fettleBusiness x Buzzbike: An all inclusive service, on-demand.
Fettle | Wednesday 13th October 2021 11:47am
We’ve come a long way from one of the first ever bicycles; ‘the boneshaker’. An apt name for the 1860s bike, it was known for being hideously uncomfortable, with its rigid frame and wooden wheels covered in tyres of iron.
In the 150 years since, we’ve seen bicycles continue to evolve in design and technology. Over the last decade alone we’ve seen a surge in e-bikes and the accessibility of electronic gear shifting for the general public, rather than just the pros.
Even the way we’re choosing to purchase bicycles is changing. With subscription services, such as The Bike Club and Buzzbike, more people are choosing to pay monthly for rental, rather than commit to owning a bicycle outright.
As a predominantly B2C business, you’d be right to question whether the advent of subscriptions could leave us in the lurch. It’s in fact quite the opposite. With fettleBusiness, we’re able to cater to offices, manufacturers and fleets, offering a number of packages to keep their customers and employees on the road. Last week we announced our partnership with Mango bikes, who opted for our ‘ready to ride’ package, whereby they dispatch their customers' bikes directly to us to have it built, after which we’re able to deliver it straight to the customer’s door.
It is through fettleBusiness that we’re able to stabilise the seasonality of our business. Once the busy summer starts to die down, we re-allocate resources to work on these contracts. Tomorrow will be the final day our Shoreditch workshop will be open this year. Being partially outside, each winter we’ve closed it down to bring our mechanics inside for warmth(!) and focus their energies on the contracts we’ve obtained for the winter months.
This week, we’re thrilled to announce that we’ve been working with Buzzbike, the subscription service renting out single speeds for just £1 a day. With 24/7 help on offer in the event the bike is stolen, or needs repair, Buzzbike turned to us for operational support. Over the last couple of months our mechanics have been building tonnes of Buzzbikes, and strengthening the support their customers get when subscribing; all inclusive bike servicing, including free on-demand maintenance and theft protection in case the worst happens. Now that's what we call faff-free.
When we started fettle in 2019, we knew that catering for fleets would be a sensible compliment to our business, but it’s understandably difficult to win these large-scale contracts without a solid reputation. It’s far easier and quicker to build credibility as a B2C business, later starting to incorporate B2B offerings. We’re thrilled that fettleBusiness is continuing to expand. With numerous partners working with us, and many more currently under discussion, the future’s looking bright for fettleBusiness.
Any facts, figures and prices shown in our blog articles are correct at time of publication.