It is common to test drive a car before purchasing it; some dealerships even offer a 24-hour period. However, it is not common to test ride a bike before purchasing it, and Richard and Oskar believed that needed to change. So, he began allowing customers to book a test ride through his website. Recently, he upgraded this experience with Booqable’s embeddable website components.
Veloroo CycleHub
Richard Hudson and Oskar Brailsford are lifelong friends from the UK who moved to Berlin. They spent over a decade in the bicycle industry as mechanics, shop leads, and consultants. Eventually, in 2022, they decided it was time to open a new bicycle concept store called Veleroo CycleHub. The first location was opened in Berlin, with a second soon following in Munich.
They aim to revolutionize the typical bike store experience by bringing customers closer to their bikes and the local cycling community. Inside, their store offers a showroom, test rides, consultations, and a professional bicycle workshop. This setup allows them to offer a unique experience to customers with the full complement of services an avid cyclist may require.
Experienced cyclists and newcomers frequent their stores to upgrade their bikes or find something new. Their service stands out by allowing potential and existing customers to book a test ride in advance. This is a unique selling point, and most bike stores do not offer this option to their customers. They have seen their sales performance grow rapidly as a result and built a loyal customer base and community.
A better online offering
When Richard and Oskar first started Veloroo CycleHub, they allowed customers to book bicycles through a contact form on their website. However, this became very time-consuming, and it was challenging to keep up with requests. So, they searched for a system that provided “a smooth, visible system to allow integration with my website and partner websites.”
They tried many solutions, from generic to bike-specific rental software, with mixed results. Ultimately, they found Booqable the most versatile system for their needs and were impressed with all its features. Customers can now view a selection of bikes on their website, check the availability, and book a test ride. This has made it easier than ever to book without contacting a person.
Meanwhile, all bookings are managed in the backend of Booqable, which ensures bikes are never double-booked. Customers have an excellent experience from the moment they visit the website to the moment they pick up the bike for their test ride, which has helped increase the number of bookings Veleroo CycleHub receives.
Big ambitions
Having been open in two locations for about two years, Richard and Oskar are preparing to take Veloroo CycleHub to the next level. In the next five years, they hope to become a recognized name across Europe, with stores in every popular city. This is an almighty goal to achieve, but with their wealth of experience and a keen eye for the market, this pair is going to reach new heights in the coming years.
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