Recently, I heard from Peter Small of Beeline Bikes about their new mobile bike repair service coming to SoCal, offering franchise opportunities for local bike mechanics.
It seemed like an interesting idea, so I offered Small the opportunity to write a guest post for this site.
……..
Beeline Bikes’ Mobile Bike Shop model enables mechanics to own their own business, deliver expert service, and do what they love.
A few years ago, Beeline Bikes Co-Founder Pete Buhl found it nearly impossible to get his bike serviced after visiting a shop that only serviced bikes they sold…another that refused to work on his brand…and two other shops had wait times of two to three weeks. It was at that moment he recognized a need that had yet to be served and so he built a business model focused on empowering mechanics, customer service, and enabling more people to ride bikes.
San Carlos, California-based Beeline Bikes thus began in 2013 and the company has been growing ever since. After servicing thousands of customers at their homes and 100+ corporate locations in the San Francisco Bay Area, Beeline recently announced plans to franchise nationwide.
Beeline’s approach satisfies a customer’s need for convenience. Customers can visit beelinebikes.com, see real-time availability, and quickly schedule an appointment at the location of their choice – work or home. A shop on wheels then arrives equipped with the tools and parts to perform the service, along with a full complement of accessories. And the scheduling algorithm in place ensures mechanics arrive to each appointment on time.
As for mechanics, the technology platform plays an important role too. Appointment management, customer communication, bike history, and routing are all accessible from mobile phones or Wi-Fi enabled laptops as they travel onboard the Mobile Bike Shop. Beyond that, Beeline has built an integrated supply chain with 80+ distributors and brands to ensure reliable component and accessory availability.
Beeline Bikes is a departure from the traditional bike shop and places mechanics central to the business. It’s exciting to see mechanics develop an ongoing relationship with customers, and benefit from their knowledge and expertise. This is an opportunity for mechanics to build a long career in the bike industry.
Beeline has seen a strong response to its franchise expansion plans from all over the country and will initially focus on West Coast markets, including Los Angeles.
To learn more visit https://beelinebikes.com/franchise or email franchise@beelinebikes.com.
I can tell you one thing, BeeLineBikes mobile repair is sorely needed in Southern California, especially West LA.
The shops don’t pay their techs well enough to keep the good ones here with the high cost of housing. I have lost 2 great techs over the years to other states where a tech can earn enough to have a life. Very few shops have tech consistency. And the high overhead of some shops makes repairs prohibitively expensive.
However, the techs on the trucks have to be very qualified to do the job right the first time and responsible to come back and fix a repair that was not done correctly because you will not be able to find them if they are always mobile.
I can see some of the best techs buy into this and get a strong reputation where they are always in demand. Liek some food trucks are always in demand.
As per of mechanic concept technology plays a important role in every respect.Beeline Bikes told how to make a great deal and relation with the custmer but sometime its been quite expensive but its been user frendly………………………………………..
The shops don’t pay their techs well enough to keep the good ones here with the high cost of housing. I have lost 2 great techs over the years to other states where a tech can earn enough to have a life. Very few shops have tech consistency. And the high overhead of some shops makes repairs prohibitively expensive.