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NBDA names America’s Best Bike Shops for 2014

Published September 9, 2014
A reception for honorees to be held at Interbike.

LAS VEGAS (BRAIN) — The results are in and official for the National Bicycle Dealers Association's America's Best Bike Shops. The retail association will celebrate the nearly 300 shops that made its annual list, now in its second year, at a reception Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

NBDA's America's Best program identifies and honors bicycle stores in North America. Retailers must fill out a detailed application and be evaluated by a mystery shopper to be considered. Points are awarded for customer support, knowledgeable staff, operational excellence, marketing excellence, community involvement, local bike advocacy, national bike advocacy, and the mystery shopper experience. Stores with 370 points and above were awarded the title of "America's Best Bike Shop" for 2014.

"The application was improved in small ways after receiving feedback from the previous year, and was much more specific in explaining what measurable detail was required in each section," said Karen Townsend, who manages the program for the NBDA. "In 2014 the shops stepped up their game and provided detail and less fluff in their applications. Because of this, we chose to keep the scoring the same instead of moving the bar on the shops. There are 4,000 bike shops in the U.S. so this group is still very exclusive."

The shops that made the list have received window clings and certificates, along with an application to the celebration at Interbike.

Applicants for the NBDA's program must be independent bicycle stores that sell bicycles, parts, accessories and have a service department. Fifty percent of the store's total sales must be related to bicycles and be from a physical store location to qualify.

The invite-only reception Wednesday at Interbike is sponsored by J&B Importers, Interbike, Bicycle Retailer, PeopleForBikes, Quality Bicycle Products and Serfas.

Profiles of the shops will run in the November issue of Bicycle Retailer & Industry News.

For the full list, click on the document attached below.

Topics associated with this article: Interbike

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