COVID-19 has claimed all manner of victims and casualties.
In the latter category are restaurants and stores that closed for good. I hope that Broadway Silk will not join them. In addition to beautiful fabrics and sewing needs--including rare and unusual buttons and zippers --they sell handcrafted scarves, pens, bracelets, purses and other items. The sign announcing their "temporary" closure on March 18 is still attached to the door.
His shop has "a reputation for good refurbished bicycles," so he doesn't expect the new bike shortage to slow him down. Still, he's not taking any chances: He recently bought billboard space in town and taken out newspaper ads.
In the latter category are restaurants and stores that closed for good. I hope that Broadway Silk will not join them. In addition to beautiful fabrics and sewing needs--including rare and unusual buttons and zippers --they sell handcrafted scarves, pens, bracelets, purses and other items. The sign announcing their "temporary" closure on March 18 is still attached to the door.
On the other hand, there are businesses that have become victims of their newfound prosperity. One of the first such enterprises I heard about was a funeral home that had to turn people away. Ironically, they are in the same boat, if you will, as many bike shops.
These days, most bikes, components and accessories come from China or other Asian countries. Those supply chains have been disrupted. Even bikes and parts that are still made in Europe or Japan are difficult to find because international transportation has been interrupted.
As a result, many bike shops are accepting trade-ins and buying used bikes wherever they can be found. James Moore, the owner of Moore's Bike Shop in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, says that "folks call, then text me photos." If the bike "meets our strategy," he explains, he will "go and make an in-person photo and pay on the spot."
His shop has "a reputation for good refurbished bicycles," so he doesn't expect the new bike shortage to slow him down. Still, he's not taking any chances: He recently bought billboard space in town and taken out newspaper ads.
Even though there's no shame in buying a bike that isn't new, especially in times like these, it seems that nobody wants to use the word "used." Sites like Craigslist and eBay refer to "pre-owned" bikes. Moore likes to call them "pre-loved."
Could 2020 be The Summer Of Pre-Love?
