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The Clean Machine, Carrboro |
"Bikes are cool," says client Doug Venema of The Clean Machine, a bike shop located in Carrboro, North Carolina. He adds, "What could be better than running a bike shop?" Or being the co-owner of four bike stores located throughout the Triangle.
If you enjoy cycling and the world of bicycling, no matter what your age, then the bike stores owned by Venema and Scott Smith are truly stores to put on your favorites list. The Clean Machine, located in Carrboro, has existed since 1972. Venema and Smith opened Franklin Street Cycles in 1992 and purchased The Cycle Center in Durham in 1996. In 2001 they expanded their operation again with the purchase of Bikes USA which they renamed The Bike Rack.
Venema grew up riding and fixing bikes so he is fortunate to have turned a hobby into a career that he enjoys. Both bike shop owners are not originally from North Carolina but both attended Millbrook High School in Raleigh. Says Venema, "We both came here in 1984 to attend UNC and never left."
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| The Cycle Center, Durham | |
What a plus this has been for Triangle bike lovers. Both Smith and Venema agree that the best part of their business is the people that they have the opportunity to work with. "People who ride bikes come from all walks of life and demographics. Employees and customers alike--bike people tend to be very interesting and nice," says Venema. Smith adds, "Our goal is to make each customer's new bike as comfortable to ride and as easy to pedal as possible. We have years of experience in fitting bikes to riders." They also enjoy offering customized and personalized service to each client. Says Smith, "How do you know if that new rig is the right ride for you? The best test, and the truest way to judge a bike, is by taking a spin on it. We are happy to let our clients do this in any of our stores."
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Franklin Street Cycles, Chapel Hill |
One of the main tenets of their business is a high attention to customer service, which often isn't the case in large warehouse stores that do not specialize in bikes. Says Smith, "We believe in service. Every one of our new bikes comes with lifetime free maintenance." Bicycles are machines that require maintenance. One of the most important services is the first tune-up, which is due after a bike has been ridden for a few weeks. We also offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee along with knowledgeable staff members who love to bike."
Smith also believes in having fun and this approach to life can be seen in his annual holiday card ritual. Carrboro residents and friends may be familiar with Smith's venture, which began eleven years ago when he arranged a piece of toast on a plate, took a photograph of it, and sent the image as a card to his friends as a "toast to the New Year." The much-loved annual activity now has grown to sculptures made of toast and placed on West Poplar Avenue in Carrboro during the New Year. Last year's "card" was a biplane with a 15-foot wingspan fashioned to look like the Wright brother's flyer (and completely made of toast). Smith takes photos of his sculptures and sends them as New Year greetings. The sculptures are then enjoyed by resident birds as a hearty meal.
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| The Bike Rack, Raleigh | |
Both Venema and Smith use this same charitable goal of sharing as they give back to their communities. "We sponsor and provide mechanical support for charity rides like the Tour de Cure in the spring and the MS-150 in the fall, as well as donating items to various charity auctions," says Venema. "We try to actively work with the local schools by teaching bicycle safety, promoting active lifestyles (and fixing their bikes)," he adds.
Both agree that one of the best things about their jobs is that there really isn't a "typical" day, which lends to the joy of being an entrepreneur. Any day could include office duties like designing and making advertising decisions, paying bills and talking on the phone or in the store. "We fix and sell bikes and drive around the Triangle in our van. Some days we pick up garbage. Whatever our duties, they're rarely boring," says Venema.
Each store has about 10 employees. They publish a monthly email that you can subscribe to by clicking on the following link: http://app.brontomail.com/x/subscribe.php?lid=1785&elid=vEP
To visit their websites or contact each store:
The Clean Machine:
http://thecleanmachine.com
Address: 104 West Main St, Carrboro, NC 27510
Phone: 919-967-5104
Franklin Street Cycles:
http://www.franklinstreetcycles.com
Address: 210 West Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Phone: 919.929.0213
The Durham Cycle Center:
http://www.durhamcyclecenter.com
Address:
639 Broad St., Durham NC 27705
Phone: 919-286-2453
The Bike Rack:
http://www.raleighbikerack.com
Address: 6234 Glenwood Ave. Suite 112, Raleigh, NC 27612
Phone: 919-782-1000
William H. Bunch, CPA, PA
102 Market Street, Suite 200
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 929-0595
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