Bike Therapy, downtown Morgan Hill’s full-service bike shop and a favorite local meeting spot for cyclists of all ages, has won the 2021 Bicycle Retailer Excellence Award by the National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA). The shop, located at 17540 Depot St., is one of only eight shops to attain the Platinum Level achievement. Fewer than 200 retailers qualified for the award.
“This award is a real testament to Doug (Hall’s) vision, formulated during more than 30 years of industry experience, working in and out of bike shops all around the country,” said co-owner Jodi Hall. “From the day we opened, he set up Bike Therapy with all the best practices, knowing exactly what it should look like, how it should feel for the customer, why employees would want to work there, and how we can help build a stronger cycling community through the bike shop.”
Eight bicycle retailers nationwide made the NBDA’s Platinum Level of excellence by achieving 95% or higher on a list of industry best practices. Bike Therapy is the only shop in Santa Clara County to win the Platinum award.
Criteria for the achievement included a lengthy application survey that quantifies key elements found in the most successful retail operations, including shop layout, staff and management, DEI, marketing, community and financial analysis, according to a press release from Bike Therapy. Judges evaluated phone and email communications, website appeal and accuracy, and marketing expertise. Finally, a “secret shopper” came in and analyzed everything from the store entrance and layout to personal interaction and salesmanship of the employee who helped them.
Bike Therapy aims to support the local community and national cycling advocacy as much as possible, including:
– Creating and managing the South County Composite Mountain Bike Team, which has introduced local youths to mountain biking with weekly training sessions, team-building activities and opportunities to help the community for 70-plus middle and high school students in its short existence
– Hosting weekly rides
– Helping local schools keep their bicycle fleets in good working order
– Planning activities for Bike Month
– Running Morgan Hill Bike Party rides (in non-Covid times)
– Advocating for Morgan Hill initiatives
– Participating in the Bicycle Pedestrian Advocacy Group (BPAG)
– Working with “Visit Morgan Hill” to promote local tourism
– Volunteering on the Morgan Hill Downtown Association
– Donating to local charity events
Longtime customer Mark Macsurak said, “Since opening, Bike Therapy has made Morgan Hill a cycling destination—with group rides throughout the year, for beginning and advanced riders, the community just continues to grow. And the customer service is the absolute best—the entire team not only remembers you and your bikes, also provides such knowledgeable sales and service support, and still takes time to ask about your family!”
Bike Therapy owners Doug and Jodi Hall give credit for this award to the store’s employees, who worked “extremely hard” through this past year, bringing their passion to new and old customers alike.
“Covid-19 has had a positive impact on getting people exploring outdoors and bike shops have been overwhelmed in the past 18 months. The crew at Bike Therapy has weathered this storm with incredible energy and zeal. I couldn’t be prouder of how they work together to create a positive experience for everyone who connects with us in-store or online,” Doug Hall said.
