Perspective : Ride and Remember
As a small independent retailer, I often wake in the early hours of the morning worrying about whether or not things are going well and whether I’m doing the ‘right’ things. This morning was a 3am Black Friday panic: ‘how do I compete with these massive online businesses who care little for their customers and more for their investors’ bottom line?’ But then my thoughts immediately shifted to “why are we - both as retailers and consumers - so focused on this nonsense when there is so little meaning in it”
This Black Friday I am taking a slightly different approach from that which you might expect from a retailer.
November is an odd month. Early on - and for 1 day only - we focus our attention on the sacrifice of millions for the freedoms we enjoy today. We pay our respects to those lost and to those who continue to fight for our liberties.
Regardless of whether or not you believe in the reasons for conflict or our involvement in them - we owe those who fight, a debt of gratitude.
Later in the month, we focus far too intently on the often pointless spending of cash, on things that matter very little and - bizarrely it seems to me - this goes on for not just a day but in some instances, weeks. In other words, we quickly forget.
I understand that we live in a capitalist society and I’m not denying there is absolutely a right to do this, I just feel compelled to try and draw focus back to far more important elements in our lives.
Our collective focus on buying ‘things’ - often just for the sake of a good deal - along with the expectation that we should be able to have them immediately, is breeding a culture that is losing it’s appreciation of true value.
I propose a little reflection and so , over the coming days I will be posting about outstanding acts of courage from people who have gone above and beyond to allow us our freedom. These people and countless others - as well as riding my bike - help give me perspective; something I feel we are perhaps losing as our world moves forward.
This Black Friday / Cyber Monday and whatever else, rather than waiting for a ‘great deal’ and the short term ‘fulfilment’ of another purchase - go out and ride your bike - there is nothing more liberating than the freedom offered by a simple bike ride. Keep your head up while you do and turn off your gadgets : as cyclists we have become slaves to the numbers in recent years, you’ll be better rewarded than any potential KOM that will ultimately still be there tomorrow.
Rediscover why you chose to ride a bike in the first place : Ride and Remember
If you post up your ride on 'socials' over the coming week stick an #RAR in there and perhaps say what gives you perspective or, better still, make mention of someone who has sacrificed for you (not militarily necessarily) or who enriches your life.
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It is often difficult for me to reconcile my views with the evolving retail industry and I try to keep focussed on delivering real value to my customers through 700, from service, knowledge and high quality products that deliver genuine value: value that is harder to see & understand - and not just the lowest possible price.
Retail is my job and it pays the bills and so I have to play the game as it were. However, I try to play it with integrity, keeping my morals intact - so while 700’s discounts may not be as high as many others, I pay a good wage, I don’t sell bullshit and I have a genuine belief in the products I sell. These are things often difficult to find online, so in this silly season I would urge consumers to go Back to the High Street. Take some time to visit your local independent retailers, the ones that are perceived as expensive, that you may avoid because you can’t get the ‘right amount of money off’ and talk to them about what it is they can offer you.
Ultimately we can - for the most part - all buy things cheaply online. If we continue to do so, then the expertise will disappear, our high streets will become homogenous zones given over to the continued quest for our ‘improved’ personal aesthetic, bigger cars and a trendier cup of coffee!
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Please don’t get me wrong, these are personal opinions - I’m not attacking anybody’s right to shop where and how they want and I’m certainly not suggesting that everybody is shopping the same way. It is not my intention to piss people off.
I am pleased to say that we have a loyal band of customers who get it - I am hugely indebted to them for their support and to many for their friendship. I simply felt it necessary to try and shift perspective - it keeps us humble and ultimately, I believe - makes us better human beings.
Enjoy your riding. Turn that device off ;)
Cheers
Dave