| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 562.1 | The law of the excluded middle | CIMNET::MJOHNSON | Matt Johnson | Wed Mar 02 1988 09:30 | 14 |
| There are two Schwinns: one is the company that makes the Paramont,
and sponsors big-name riders, and develops exotic machines. Not
many people see this Schwinn. The other Schwinn makes bikes for
every Harold, Molly, and Gertrude in America -- casual riders.
In these two areas, the company's fine. For those in the middle,
though, it has little to offer. The price/performance of most of
Schwinn's mid-range bikes (the kind most sport/serious riders
get) lags behind its competitors. They've long since stopped making
their own bikes for sport riders -- they import like everybody else.
I'd tell your friend to shop around, and take along somebody who's
into the sport -- but that's sound advice for any purchase....
MATT
|
| 562.2 | Shop vs. Bicycle | ULTRA::WITTENBERG | Secure Systems for Insecure People | Wed Mar 02 1988 11:27 | 13 |
| I'm not sure you're asking the right question. If he's considering
buying the business (that is what the note says, isn't it?), you
should ask about it's profitability. There's lots of money to be
made selling bikes suitable only for riding around the block. Does
he know enough about bikes to take an active part in running the
shop? It sounds like he doesn't. Is he a good enough manager to
hire people who are skilled in an area he doesn't know much about?
If not, this won't work. In general, a lot of American businesses
don't work because an MBA is brought in to run a business without
knowing anything about the product. This is an error worth
avoiding.
--David
|
| 562.3 | Mea Culpa | CIMNET::MJOHNSON | Matt Johnson | Wed Mar 02 1988 15:00 | 8 |
| Whoops! I should learn to read a little more closely!
Bike shops usually aren't for the faint-hearted businessman. Though
there are big years (last year was a record), there are generally
easier ways to make money in retail. Most bike shop people I've
talked to can't help themselves -- they're fanatics.
MATT
|
| 562.4 | | SAHQ::LILLY | reality is in the eye of the beholder | Tue Mar 08 1988 09:19 | 7 |
| Thanks for the replies. BTW, he has been a bike fanatic for the
past 12 years. I know him through my son, who races the USCF races
in the southeast. And you are right, most of the owners I know
live cycling. From what I have seen, it is not the way to make
your fortune, but a way to support your habit.
I'll pass on the info. Thanks, again.
|