A HELENSBURGH bike shop has moved into a bigger and better location in the town to accommodate its growth plans.

Helensburgh Cycles was founded in 1994 by keen cyclist Alex McNee who spotted a gap in the market for a shop that sold, repaired and maintained bikes.

Having run the business mainly on his own for 21 years, Alex has since been joined by daughter Kirsteen Hutcheson who left her job as an architect to team up with her father.

Now, with support from Business Gateway Argyll and Bute, Helensburgh Cycles have gone through a rebrand, moved premises and are adding new services for its customers.

Kirsteen said: “My dad ran the business predominantly on his own, with help from his wife Alexis, for over two decades and as it got busier it was becoming difficult for him to manage all the different aspects on his own. So two years ago I joined Helensburgh Cycles which means it will stay in the family years down the line.”

As the business has grown it has moved, first from East King Street to East Clyde Street and then, in March of this year, to West Clyde Street.

Kirsteen continued: “We’ve always had great help from business support organisations, with Business Gateway providing fantastic advice.

"Our adviser Jen Smith was enthusiastic, helpful and steered us in the right direction. Through the Business Gateway Local Growth Accelerator programme we received specialist advice from a marketing consultant and I also attended several DigitalBoost workshops, both of which gave us lots of ideas that we’re now working on.”

Helensburgh Cycles are now hiring bikes, and Alex and Kirsteen plan to buy a fleet of E-bikes, the fastest growing market in the cycle trade. The pair are also hoping to run maintenance classes in the evenings.

Kirsteen added: “We took our time rebranding and ensuring we got our interior and exterior the way we wanted it and so far the feedback has been amazing. We’ve had a great response from our customers, old and new, from Helensburgh and the surrounding areas. We are hoping to receive some funding so we can purchase the E-fleet, install an EPOS system and hopefully take on a trainee mechanic. We’re very excited about the future of Helensburgh Cycles.”

Business Gateway adviser Jen Smith said: “Alex and Kirsteen have benefited from the range of support we can offer. We’re delighted that we could assist the pair and play a small part in ensuring Helensburgh Cycles remains an essential part of the local community for many years to come.”

For more information visit www.helensburghcycles.co.uk

To find out more about how Business Gateway can help you set up and develop your own business call 01546 808363 or visit www.bgateway.com/argyll-and-bute