Gwylan
Veteran
- Location
- All at sea⛵
I went to university there.
Taking over the bike shop...
- Thread starter Andy in Germany
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Rusty Nails
We remember
- Location
- Living in the slow lane
So did I 57 years ago, and never managed to escape.
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
I think there are a lot of people who came to Cardiff for Uni or work and never left.
I came for work after graduating from Portsmouth and stayed, but did a masters at Cardiff Uni.
I say to people "why would I want to live anywhere else".
OP
OP
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
Interesting useless information: Stuttgart is Cardiff's twin city. This makes sense as both are small port cities and state/provincial capitals. We even have a tram with Cardiff's crest on the side.
OP
OP
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
Just had an email from The Boss. apparently someone in one of our owning charities has suggested a "mobile bicycle workshop" and he likes the idea. Interestingly he emailed me and my former colleague who is also a cabinet maker and bike enthusiast, and who is even more creative than I am (last week I visited him and he was making a water powered rocket).
I've suggested something like this:
Which I know will get my colleague excited. I'm hoping to sell it to the boss on the basis it's cheaper to buy and run than a motor vehicle, can go places cars can't, and can be operated by clients who don't have a driving licence.
ETA: ALso a possibility that Former Colleague and I can work together again...
I've suggested something like this:
Which I know will get my colleague excited. I'm hoping to sell it to the boss on the basis it's cheaper to buy and run than a motor vehicle, can go places cars can't, and can be operated by clients who don't have a driving licence.
ETA: ALso a possibility that Former Colleague and I can work together again...
Last edited:
classic33
Leg End Member
You've a frame similar to that haven't you, does your boss know?
We have a Stuttgarter Strasse in Cardiff
OP
OP
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
HobbesOnTour
Guru
- Location
- España
You know, there's a whole lot that could be done with this (and I'm not talking about the bike)
It's not just a service, but also promotion, marketing (clients as well as customers) maybe even education.
There are possibly opportunities for sponsorship too and the potential to make a lot of money (relative to your current cost base and present margins).
Being Germany, I'm pretty sure that there's a load of legal considerations too.
As always, I'd encourage you to look out for anyone that is doing similar to see what you can learn.
I fully understand the excitement by a big, shiny, green bike, but in the big picture, it's probably only going to be a small detail.
I've seen guys set up on the street with little more than a blanket and some tools. I've seen tents set up (sponsored by shops) where folks can get free repairs and buy some of the most common items they'd need.
I'd be thinking the first Friday of every month outside the train station, the second Sunday in the main park etc. That kind of thing. A tent, a bike stand, tools and some spares. Bigger jobs could be referred back to the store?
Maybe a regular day at local schools to do basic repairs and teach kids the basics. A potential big one would be a service for local businesses whereby their employee bikes get a tune up while they work.
I'm thinking that apart from the business side, there's the client side to consider.
Obviously, you'd need steady clients able to think on their feet and deal with the public (something that can be challenging at the best of times!
)It's also potentially a lot of work for you.
A good starting point would be doing repairs in the store (I don't think you offer that to the public?) That way you get to tease out any issues in a more controllable environment before going live in front of the whole world.
Of course, putting the "business" aspect to one side, a service whereby an appointment can be made for a visit from a bike mechanic to someone's home could be a great environment for clients to thrive. A regular business couldn't compete in terms of price.
Lots to think about!
Good luck!
biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
Nice daily commute 🤪
classic33
Leg End Member
That's what I said when he moved.
KnittyNorah
Über Member
- Location
- The Frozen North (of England)
...and therein might lie the biggest problem.
Would undercutting any local independent business be wise? Would it even be permitted?
Of course if there are no local independent businesses of a similar nature, it might not be an issue that would arise.
HobbesOnTour
Guru
- Location
- España
It's a valid point and has been touched on before.
On the bigger "business" approach it is an opportunity to co-operate with local bike shops who could stump up for a tent, table etc, provide logistics and sell the things that Andy probably doesn't want to be involved with (things that walk easily).
The smaller, "client focused" approach of home visits is a different kettle of fish. I doubt anyone would offer such a service and by its nature it would be small so little scope for complaint, I'd imagine. Although, maybe Andy has plans for a fleet of Giant Green bikes sweeping the land!
There's a lot of layers to a "mobile bicycle workshop". No harm in having a good think first before committing to a specific direction.
OP
OP
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
That's my thinking as well. It would probably be a marketing project as much as anything else. If we end up using something as visually unusual as a Bakfiets, I suspect there will be a bit of competition as to who gets their badge on it; the organisation I work for, the parent organisations, of which I think there are at least three, and anyone else funding the project besides.
You bet. Of course a bike has less than a van, which is handy.
You know me too well.
On the other hand it probably won't be green, as the logo is red, white, and blue. (The irony of this isn't lost on me either).
Also, this idea is coming from The Boss, so I'm merely suggesting a cheaper, simpler and more visible alternative.
I think our parent organisation is thinking of me going to their events, and as we are 50% owned by the county I think they'll want the "mobile workshop" there as well. How that will be financed is an interesting question...
I'm thinking that apart from the business side, there's the client side to consider.
Obviously, you'd need steady clients able to think on their feet and deal with the public (something that can be challenging at the best of times!
It's also potentially a lot of work for you.
This is why I'm suggesting the bike; for various reasons a lot of clients don't have a drivers licence, so if we were based out of a van that would automatically mean I had to be there, and by definition I'd have to drive, which I'm trying to avoid. On the other hand I'm often astonished at my clients gifts and abilities. We have to provide work opportunities that are simple but also challenges; my current clients being a case in point, as gifted but not very confident people.
Also, if I'm not essential for every outing, it may help limit the amount of work I have to do... I'm not convinced either.
No we don't: I will be pointing this out to The Boss; I've been told I can't do repairs because we don't have time, so how exactly will I magically have time for this?
That will be a problem; we can't offer any service that undercuts local businesses. As @KnittyNorah says:
We have to work within tight constraints and local companies will quite reasonably get upset if we damage their income, that said, I don't know how much we would affect them; they certainly don't have any shortage of work, in fact they prefer not to do repairs as it's cheaper to set up and sell bikes than fix broken ones. Fortunately that's something for The Boss and our parent organisation to discuss with the local chamber of commerce.
