Bike Shop Update

[Running Mommy]

Got the sign today! YIPPEEE!!!
It all seems very REAL now!
I'm placing my bike orders next week.
Brands will be Felt, Kona, Bianchi, and Quintana Roo to start.
Going to try to pick up GT.
Husband also wants Santa Cruz and Pivot.
If I see the market for it I may carry Merlin and or Lightspeed as they are part of the ABG which owns Quintana Roo.

Check out the pics here:

http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/tony66denise69/Misc%20pics/?action=view&current=bikeshoppics012.jpg

[oxysback]

The sign looks great. How exciting!!

[smilingcat]

congratulation. Sign looks fab. love the shooting star in th logo.

smilingcat

[sbctwin]

Congratulations...great looking sign...

[light_sabe_r]

Running Mommy it looks great!

Can't wait to see the interior!

[solobiker]

Congrats!! Looks great, too bad I don't live closer...I would be one of your frequent customers:p

[northstar]

The sign looks fantastic! I wish you the best of luck...congratulations!

[TracyinMesa]

Very exciting! I am looking forward to coming to the shop when it opens.

[sgtiger]

How very exciting! Congratulations and many good wishes for the success of your bike shop.


~Sg

[Tri Girl]

Wow- it's getting so close now. Very exciting. The sign is amazing!!! And dang girl- you're looking great, too! I can really tell you've lost weight!

[LBTC]

Yahoooooooo! Way to go, RM, what a friendly, professional looking shop! I'm so proud of you!! And those are some great brands to carry.....

You're a million miles from me, but if you do online orders I'll be all over that!

Hugs and happy butterflies,
~T~

[Aquila]

It looks fantastic! I love the logo, too!

Good luck!

[tprevost]

Love it Denise!!!! Congratulations, it looks GREAT!!!

Trac'

[Velobambina]

Let us know if you stock T-shirts & waterbottles w/your store logo. I'd LOVE to order one of each (if you'd ship it to me). :D

[roadie gal]

Let us know if you stock T-shirts & waterbottles w/your store logo. I'd LOVE to order one of each (if you'd ship it to me). :D

1+ on that and online orders. I'm too far away to come in, but I'd love to support your store.

[RoadRaven]

Congrat, RM!

:D

Kona and Felt eh? Good choices...

[Running Mommy]

Yes, I'm in the process of ordering water bottles. Going with specialized, orange pearl bottles. Our logo, not sure what else is going to be on the bottle yet. Will also have stickers, drawstring backpack type bags, and of course jerseys at some point. I'm sure t shirts will come in there as well.

Right now I'm trying to come up with a MOTTO! I need a motto!
Can anyone out there help me with it??

Remember, we are in the sonoran desert, lots of road riding, mtn bike riding, triathletes, and recreational riders- esp. those in a retirement community called palm valley.
To get an idea of our area check out this website. This is my hood..

http://estrella.com/

[mimitabby]

where are the bike racks for customer parking?

[Running Mommy]

Not in yet... Getting a cool one, but not in yet..

[AZSpinner]

Very exciting! I am looking forward to coming to the shop when it opens.

Me too!:D

[Velobambina]

Motto

"You're never too hot to ride"

or

"It's never too hot to ride"

[Mr. Bloom]

I think I'll be in Phoenix in Feb...I'll come buy something from you!

AND, we can talk "Lower Alabama redneck" together!

[partbug]

Will you be selling on line, Then we can all buy something from you

[KnottedYet]

How 'bout "Your bike is the star at Estrella..."

Or "You are the star" or "Peddle power is the star" "Reach for the stars at..." "Light up your life at..." "An oasis of bikes..." "The cyclist's oasis."

[ladyfish]

Reach for the Stars at Estrella MB
Estrella Roadrunners (as in the Coyote's after you)--something along those lines.

When do you plan to open? I'll be in AZ at Christmas but it sounds like you won't be open until after the new year.

Best wishes for a successful endeavor!

[Running Mommy]

I think I'll be in Phoenix in Feb...I'll come buy something from you!

AND, we can talk "Lower Alabama redneck" together!


YAY!!! I'll get to meet Mr. Silver in PERSON!!! :)

[snowtulip]

Congrats! It looks great! I'm in AZ quite a bit, so look forward to visiting when you open up.:D

[Running Mommy]

Ooohh knotted and lady- I LIKE!!!

And lady, I may not be quite open yet, but I'd love to meet you in person. Perhaps I can show you the shop and we could do lunch or something?
pm me.

[Starfish]

Something about the oasis, and I'm picturing a promo poster, shot out in the desert, with a diverse group of cyclists with their bikes (young, old, male, female, racing bike, comfort bike, dirt bike, full kit, baggy shorts) all laughing and squirting each other, having a water-bottle-fight with their (your shop's) cycling water bottles.

A feeling of community for all cyclists, a playful feel, but still with the presence of some racing folks...like hard-core, but friendly for all.

[maillotpois]

Wow RM - that is SO cool! I had no idea you were doing this! What a great project!

Good luck! When I am in AZ I will for sure come to the shop!

[HillSlugger]

If you want to stay with the star theme how about:
You'll be the star at Estrella Bikes
or
Be a star at Estrella Bikes

[7rider]

Yes, I'm in the process of ordering water bottles. Going with specialized, orange pearl bottles. Our logo, not sure what else is going to be on the bottle yet. Will also have stickers, drawstring backpack type bags, and of course jerseys at some point. I'm sure t shirts will come in there as well.

