Brixton Cycles, the long-established community cycle shop which is a workers’ co-operative, has launched a funding appeal after being hit by a three-week power cut.
“It’s no surprise to anyone that times have been tough in the bicycle industry since the cost of living crisis,” Brixton Cycles say in a Gofundme appeal and on Instagram.
“While we have strived to provide the best service to all our customers and kept our crew on a sustainable wage, our business has been suffering this year (2023 was our worst financial year for 20 years).
“Towards the end of 2023, the lights went out, literally. A three-week external electrical fault brought us to our knees.
“Our insurance has covered some of the loss of earnings and the damaged equipment but not all of it.
“We kept our doors open and did our best to repair bikes with the aid of head torches, but we are, in all honesty, struggling to bounce back.
“Now we are asking humbly for some help,” says the appeal.
“Our target amount is £30k. This corresponds with about three to four weeks of loss of earnings from our power outage. This amount would help us to get through and bounce back.”
The appeal has already raised more than £2,000.
In 2015, Brixton Cycles appealed for £40,000 to save its business after its original premises on Stockwell Road were sold for redevelopment. The appeal enabled it to move to its current home on Brixton Road.
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