and retail space in Granton Road. The new e-bike shop is expected to open in early September and will be the first-of-kind carbon-neutral bike shop in the United Kingdom.
According to sources familiar with the knowledge of the matter, the company is also planning to mount solar panels on the roof and battery banks for the lighting as well as bike charging. The facility will be equipped with a biomass boiler that that runs on waste packaging for heating purpose.
Apparently, the Electric Cycle Company’s decision to move to new premises comes on the back of an increase in the sales during coronavirus pandemic. It has recorded a minimum 80% increase in sales during lockdown compared to the same period in 2019.
Speaking on which, Neill Hope, Managing Director of Electric Cycle Company said that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the demand for bikes as people have not been using public transport during a pandemic. People are feeling confident about cycling on the roads with family for their daily exercise or to get to the shops or work, he added.
Most of the e-bikes are being sold at price between £2000 to £3000 and there has been an equal split of female and male customers with an age range between the mid-20s to over 60s.
Source Credit - https://www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/18577706.scottish-e-bike-firm-moving-much-bigger-premises-sales-soar/