The chance of a lifetime: You are asked to start a bike shop. How should it be done?

[Brian d marge]

if u set it to vibrate you cant hear it when you sleep !!!

Stephen

[PeeJay]

All the NAysayers
My post ending with old codgers in the forest started out as sarcasm, but you know what there is a fair amount of truth in it.

You all spent too much time coming up with reasons NOT to do something.

Its always too something

what if what if what if
its a wonder half of you even get out of bed in the morning

I am 65 yrs old and been around the block more than once
Made a lot of money and lost a lot of money
I returned to NZ 2005 after most of the preceding 30 yrs as an OE
A major change I noticed was instead of a Kiwi CAN DO attitude its more of a Kiwi CANT DO
Govt and councils stick their nose in everything and wont go away until you give them money

And we take it.

Dont worry Aussie and the US arent much better.
The Europeans and South Americans still have balls, even the Poms when they get pissed off they let the govt know.
Over here we obey the law, keep our heads down and our mouths shut.

This thread is a good example as to why we are behind the 8 ball compared to a lot of others.
Cant even get a web business passed the think about it stage without it getting torn to shreds because its "different" and it "doesnt work like that"
Who gives a shit if it doesnt work like that, make it work like that

[sidecar bob]

Well i guess nine years under a Labour Govt has thrashed the will to live out of every one of us. It'll do that.
Were not saying it wont work, but stop trying to convince existing businesses to do it & just shut up & get on with it usung your own money if its such a fantastic idea.

All the NAysayers
My post ending with old codgers in the forest started out as sarcasm, but you know what there is a fair amount of truth in it.

You all spent too much time coming up with reasons NOT to do something.

Its always too something

what if what if what if
its a wonder half of you even get out of bed in the morning

I am 65 yrs old and been around the block more than once
Made a lot of money and lost a lot of money
I returned to NZ 2005 after most of the preceding 30 yrs as an OE
A major change I noticed was instead of a Kiwi CAN DO attitude its more of a Kiwi CANT DO
Govt and councils stick their nose in everything and wont go away until you give them money

And we take it.

Dont worry Aussie and the US arent much better.
The Europeans and South Americans still have balls, even the Poms when they get pissed off they let the govt know.
Over here we obey the law, keep our heads down and our mouths shut.

This thread is a good example as to why we are behind the 8 ball compared to a lot of others.
Cant even get a web business passed the think about it stage without it getting torn to shreds because its "different" and it "doesnt work like that"
Who gives a shit if it doesnt work like that, make it work like that

[T.W.R]

Were not saying it wont work, but stop trying to convince existing businesses to do it & just shut up & get on with it usung your own money if its such a fantastic idea.

who said for existing businesses to do it? the thread started with an individuals idea of what could possibly be done yet the likes of yourself, bumptious & the white tamaki came in with guns blazing to shoot it down
Most of the existing businesses are too set in their ways to change, a lot have milked the system for so long they think they're sucessful but they've only got to that point by taking the creame off the top to line their own pockets

[Conquiztador]

All the NAysayers
My post ending with old codgers in the forest started out as sarcasm, but you know what there is a fair amount of truth in it.

You all spent too much time coming up with reasons NOT to do something.

Its always too something

what if what if what if
its a wonder half of you even get out of bed in the morning

I am 65 yrs old and been around the block more than once
Made a lot of money and lost a lot of money...

...Cant even get a web business passed the think about it stage without it getting torn to shreds because its "different" and it "doesnt work like that"
Who gives a shit if it doesnt work like that, make it work like that

"You must spread spread some reputation around before..."

I'm 55. also been around a few blocks. I run a organisation with 70 staff. In my 3 years in charge we have doubled in size and doubled the turnover. The growth is still going on. Each of the years I have given every staffmembers a payrise. (Yep, through "the resession...")Currently I am in the process of purcasing a new facility to run all from. $1.5mill. We have done some mistakes. But also some awsome stuff. "It can't be done" is something that used to be a saying. Now it is banned.

Not many things get my bloodpressure to rise. But the two that have that effect on me are "giving up" and "can't do".

This thread was NEVER about what can't be done. It was about what CAN be done. About imagination and finding a way. Somehow the "nay" sayers thought it was about them. But I suppose there is truth in the old saying: "If you throw a stick in to a pack of dogs, the one who get's hit whill whinge".

[Scorp]

Surely you're not suggesting that someone selling one product is going to satisfy New Zealands motorcyclists.

Not for a moment.

All that's going to do is make that one person a profit while not gaining anything for motorcyclists - except one product that they can get cheaper than in a bike shop.

Precisely. No more no less.

