[jpao79]

I'm surprised the bike manufacturers have not stepped up to create their own branded shops as a way to provide/control a more direct 'experience'. Imagine separate 'Specialized' stores, 'Cannondale' stores or "Gary Fisher' stores all with carefully crafted service and support.

It's similar to how the local generic electronics store (including CircuitCity and now BestBuy) got squeezed from the bottom by Target/Walmart on the low end and the high end by the Sony/Apple/Bose Store at your local luxury Westfield or Simon's mall. Even woman's fashion is trending way - Target/Walmart/Costco for the majority and direct 'experience' stores like Coach/Burberry/Tiffany with Macy's and Kohl's getting squeezed out.

[jdietrich]

Specialized and Giant already have single-brand stores in many markets. Giant have a handful of stores dedicated to Liv, their women's sub-brand.

[analog31]

There's a chain of Trek stores. And Trek owns Gary Fisher.