![]() But the children’s bike sells for about 200 to 400 euro and an e-bike sells for up to 10 times as much. Rick is clear: “It takes just as much effort to sell a children’s bike as it does to sell an electric bike. This is something you see less and less even in the Netherlands, as many revert to the internet – forced or by choice – for their children’s bikes. That is really great fun!” Unlike an increasing number of other shops nowadays, there is a whole array of different children’s bicycles on offer at Kemps Bike Totaal.Īnd the love for the trade is also shown by the fact that a whole range of bicycles for children in different sizes for different age groups can be found in the shop. ![]() So of course we are keen to advise others about their equipment. Two of the staff really do ‘ wielrennen‘ (racing). We ride together with a part of the staff on Mondays (when the shop is closed) on mountain bikes. “Sure we do! We are all enthusiastic about cycling ourselves. Selling bicycles as sports equipment may only form a small proportion of their work, but when I ask Rick if they enjoy selling racing bikes and mountain bikes his eyes begin to twinkle. The refurbishment of the shop floor completes the make-over that gives the family company a solid basis to continue trade even in these times. The beautiful historic basement was opened for the sale of second-hand bicycles and a part was designated as storage room. In March 2013, the workshop, previously hidden in the back and only reachable via a narrow and long corridor, was brought to the front and became open and visible to all. Reason for a recent conversion of the shop. With the current recession people rather have their old bike repaired and revised than that they buy a new one. The workshop also brings in a lot of the income. E-bikes were 15% of the sales in numbers in the last two years, but these sales account for 40% of the turnover. Like classy panniers, baskets, children’s seats and rain gear. ![]() Almost 95% of the turnover is made by selling the upright bikes and everything related to it. Of course they also sell everything you could need as a sports cyclist, whether you are a mountain biker or a ‘ wheel runner‘ (racer), but these two categories only make up close to 3% of the sales each. The upright every day bicycles which are so typical for the Netherlands, that the Germans even call them “Hollandrad” (Dutch bicycle). Sure, he is at the age of retirement, but his life wouldn’t be complete without bicycles! Typical Dutch upright bicycles in the expanded workshop for repair and maintenance.Īs a real city bicycle shop Kemps sells mainly what the Dutch call ‘city bikes’. On some days you can find Tommy side by side with his grand-dad, who hasn’t really left the shop yet. He has shown great interest to continue the family tradition that already lasts over a century. Rick and Mignonne’s son Tommy Kemps already works in the shop on Saturdays and in school holidays. Gerrit Kemps had opened a shop in Hintham in 1925 and Willem Kemps was the first to open a bicycle shop in Gemonde around 1911. But there were two generations before them, who had shops in this region as well. A shop that was founded on this location by Rick’s father Jan in 1960. Rick and Mignonne Kemps are the current owners of the shop I frequent: “ Kemps bike totaal“. Video showing the interview I had with Rick Kemps in his (and his wife’s) bicycle shop. Something the Dutch bike endures without problems. This foreign bike has to give in to the consequences of ordinary Dutch daily use for so many years. Even though it is not even half the age of the Dutch bike I also own. The time has come to say goodbye to my “English” bike. I recently went there to buy a new bicycle, something I didn’t need to do in all those years. Ever since I came to live in ’s-Hertogenbosch 18 years ago, I went to a nearby shop that suits me. Like most of the Dutch I visit one and the same shop for all my bicycle related wishes. The all new shop interiour of “ Kemps Bike Totaal” in ’s-Hertogenbosch A place where you are also welcome when you are over 40 and in ordinary clothes. That makes that a bicycle shop in the Netherlands does not look like a shop for sports equipment, but much more like a place where you get what you need for a means of transport. The upright bicycle to get from A to B safely and conveniently not only dominates the streets, but also the shops. Bicycle shops in the Netherlands are different from the rest of the world, in the same way Dutch cycling is different.
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