New era in cycling retail

Cycling legend John Trevorrow has raised the stakes in cycling retailing with his move to Docklands last month.

The multiple Sun Tour winner and Olympic cyclist has joined forces with the Degani Bakery Café organisation to produce Team Degani, a hybrid café bicycle store.

While cafes in bike shops are not a new concept, Mr Trevorrow explains that they have always been a bit of an add on.  Degani, on the other hand, is a real café with a full menu and even a liquor licence.

And café element is only part of the story.  Mr Trevorrow is building a miniature institute of sport along the river-side under the ANZ Centre.  Apart from a massive bicycle workshop, there are athlete conditioning and testing facilities and various levels of sports administration.

Mr Trevorrow is already fully immersed in cycling event organisation, with Amy’s Ride (Amy Gillett Foundation), the Otway Classic and the Jayco Cycling Classic among his legacy.

He closed his cycling store in Geelong to bring Team Degani to Docklands.

Mr Trevorrow jokes that his new store is probably the only one in Australia without a road frontage.  But with 6500 ANZ employees working above him upstairs and 1000 Myer employees poised to move any day now, he feels well positioned.

“We’ve got no doubt this is a major challenge because of our location,” he said. “But we just have to get the word out there.”

He said it had to be recognised that times had changed.  “Constructing a building like the ANZ Centre with virtually no car parking would have been unheard of only a few years ago,” he said.

“People have woken up that cars and traffic congestion are a problem and that bicycles are part of the solution.”

Team Degani sells Avanti and Specialised and its own-branded bicycles.  Team Degani bikes are a budget end of the market offering.

Mr Trevorrow said Team Degani bikes would typically be about $1000 less than a established brand equivalent.  For example, a Shimano-equipment, full carbon Team Degani bike retails at about $1800.

Team Degani is on the south (river) side of the ANZ Centre and can be contacted on 9620 7000.

A family affair

After successfully owning and operating an Oxygen Skin Centre in Port Melbourne since 2004, Natalie Dempsey decided to expand the business and open up a shop in Docklands’ Harbour Town.

The Docklands shop is truly a family affair – with Natalie running the show, husband Michael and son Blayne fitting out the new store and daughter Charlie-Elise working in marketing and reception.

Before creating Oxygen Skin Centre, Natalie worked as a business development manager for Dermalogica. She said she started the business after realising there was a big gap in the market.

“People wanted a little bit more. They wanted a little bit more comfort and something that was relaxing, but they also wanted professional advice that was suited to their individual needs,” Natalie said.

Opening earlier this year, Natalie said she saw that Docklands held great potential for her to build another strong business.

“What I really like about Docklands is that it is a bit of an adventure because of the fact that it is new and is developing around us everyday,” she said.

Focused on providing only the very best, Oxygen Skin Centre uses 100 per cent natural Danné Montague-King products and aims to help clients eliminate their skin problems rather the conceal them.

“Our centre is for everyone and our aim is deliver our treatments with expertise and care. We will always have offers and seasonal promotions for our clients including residents and staff of Docklands,” she said.

The Docklands store is the second shop for Oxygen Skin Centre and Natalie is excited about its prospects.

“There is an energy about Docklands and, as more and more people move in, it will just keep on getting better,” she said.

Oxygen Skin Centre is open Monday to Saturday and by appointment on Sundays. It offers a range of skin care packages, massages, waxing and more.

Atlantic event was very special

Docklands’ Atlantic Group [v] last month stole the show at the Meeting Events Australia’s (MEA) Awards for excellence winning the Special Event of the Year for their Atlantic Onsite launch.

The MEA Awards on March 18 recognise excellent business practice in the meetings and events industry. It encourages industry professionals to excel in the achievement of their business and personal goals, and rewards those who achieve outstanding results.

Partnering with Solution RED, the creative minds of both companies were  faced with staging an event at one of Melbourne’s most challenging locations.

The win caps off an amazing year for Atlantic Group [v] and Solution RED and will be the fourth award received for the Atlantic Onsite launch.