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Bike Shop Owner

Sports: Bikes-R-In, Cape Carteret, NC
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Do you want to be a Bike Shop Owner?

Do you have mechanical aptitude and people skills? Do you like the idea of making a living while helping people live healthier lives? Are you a person who enjoys fixing things and figuring out how they work? Then pursue the dream of becoming a bicycle shop owner by going on a VocationVacations dream job holiday with Ed Johnson, owner of Bikes-R-In on the beautiful coast of North Carolina.

Ed bought Bikes-R-In in 2000. Buying the shop was the beginning of Ed’s third career. He spent 32 years at IBM and then taught business classes at the university level for five years. Ed owned a second home in the Cape Carteret area and had been thinking about starting a small business when the bike shop he’d frequented went up for sale.

Bikes had always fascinated Ed as a kid and he remembers loving hardware stores. An engineer by training, Ed felt at home in the world of bikes. He enjoys dealing with customers and helping them find the right bike for the right purpose – whether that is commuting, exercise or just for fun. He also likes the back of the shop work – putting bikes together and handling repairs.

In the bike shop, Ed has found work that fulfills him – mind, body and soul.

“You want to do something that turns you on,” Ed says. “But we need to put bread on the table. So we make sacrifices sometimes to have the lifestyle we want to have. You have to take a look at your talents and your interests and it’s best to do that without anyone looking over your shoulder.”

In order to be fulfilling, Ed says, work also has to offer a reward. In his work, Ed finds reward in pointing people toward a healthier lifestyle. There are so many problems in the world today and two big ones are environmental pollution and obesity. Ed sees bike riding as a positive solution for both of those problems.

Running a bike shop is a fulfilling life and Ed says it is a great business to go into for anyone with some mechanical aptitude.

“As long as you have the cash register on and you have a smile on your face, you’re ready,” he says.

While on your Bike Shop Owner VocationVacations® dream job holiday with Ed Johnson at Bikes-R-In, activities will include some or all of the following:
  • Explain the Client First sales paradigm.
  • Observe and participate in the Bikes-R-In client relationship experience
  • Participate in and fully experience the retail side of the business.
  • Join with the staff in greeting and meeting new clients,
  • Help clients with their purchase experience:
    • Follow through with the complete cycle including
    • Hands-on cash register and credit card processing experience.
    • Learn how to perform a "quick Fit" for a new client interested in a new bike.
  • Introduction to the proprietary NBDA –
    • Cost of Doing Business survey results
    • Understand the financial metrics
    • Profit and loss side of the bike shop business.
    • Observe and learn how to select product, and determine price.
    • Review in-store and external marketing practices. Entry-level participation in the service side of the cycling retail operation.
  • Participate in basic tune-up and repair procedures
  • Ample opportunity to ask any and all questions
  • Afternoon spent test riding, and/or enjoying the full use of any bikes in the shop. Map, safety gear, and transport rack provided for self-guided tour of neighboring towns and the Island Beach routes. Visit rental locations.
  • In depth one-on-one time with Ed over lunch (working of course!)
  • Work with staff to perform the opening ritual - prep the shop for the hoped for daily flood of new clients.
Optional:
Opportunity for Vocationer to assemble, test and custom fit a bike that the Vocationer has ordered in advance from Bikes R In for their personal use at a special 20% discount. Vocationers also receive a 30% discount on any cycling equipment, parts or accessories purchased during the VocationVacation. Shipment back home is at the (NBDA National Bicycler Dealers Association) discounted rate)
  • Time to fine tune, and perform the first service on the bike you purchased to take back home.
  • Learn how to break down a bike for safe shipment.
  • Package your bike for the return journey.
The Bike Shop Owner Vocation Vacations® dream job holiday with Ed Johnson at Bikes-R-In includes:
  • One or Two days of one-on-one mentorship in your dream job as a bike shop owner
  • The option to participate in a total of one hour of pre- and post- VocationVacations career coaching from an accredited, affiliated VocationVacations career coach
  • Light lunch(es) with your mentor

Available: Based on mentor's availability

Price: $1099 or $749 Per Person

Book This Career Mentorship

One day - $749 per person
Two day - $1099 per person


Suggested Accommodations

Waterway Inn

Harborlight Guest House
(Not included in the price of the VocationVacations® holiday)

Other activities and tourist destinations while on your VocationVacations® adventure:
Reservation, Cancellation and Rescheduling Rules and Conditions:
Each requested date for a VocationVacation is 100% dependent upon the mentor’s approval of dates.  Each Vocationer is required to sign a liability release stating that they are 18 years or older, 21 years or older if the VocationVacation involves the production or serving of alcohol.  Full payment of the VocationVacation is required to make a reservation. A $100 non-refundable fee is assessed if a VocationVacations experience is cancelled or rescheduled prior to 14-days of the scheduled VocationVacations holiday, based on the approved availability of the mentor to reschedule. A VocationVacation cannot be rescheduled and is non-refundable if cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled VocationVacations holiday. Written notification of cancellation or rescheduling is required in all cases.  Grounded Nomads, LLC dba VocationVacations encourages all customers to acquire travel insurance to cover any unforeseen expenses due to cancellation or rescheduling.