BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Earlier this month, Gearmechhanger.com underwent a rebrand. The business is also upgrading its offerings and has made changes to postage costs.
Gearmechhanger.com are a specialist supplier of Derailleur Hangers in the UK. Launched in 2011, Andy has been in the industry since 1989.
Following the launch of the new website, Andy, winner of the 2024 BikeBiz Specialist Distributor Award, got in touch to talk about the changes:
We have transfered user accounts across to the new site, but we could not do passwords, as these were secure to users.
Can all registered customers please use your existing username (your email address) and then click on ‘Lost your password’ follow the email link and create a new password, this will then give you access to your account details. Or you’re welcome to create a new account. – Andy, Gearmechhanger.com
We asked him about the new website and what this means for his customers.
Your new Gearmechhanger.com website has just launched. What are the key improvements and features that you’re most excited about, and how will these benefit your customers?
We have greatly improved the search facility on the website to help mechanics and customers quickly find the correct hanger for their bikes.
We all know hangers can be a minefield to navigate, so improving the search and showing clear images from all sides hopefully will make all the difference alongside important tech information, and of course, I am always here at the end of a phone or email to help.
Congratulations again on winning our Specialist Distributor award last year! Looking back, what do you think resonated most with voters about Gearmechhanger.com? What does the award mean to you and the business?
Never in a million years would I have thought I could have won this award, having been supplying derailleur hangers and parts to the cycle trade for over 14 years, it came as a complete shock.
I love the cycle trade and always will, I hope that I was recognised for my dedication to the cycle trade, providing a top-notch service to cycle mechanics. A Bikebiz award is a great honour for any business, but for a one-man band to win against established businesses means so much.
You’ve been in the bike trade since 1989 and running Gearmechhanger.com since 2011. What’s the biggest change you’ve witnessed in the industry during that time, and how has it influenced your business?
Having started as a cycle mechanic back in 1989, progressed through the ranks and then opened a shop in 1997, and then moved into being a sales agent in the south, and now a supplier for the last 14 years, I feel that I have a good overview of the cycle trade having experienced it from all angles. It’s certainly changed for sure, with the ups and down in the supplier chain, but the biggest change is customer’s buying habits, and what customers expect from their local cycle shop.
Most shops have evolved to cope with this, providing a professional service, with in-depth knowledgeable staff, this is the way forward for sure, make the local bike shop great again!
Postage costs are always a hot topic. What prompted you to revise your shipping rates, and how do you hope this will benefit your customers?
Agreed, one of the biggest issues for me was postage costs, postage costs are ever-increasing with the Royal Mail, and I wanted to be fair to everyone, so a decision was made to reduce the delivery cost of single items, and to introduce FREE postage for all orders over £50.
Hopefully, this will help the cycle mechanics to maybe purchase a couple of hangers at a time so they can support their customers and the bike brands that they sell in store. Everyone likes FREE postage!
You mentioned expanding your PILO Engineering CNC range. What’s on the horizon for Gearmechhanger.com in terms of new products or services? Any sneak peeks you can share?
Well, PILO are always adding new hangers to their line up, its an ever-expanding product range, we currently stock over 1,300 CNC derailleur hangers, over 100 types of cast hangers too, and nearly 100 CNC narrow wide chainrings, this category is ever-growing for us as shops discover the engineering quality and durability of PILO’s chainrings.
Going forward, I have heard that PILO will be making a range of CNC axles, so this may well be the next category to keep an eye on.
For bike shops and mechanics who rely on quick turnaround times, how does Gearmechhanger.com help them get the parts they need efficiently? Does the new site make that process even smoother?
Well, our improved search will certainly help mechanics find the right product quickly, we send all our products out the same day of ordering (Monday to Friday) and use 24-hour tracked postage, so hopefully most orders will be with you the next day!
We offer many options online to pay, having just introduced Google Pay and Apple Pay, so making using your phone and the checkout process much smoother and quicker.
Beyond just supplying parts, you also offer expert advice. How can bike shops and mechanics tap into your knowledge and experience to find the right derailleur hanger or chainring?
I am always here, although my hours are normal on weekdays, I am only a phone call, email, or WhatsApp message away and often find myself answering customer queries during the evening and at the weekend.
Because I stare at derailleur hangers 24/7 I hope I have the knowledge to help.
When someone breaks a hanger and they need a spare, for an important event coming up or a trip away, suddenly I become the 4th emergency service! I need to be there to get them back on their bikes quickly and smoothly, remember ‘don’t have a mare, carry a spare’ No one likes doing the walk of shame back to their car, or calling someone for a lift home, when all they need is a 15g spare hanger with them.
