French Bike Sales Down 6%

PARIS, France – Bike sales in France dropped 6.2% in 2006. 3,527,700 bicycles were sold in France last year compared to 3,760,200 in 2005. According to the French industry association Tous à Vélo last year’s sales in terms of value dropped 4% at a total value of € 828.4 million. Despite the 6% drop in numbers and 4% in terms of euros, the year 2006 comes second-best over the past 5 years.
 
The distribution in business figures and types of bicycles remains stable; mountainbikes and road racers still take 60% of the overall business figure. The average consumer price of a bike in France is € 235 or 2% over the 2005 price level. Prices for mountainbikes and road racers have increased on average more than those 2%, for other bikes the average price was equal or even slightly lower than in 2005.

As for distribution, the market sticks to the Multisports chains like Decathlon or Go-Sport, for the volume product, but they get good competition from independent specialist dealers and dealers belonging to a shop formula. The latter make slight progress when compared with the independent dealers.

In turnover, the dealers as a whole take a 53% market share, selling the expensive leisure bikes. The bike activities of the food and household supermarket chains keep diminishing although they still sell 60% of the small children’s bikes and toy bikes.

A slow starter in France, 2006 saw 6000 new electric bikes find their way to dedicated customers, and once the message gets through this will certainly be an extra category to increase the bike market. (IB)

Related items on Bike-eu.com:

• Cycleurope to sell Machecoul factory
• Home market puts Decathlon under pressure
• Go-Sport: Bigger market share, but still in the red
• Decathlon: New logistic platform