What: The Bike Shop by Smartech is now a permanent feature of the LG floor in Selfridges.

Why it is important: this demonstrates focus on environment, health and wellness is expanding.

In July 2020 Selfridges launched its first-ever bike shop in The Corner Shop of its Oxford Street store. The collaboration with Smartech saw the space transformed into a one-of-a-kind electric vehicle destination complete with e-bikes, apparel and exclusive gear. Born to revolutionise an ailing world, its existence demonstrates a new era of urban travel combined with innovation like no other. After the successful Corner Shop preview, The Bike Shop by Smartech is now a permanent feature of the LG floor in Selfridges.

Customers can discover and try the best bikes and accessories in the industry from the likes of Mate X, Angell and Superstrata. Smartech has curated a collection of the very best in e-vehicle innovations from up-and-coming entrepreneurs reinventing the cycling industry. There is also a selection of push bikes from Veloretti and Tokyo Bike. The products available rotate weekly and are available to test drive in a dedicated zone in the Selfridges car park. For customers unable to get to store, the range will be available to order at selfridges.com and smartech.buz

Rob Smith, head of partnerships at Smartech, says: “As we emerge from another lockdown into the ‘new normal’, we’ve seen an increased focus on health and wellness, looking after the environment and most importantly safety, with people avoiding public transport where possible.”

In its technology predictions for 2020 in December 2019, before the global pandemic and the resulting spike in bike sales, Deloitte foresaw a rise in popularity of cycling, especially e-bikes, predicting that by 2023, the total number of e-bikes in circulation around the world… should reach about 300 million, a 50% increase over 2019’s 200 million.

Selfridges creates permanent bike shop and EV destination at Oxford Street store with Smartech