What We Learned at the NBDA Summit: Why the Future of Bike Retail Starts with Culture, Leadership, and WorkMate
On May 20th, the WorkMate team attended our first NBDA Retailer Summit in Bentonville, Arkansas, a thriving center of bike culture and innovation. The summit brought together some of the industry's most forward-thinking minds: top retailers, suppliers, and brands eager to tackle the challenges facing bike shops today.
What stood out most were the real conversations. From operational efficiency to community engagement and sustainable growth, it was clear: bike retail is changing, and those who adapt are already leading the way.
The summit kicked off with a standout keynote from Whitney Tabaian, CEO of Mike’s Bikes.
Her message was clear and powerful:
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast. Without culture, your strategy will never see the light of day.”
— Whitney Tabaian, CEO, Mike’s Bikes
Whitney’s framework for Culture, Leadership, and Growth wasn’t just theory—it was packed with real, actionable advice for retailers ready to evolve. From hosting listening sessions with staff to giving teams absolute autonomy and embracing change with clarity and vision, Mike’s Bikes sets the tone for modern, resilient retail.
And that’s precisely where WorkMate comes in.
🔁 Diversify Revenue Channels
Retailers at the NBDA Summit made one thing clear: service is no longer just a backroom activity — it’s a core revenue engine.
Yet the data shows a huge gap in execution:
75% of shops don’t track profitability by service type
60% don’t offer packaged service plans
Most aren’t charging for shop supplies or rush jobs
WorkMate closes that gap.
Built on Shopify, WorkMate brings the same clarity and scalability to your service department that Shopify brings to your storefront.
Track profit margins on every repair
Create prepaid service bundles that customers can buy online or in-store
Set rush fees, shop supply charges, and dynamic pricing by technician or timeframe
Sync it all with your Shopify POS, so nothing falls through the cracks
And it’s not just service — WorkMate lets you connect your special orders, purchase orders, and B2B accounts to the same Shopify ecosystem, turning one platform into a complete revenue system.
If your service counter isn’t selling on Shopify, it’s missing out. Let’s change that.
🤝 Lead with Community
A consistent message at the summit: the shops winning today build a real community.
But here’s the catch — community-building takes time. And time is one thing many shops don’t have enough of.
How WorkMate helps:
By automating your service workflows, staff scheduling, special orders, and PO tracking, WorkMate gives you back what you need most: time with your team and your customers. Free from admin headaches, you can focus on events, rides, and relationship-building — the heart of your local impact.
We believe it starts by giving your employees the tools they need to do their best work — then getting out of their way.
⚡ Take Action Now
Adaptability is the hallmark of every great retailer we met in Bentonville.
How WorkMate helps:
You don’t need a full digital transformation overnight. With WorkMate and Shopify, you can start where you are — digitizing your service counter, tracking repair profitability, or launching prepaid plans. The platform is modular, intuitive, and designed specifically for bike retail, so you can grow at your own pace.
The retailers who act now — those are the ones who’ll lead tomorrow.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
We’re building more than just software. We’re helping bike retailers like you build a future-proof business — one that’s customer-first, community-driven, and powered by smart systems.
👉 Book a free demo to see how WorkMate can help your shop evolve, grow, and lead.
Big thanks to the NBDA for bringing us together — and to visionary leaders like Whitney Tabaian for showing us what’s possible.