Developing Offline Sales Channels Around the World.
A Step-by-Step Guide for Bicycle Industry Brands, OEMs, and Resellers.
Building a strong offline sales channel is essential for long-term success in the bicycle industry, especially for brands, OEMs, and resellers dealing with spare parts and accessories. In this guide, we’ll break down a step-by-step methodology to help you connect with the right decision-makers. We’ll focus on trade shows, data scraping, leveraging tools, and organizing information efficiently so you can get the results you need without wasting time.
Step 1: Search Relevant Trade Shows
The first step is identifying key trade shows that bring together the most influential players in the industry. These shows are packed with opportunities to connect with decision-makers in the bicycle world.
Eurobike (Europe)
Taipei Cycle (Asia)
Taichung Bike Week (Taiwan)
Japan Bike Show (Japan)
Why these? Because they gather the biggest names in bicycles, parts, and accessories globally, giving you a direct line to retailers, distributors, and shops.
Step 2: Scrape Exhibitor Information
Once you’ve identified your target trade shows, the next step is gathering detailed information on the exhibitors. This information is often available on the trade show website.
Use Data Scrapers: Tools like Octoparse, Scrapy, or ParseHub can automate this process, allowing you to pull large sets of data in minutes. The goal here is to extract as much exhibitor data as possible, including names, websites, and contact details. This will give you a comprehensive list of potential leads.
By automating this task, you save time and ensure accuracy. The data can then be filtered and analyzed more effectively in the next steps.
Step 3: Check Retailers, Distributors, and Shops on Exhibitor Websites
With the exhibitor data in hand, visit their websites and dig deeper into their partnerships. Most exhibitors list their retailers, distributors, and shops on their pages. These contacts are invaluable in building your sales pipeline.
Extract Data: Gather details like retailer/distributor names, contact information, and geographic regions they cover. The more data you collect, the stronger your offline sales strategy will be.
Step 4: Organize the Information
Now that you have a treasure trove of data, it’s time to organize it.
Use ChatGPT for Quick Data Management: ChatGPT can help format and organize your scraped data into neat columns. This will allow you to structure your database with columns for company name, contact info, country, and decision-makers. You can also use it to code countries and categorize your prospects based on region or priority level.
Step 5: Find Contacts on LinkedIn
With your organized data, you’re ready to zero in on decision-makers. LinkedIn is a powerful tool for identifying the right people to approach.
Search for Contacts: Use LinkedIn to find the executives, purchasing managers, or key stakeholders within the companies you’ve identified. Focus on individuals with decision-making power who align with your sales goals.
Step 6: Leverage Contact Search Tools
Finding the right contact details can be challenging, but platforms like Hunter.io, Apollo, Lusha, and Octopus CRM can help streamline this process.
Use Hunter.io to find email addresses associated with your targeted companies.
Octopus CRM allows you to automate your LinkedIn outreach with personalized connection requests.
Apollo and Lusha help in acquiring verified phone numbers and email addresses for potential leads.
These tools will provide you with verified information, ensuring you’re reaching out to the right people.
Step 7: Prepare Your CRM and Automate Emails
Now that you have your contacts in place, it’s time to set up your CRM and start emailing.
Customize Your Templates: Use customizable email templates that speak directly to your target audience. Skip the generic "Friends and Family" style—go for a professional, personalized approach. Focus on how your product or service solves specific pain points in their market.
Automate Email Sequences: Use your CRM to automate follow-ups. Make sure each email feels personalized but takes minimal manual effort. Tools like Mailshake or Woodpecker can help with this.
Step 8: Build an Efficient Sales Pipeline
A well-structured sales pipeline is key to keeping track of leads and automating follow-ups. Use CRM tools that allow for easy pipeline management.
Streak CRM: Integrates with Gmail, letting you track emails and follow-ups without leaving your inbox.
OnePage CRM: A simple, intuitive CRM that focuses on getting tasks done, perfect for managing follow-up sequences and ensuring no lead falls through the cracks.
By setting up a robust pipeline, you minimize the time spent on administrative work and maximize time spent closing deals.
Conclusion:
Developing offline sales channels for the bicycle industry doesn’t have to be complicated. By following this straightforward methodology—attending trade shows, leveraging scrapers, organizing data, targeting decision-makers on LinkedIn, and automating your outreach—you’ll be well-equipped to reach the right people, build relationships, and close deals faster.