HIGH FIVE! It has been a stunning year!
Before we swap the bicycle for paddle boards and SUP’s at the sea, let’s take a moment and look back at the year that was. In the world of bicycle couriers. What worked. And what didn’t. What have we achieved? And where can we improve for next year. To keep it even more streamlined and ensure we deliver more boxed bicycles than this year. And have that steady annual growth rate ticking upwards year after year. YES, we watch those YOY monthly sales growth figures very closely…
What are the 3 things we have achieved this year?
- Sent a huge number of bicycles — at first, we just wanted to fulfill our first order. Then we wanted to send 20 bikes per month as Andrew told me. Now we may become a menace to others, sending many bicycles. WooCommerce order number 11000 came and gone. And the almost linear albeit seasonal growth pattern, is firmly intact. I just love spreadsheets. And simple maths. What have we done this year? Sent many bikes!
- Stellar customer service — we send your bicycle like we want anyone else to send our bicycle. And despite what happened to me at the Nedbank Gravel Burn earlier this year where my own bike was left behind, I can state that we never have nor do we ever intend to overbook or oversell spots and leave a bike behind. Not on my watch. What have we done this year? Kept almost everyone happy.
- New business is effortless — when you do what you love it shows. It becomes infectious. Others see it. And they want to take part. That is why I think we are so successful. And aiming to become the best boxed bicycle courier company in South Africa. In fact, on many counts and metrics I am sure we can prove that we already are. So let’s keep the wheels rolling into the new year. What have we done this year? Grown organically.
What do we need to do next year?
- Automate to a certain extent — there are some things that we don’t have to do manually anymore. When I started, we just wanted many stellar reviews. Now we have well over a 1000 happy comments on our first attempt and many happy 5-star reviews on our easier approach. This comes from following up after each delivery. Maybe that should become automated by now.
- Advertise, perhaps — it has never been necessary. Because bicycle couriers’ success comes through good word of mouth. If we excel at delivering boxed bicycles, then existing happy customers will tell others. And it works like a charm. So, our organic growth has been tremendous. But every year I think, maybe, just maybe, we should try advertising. Who knows. Let’s see where this goes. First some more admin help!
- Keep doing what we are doing — and keep doing what we love. 10,000-hour rule? How many boxed bicycles have we sent? How many individual contact points are there with buyers and sellers and senders and recipients and bike shops and service providers and couriers and more. It is a mouthful. Go and do that calculation. You will be surprised. Practice makes perfect.
Into 2026 we go…
What have we done this year? More good than ever.
And where can we send your bicycle next?