I'm not of the opinion that the motorcycle retail industry in NZ can be changed by customers who want to stack the deck solely in their favour (which seems to be the main thrust of this thread). But I do think it's possible for someone like Bogan to build a small turnover business based on importing and selling on a small number of in-demand products where there's margin available.

[Robert Taylor]

"You must spread spread some reputation around before..."

I'm 55. also been around a few blocks. I run a organisation with 70 staff. In my 3 years in charge we have doubled in size and doubled the turnover. The growth is still going on. Each of the years I have given every staffmembers a payrise. (Yep, through "the resession...")Currently I am in the process of purcasing a new facility to run all from. $1.5mill. We have done some mistakes. But also some awsome stuff. "It can't be done" is something that used to be a saying. Now it is banned.

Not many things get my bloodpressure to rise. But the two that have that effect on me are "giving up" and "can't do".

This thread was NEVER about what can't be done. It was about what CAN be done. About imagination and finding a way. Somehow the "nay" sayers thought it was about them. But I suppose there is truth in the old saying: "If you throw a stick in to a pack of dogs, the one who get's hit whill whinge".

Its not about cant do its about having your eyes wide open. Its also about having business sense and being VERY aware of what overheads etc are a given. Its allso being very aware of the pysche of a NZ motorycle customer and of that I am personally and unashamedly very aware.

You havent said what organisation you run whereas some of us who post on here everyone knows what we do. Thats one of the real perverse things about forums, people post away, snipe at this and that but also arent totally transparent about who they are and what they are about. Not saying its neccessarily so in your case but this is often used for deliberate effect so that someone can perversely be shot down in flames when they challenge.

[Robert Taylor]

Not for a moment.


Precisely. No more no less.

I'm not of the opinion that the motorcycle retail industry in NZ can be changed by customers who want to stack the deck solely in their favour (which seems to be the main thrust of this thread). But I do think it's possible for someone like Bogan to build a small turnover business based on importing and selling on a small number of in-demand products where there's margin available.

You mean parallell importing? The very same activity that parasitically feeds off the advertising revenue etc expended by the manufacturers appointed distributors? Dont get me started on these leaches.

[bogan]

Its not about cant do its about having your eyes wide open. Its also about having business sense and being VERY aware of what overheads etc are a given. Its allso being very aware of the pysche of a NZ motorycle customer and of that I am personally and unashamedly very aware.

You havent said what organisation you run whereas some of us who post on here everyone knows what we do. Thats one of the real perverse things about forums, people post away, snipe at this and that but also arent totally transparent about who they are and what they are about. Not saying its neccessarily so in your case but this is often used for deliberate effect so that someone can perversely be shot down in flames when they challenge.

Isn't that what you're doing anyway, making snipey comments about how things can't be done? A common occurance in brainstorming sessions is that everything gets written down, regardless of its feasibility, but you had to come in here and impose your views. Don't you have work to do? cos you ain't doing anything constructive here, quite the oppposite imo.

You mean parallell importing? The very same activity that parasitically feeds off the advertising revenue etc expended by the manufacturers appointed distributors? Dont get me started on these leaches.

bahahaha, theres no advertising on parts, tell you what, if I see an add for fork seals for a 88 Bros, I'll eat my fucking helmet. If you are going to try and insult people, at least make it vaguely applicable.

[Robert Taylor]

Isn't that what you're doing anyway, making snipey comments about how things can't be done? A common occurance in brainstorming sessions is that everything gets written down, regardless of its feasibility, but you had to come in here and impose your views. Don't you have work to do? cos you ain't doing anything constructive here, quite the oppposite imo.



bahahaha, theres no advertising on parts, tell you what, if I see an add for fork seals for a 88 Bros, I'll eat my fucking helmet. If you are going to try and insult people, at least make it vaguely applicable.

I was up in the middle of the night doing paperwork while you were sleeping or kicking back, so I think I can justify ten minutes on here????

Ive got just as much right to express my views on here as anyone else.

BTW Id personally be using genuine Honda Bros seals as most of the aftermarket fork seals available ( that are otherwise cheap ) are quite terrible in terms of friction. I might happen to know a thing or two about that given the ''irrelevance'' of my long industry experience.

So go for it, I hope you will be purchasing tens of thousands of dollars of forward foreign exchange at the best exchange rates so that you can pass on your saving to your tens of thousands of customers.

Youve got a LOT to learn.

[Katman]

It's disappointing that so many peoples prejudices cloud their ability to recognise that no-one is "tearing to shreds" any idea.

All that's happening here is that perfectly valid questions are being asked about the idea - questions that, if the proponents of the idea can't come up with equally valid answers, are going to see them sorely disappointed and out of pocket if they enter into it half-cocked.

[Scorp]

For anyone setting up a new business, one of the first things you should do is examine in detail the way your chosen market operates - both to learn the way it works, and to find gaps and inefficiencies you can exploit.

