As for the commercial side of it, you should contact or join the National Bicycle Dealers Association (www.nbda.com) and attend their free seminars at Interbike ( www.interbike.com). I think one big difference (there are others) between coops and collectives vs. local bike shops (LBS) is that we find any space we can get for free or cheap, and the LBS will spend a ton to get into the right location, location, location. So count on needing a large amount of investment capital -- the days of mom and pop slowing building a business from scratch using word of mouth and good service don't exist anymore.

On Dec 17, 2007 9:26 AM, andrew L. <anyone@breathingplanet.net> wrote:

Hey Josh,

i totally understand your comment.. in the case I am in, we are in a
small revitalizing post-industrial town where there is NO bikeshop
(other than walmart). I founded a nomadic recycling operation several
years ago that has a great reputation in the community and now seeing
where the town is going (lots of new real estate development, new
demographics... essentially gentrification, but of a particular
post-industrial small town breed/brand), i am contemplating that someone
is gonna come in and open up a shop in the next 3-5 years. i can see
it. my thought is... it should be us, dammit! we have been here doing
the work. we have the people (who need the paid work.) and the
expertise, and the drive necessary to make it happen.... etc.. and... we
could create a 'commercial' shop that is community oriented as opposed
to a crap shop that only exists to make profits, and maybe the owner(s)
dont even work there.

but of course, this would potentially change things in a big way and i
am wondering if there are people out there who are sorting out the
logistics of running dual financial entities simultaneously while
maintaining a volunteer base and maintaining the all-important spirit of
"community bike" work and community-building.

this actually IS intended for the list :) i wanted to give a bit more
context, and see what else people had to say. i am prodding a bit. I
want to get peoples reactions. this very idea doesnt necessarily sit
well with me, but i want to try think hypothetically and innovatively
about it.

overall, i really appreciate the thoughtfulness and haste of the
conversation here. thanks everyone!

andrew

veganboyjosh@gmail.com wrote:
> oops, that wasn't meant to go to the entire list. sorry...
>
>
>
> On Dec 17, 2007 8:26 AM, <veganboyjosh@gmail.com
> <mailto:veganboyjosh@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> this is one reason why i think we shouldn't get into selling new
> parts...
>
>
>
>
> On Dec 17, 2007 8:18 AM, info@re-cycles.ca
> <mailto:info@re-cycles.ca> < info@re-cycles.ca
> <mailto:info@re-cycles.ca >> wrote:
>
>
>
> We have avoided retailing any new bikes or parts to minimize
> competition with the local retail bike shops many of which
> support us
> with donations of used bikes & parts and a deep discount on any
> tools
> or new parts needed to complete our overhauls.
>
> Chris
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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> Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org
> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org

--

andrew lynn | media worker | 518-573-7947
---------------------------------------------
troy new york | http://www.breathingplanet.net
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