Starting a Business?

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Chris Picone

Member
It seems like scooters are bigger than ever, and since I design stuff in my free time I'm thinking of starting a very small business to make parts and stuff. I don't know if it's a good idea, and I don't know how much volume to expect, so I was wondering if any experts had some tips. What products sell really well? Do you make to order or do you stock? How much investment do you need to get off the ground? Basically, any tips would be nice so I can get a better gauge on whether or not this is a good idea.

I'm thinking of selling bars (a bit overdone but they're easy), wheels, and tools first. Any suggestions?
 
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asissle

Bronze member
wikichris said:
It seems like scooters are bigger than ever, and since I design stuff in my free time I'm thinking of starting a very small business to make parts and stuff. I don't know if it's a good idea, and I don't know how much volume to expect, so I was wondering if any experts had some tips. What products sell really well? Do you make to order or do you stock? How much investment do you need to get off the ground? Basically, any tips would be nice so I can get a better gauge on whether or not this is a good idea.

I'm thinking of selling bars (a bit overdone but they're easy), wheels, and tools first. Any suggestions?
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OOO where to begin...im assuming most wont indulge into their business secrets but i will say this. If you want to be successful, prepare yourself not to have a life. It takes alot of money (liquid cash), endless hours and commitment in order to get anything off the ground. I calcualted how much i was making when i first started and it was less than a mexican field worker lol. Alot of your questions depend on the specific business. Not all companies do the same and some things work better for other companies.

I am the owner of East2West Scooters and were located in Saratoga. If you want to work on some products together and want to work something out email me at east2westscooters@gmail.com.
 
C

Chris Picone

Member
btyczki21 said:
go to college
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I'm half done - i'm a mechanical engineer, so this is the kind of stuff I'll be able to do for a living someday. I figure I'll be able to use what I'm learning in class to sell a better product by doing structural analysis.

heyhey said:
Bars with backsweep sell well
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That's my first plan! Access to a pipe bender is a bit of a challenge but plenty of machine shops have them and with such a small bend it shouldn't need special treatment.

asissle said:
If you want to be successful, prepare yourself not to have a life. It takes alot of money (liquid cash), endless hours and commitment in order to get anything off the ground. I calcualted how much i was making when i first started and it was less than a mexican field worker lol.
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Sounds pretty exhausting. I was hoping to just do some made to order bars, make them in my spare time in lieu of a part time job, that kind of thing, but I have a good chunk of time to get things off the ground in the summer and a half decent amount of capital.

I am the owner of East2West Scooters and were located in Saratoga. If you want to work on some products together and want to work something out email me at east2westscooters@gmail.com.
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Thanks for the offer. I'll think this whole business thing through and get back to you.
 
heyhey

heyhey

Member
thank god you agree with me about back sweep bars.I think if you start a company parts should be made on the order so you don't get screwed over if it doesn't go so well and if there is high demand for your product then mass produce them.I would gladly test your back sweep bars for you :)
 
Victor C.

Victor C.

Member
I completely agree with Heyhey about backsweep bars. Also, if you need anybody to test bars, me and Heyhey are your people. Email me at vchadarov@pickeringcollege.on.ca if you need a tester. And just a tip: bike style bars (Rad Crowbars, Lucky PrYbars, MGP Batwing Bars, Blunt Stripper Bars, Phoenix Suicide Bars... etc.) sell REALLY well, because they are strong, and look nice. Great combo to have ;)
 
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Chris Picone

Member
I've got just one question about backsweep. Where does the bend go? Can it just go anywhere as long as there's plenty of room for grips on the bars?

I assume width is measured "straight across" and ignores backsweep too (i.e. tip to tip)

Currently I'm looking at making Buff-style bars with an ADA stem in addition to one piece bars. I really like the idea of interchangeable bars and it should save people money if stuff ever breaks.
 
Casey DeHaven

Casey DeHaven

Steel Member
^ yeah man sounds cool. And I would help you out withthe backsweep question but I don't know much about those types of bars. Let me know if you need any testers or are putting together a team.
 
heyhey

heyhey

Member
Vickayyyy said:
I completely agree with Heyhey about backsweep bars. Also, if you need anybody to test bars, me and Heyhey are your people. Email me at vchadarov@pickeringcollege.on.ca if you need a tester. And just a tip: bike style bars (Rad Crowbars, Lucky PrYbars, MGP Batwing Bars, Blunt Stripper Bars, Phoenix Suicide Bars... etc.) sell REALLY well, because they are strong, and look nice. Great combo to have ;)
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My email is shawn-loves-cats@live.ca and he is right,so many ppl at my local ride bike style bars and lots of people on here do too.I think back sweep is a huge advantage though mainly because of comfort and bike style bars are visually appealing so the combination of the two make for a great product which countless people will buy.Also,if you do them HIC compatible it would be a huge hit,rad crows are almost impossible to get and lucky takes forever to ship and phoenix hic bars are well over the $100 mark so any bar that is hic compatible and/or has back sweep and bike style would be a huge hit
 
heyhey

heyhey

Member
wikichris said:
I've got just one question about backsweep. Where does the bend go? Can it just go anywhere as long as there's plenty of room for grips on the bars?

I assume width is measured "straight across" and ignores backsweep too (i.e. tip to tip)

Currently I'm looking at making Buff-style bars with an ADA stem in addition to one piece bars. I really like the idea of interchangeable bars and it should save people money if stuff ever breaks.
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bend usually is close to the area the cross bar meets the down tube of the bar.If it is a bike style bar its right where the Y shape meets the cross bar(if they are like slayers or vipers) or at the bend(like suicides,prys,crows)and straight across tip to tip is the width
 
iSEESOUNDS

iSEESOUNDS

Bronze member
with the bars i recommend not making them really expensive at first, not everyone has $80 to spend on bars that are bmx style
 
koring

koring

Bronze member
you should make a bearing press for scooter riders also please be creative with your bar designs I mean if i see another crow bar cousin I am gonna be shitt'in tin foil.
 
C

Chris Picone

Member
koring said:
you should make a bearing press for scooter riders also please be creative with your bar designs I mean if i see another crow bar cousin I am gonna be shitt'in tin foil.
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You mean a press for the headset cups? I could try making that.

iSEESOUNDS said:
with the bars i recommend not making them really expensive at first, not everyone has $80 to spend on bars that are bmx style
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This is my primary motivation for making bars, really. I want to hit low cost without compromising too much. I'm interested in using the ADA stem to make bars more of a "kit" process rather than requiring any welding. That way, if you decide you want something different you could just change out parts rather than buying a whole new set of bars. Not welding also saves money for me on cost, since I don't have a welder handy to make bars with.

If it's not too clear, this would likely be a pretty small operation. There aren't THAT many scooter riders in the world that I could make a few thousand bars and actually get sales, at least last time I checked.
 
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