It's all well and good slating the industry guys on here for their negativity, but anyone who genuinely aspires to running a bike gear/parts business should probably be spending time with them, politely asking questions, rather than knocking them.

And simply asking the market what it wants is not going to give you much in the way of useful information, because the answer will always be: more for less. And you can't live off that.

This quote below by T.W.R reveals a lot about some people's attitude to business:

Most of the existing businesses are too set in their ways to change, a lot have milked the system for so long they think they're sucessful but they've only got to that point by taking the creame off the top to line their own pockets.

Thing is, that's a bit like saying: "most successful businesses are only successful because they have managed to survive for many years while turning a profit."

Which is kind of the point of going into business in the first place. Unless of course you want to set up a registered charity for the benefit of NZ motorcycle owners.

[T.W.R]

For anyone setting up a new business, one of the first things you should do is examine in detail the way your chosen market operates - both to learn the way it works, and to find gaps and inefficiencies you can exploit.

It's all well and good slating the industry guys on here for their negativity, but anyone who genuinely aspires to running a bike gear/parts business should probably be spending time with them, politely asking questions, rather than knocking them.

And simply asking the market what it wants is not going to give you much in the way of useful information, because the answer will always be: more for less. And you can't live off that.

This quote below by T.W.R reveals a lot about some people's attitude to business:


Thing is, that's a bit like saying: "most successful businesses are only successful because they have managed to survive for many years while turning a profit."

Which is kind of the point of going into business in the first place. Unless of course you want to set up a registered charity for the benefit of NZ motorcycle owners.

Well Scorp I only worked in the top south island kawasaki business for a few years and spent time in one of the more sucessful Suzuki dealerships too so my attitude comes from seeing the exact goings on that happen away from the public eye

And to add I've got a business management diploma as well

[scott411]

"You must spread spread some reputation around before..."

I'm 55. also been around a few blocks. I run a organisation with 70 staff. In my 3 years in charge we have doubled in size and doubled the turnover. The growth is still going on. Each of the years I have given every staffmembers a payrise. (Yep, through "the resession...")Currently I am in the process of purcasing a new facility to run all from. $1.5mill. We have done some mistakes. But also some awsome stuff. "It can't be done" is something that used to be a saying. Now it is banned.

Not many things get my bloodpressure to rise. But the two that have that effect on me are "giving up" and "can't do".

This thread was NEVER about what can't be done. It was about what CAN be done. About imagination and finding a way. Somehow the "nay" sayers thought it was about them. But I suppose there is truth in the old saying: "If you throw a stick in to a pack of dogs, the one who get's hit whill whinge".

sweet im stoked for you, its good to hear good story's like that, , im 32, have been in a motorcycle shop for 8 years and another 8 years before that working for others, we have doubled the turnover, store size and staff numbers in that time, and are still doing good even though the industry bike sales are down over 50%, i did it by listening to some of the old codgers and taking there advise, and trying some of my ideas, as i said in an earlier post there was some interesting information early on this tread but both sides started snipping at each other and it turned to shit,

i had thought about doing something similar about doing what you have said above, and i do use overseas sources on some parts when i can not get them here, or i think they are stupid prices, but as i said before, to provide the service you talk about here, on smaller parts you will have to have more than a 30% markup to make it viable, due to the fact it will be labour intensive to find the parts, on bigger items you would reduce that margin, but on $50-100 parts that take 30 minutes to an hour of your time to do all the finding, emailing, processing of payments etc, will cost you more than the $20-50 you will make on the sale of parts, esp when you consider the warranty issues, and after sales service that you will need,

as Robert said above, its hard to sit here and read your friends and people you have worked with for decades being attacked by people that do not provide the same level of imformation about themselves, that they have on the people they are attacking,

[Scorp]

Not many things get my bloodpressure to rise. But the two that have that effect on me are "giving up" and "can't do".

All the NAysayers. You all spent too much time coming up with reasons NOT to do something... its a wonder half of you even get out of bed in the morning... This thread is a good example as to why we are behind the 8 ball compared to a lot of others. Cant even get a web business passed the think about it stage without it getting torn to shreds because its "different" and it "doesnt work like that". Who gives a shit if it doesnt work like that, make it work like that

Just a quick point to everyone slating the "Naysayers". It's worth bearing in mind that RT and Katman and the other bike industry guys on here who have shot down your ideas, that they are probably not "Can't do" people." They seem to be get up and go, can do, will do types who have been successfully running entrepreneurial businesses of their own for some years.

Personally, having come across RT on another thread, I can confidently state that I detest his politics. But if I was planning on going into the bike trade in the near future, he's probably one of the first people I'd want to talk to.