Right now I'm trying to come up with a MOTTO! I need a motto!
Can anyone out there help me with it??

Remember, we are in the sonoran desert, lots of road riding, mtn bike riding, triathletes, and recreational riders- esp. those in a retirement community called palm valley.
To get an idea of our area check out this website. This is my hood..

http://estrella.com/

Don't forget phone # and/or website on the bottle. Possibly your logo, when you get one.

"Where the stars come out to play" (oh wait, isn't that one use somewhere?)

"Stellar Service at EMC"

"Follow your star to EMC"

[HillSlugger]

We're your guiding star.

[knapplaura]

Denise,
Congrats! Looks great! I know you are so happy!

I had been wondering how you are doing. Hopefully all is well!

Can't wait to read your IM training reports next month! You write such great ones.

Best of luck with the store,
Laura

[Jo-n-NY]

Congratulations. I know the feeling of excitement in opening your own retail store. The sign is great and the outside of the building is beautiful.

~ JoAnn

[Bad JuJu]

HUGE congratulations, and best of luck in your new adventure!
And +1 for ordering water bottles, t-shirts, if you ever do online.

The Star theme is great because you can make use of different forms of it all year round and for different occasions: Find your Christmas star at Estrella bikes, We're the stars in your flag at Estrella (patriotic holidays), Do some star-gazing at Estrella (I don't know when you'd use this, but it sounds cool LOL), Twinkle, twinkle, little star (when you want to advertise kids' bikes), and so on.

Seems like using that one theme a lot would also help with "brand recognition" for your store.

[Running Mommy]

Wheew! Getting these bike companies to ship product is proving to be QUITE a daunting task!
BUT, I have nine Bianchi's on their way to me! Whoo hoo!!
AND I'm going to have some accessories too!

Now if I could get Felt to get a move on! I need bikes man! :D
Nothing like looking at a store ready to go with no product in it! :cool:

[li10up]

Idea for a Motto: Where the mountains meet the stars.

[RoadRaven]

"Stellar Service at EMC"

"Follow your star to EMC"

Now, if only you were closer to NZ, cause if you were, and if you chose a slogan with "EMC" in it, you would HAVE to stock EMC2 bicycles - made by tha ex champ NZer here in NZ. We have several in our stable and they are top of the line bikes...

[Running Mommy]

YAY!! Opening day is coming SOON!! REAL SOON!
Just have to get the final city inspection, the credit card service set up, and a few last minute details and we will be GOOD TO GO!!
Still have about 20 Jamis bikes to come in, a couple more Quintana Roo tri bikes, and more clothes/accessories. All of that should be in this week.

Here are some pics.

http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/tony66denise69/Misc%20pics/?action=view&current=bikeshoppics027.jpg

The Bianchi's are NICE!!! And the Felt FW40 is a dream! In fact she's a "dreamsicle" as she is pearl orange. :D

Anyway, opening day is hopefully going to be on the 15th.
(fingers crossed)
Oh- and some of you have asked. I'm not going to have web orders (yet at least) on my website, but if there is something you need, can't find, your lbs doesn't carry, etc. send me a pm.
Some companies (esp. the bike companies) do not let me sell by mail or net, but some things I can get for you. So send me a pm and if I can, I'd be glad to help out.
And one last thing. THANK YOU ALL SOOOOO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT! - Yes I felt the need to YELL that!! As I really appreciate it!
It's been a rough go, but it's FINALLY coming together!
ciao for now!
denise

[crazycanuck]

Wahooooey!!!! :d

Yayyyyy!!

:)

[Susan126]

Congratulations Running Mommy! The sign is beautiful! Wish I lived close by I love going to bike shops! :D

[Zen]

Something about the oasis, and I'm picturing a promo poster, shot out in the desert, with a diverse group of cyclists with their bikes (young, old, male, female, racing bike, comfort bike, dirt bike, full kit, baggy shorts) all laughing and squirting each other, having a water-bottle-fight with their (your shop's) cycling water bottles.

A feeling of community for all cyclists, a playful feel, but still with the presence of some racing folks...like hard-core, but friendly for all.

"Everyone's a star at Estrella Bikes"

[RoadRaven]

YAY!! Opening day is coming SOON!! REAL SOON!
...hopefully going to be on the 15th.


I wish I didn't live half a world away - would love to be there :)

[sundial]

Oh wow! I'd LOVE to drop by and shop for goodies at your store. What a nice store front and you have a nice variety of bikes. Congratulations on your new venture!

[Running Mommy]

I wish I didn't live half a world away - would love to be there :)


Thanks Rave, and I know all of you will be there in spirit. I'm sure I'll feel it. Sure is nice to have such great friends with great energy sending me good vibes from across the globe! :)

[bmccasland]

RM - Congradulations on the almost-grand opening! May all the little things you need to get done, be done smoothly. Wish I was there to help unlock the door. Along with the rest of the TE gang! :D;):D

[Bad JuJu]

Be sure to let us know when you actually do open, so we can have a virtual toast to your new adventure!

[snowtulip]

Yipee! Everything looks great! Fingers crossed for the 15th.

[Mr. Bloom]

Cool!

Maybe you can establish a web presence by contracting with team estrogen to do fulfillment for you???

[northstar]

Congratulations! Loved the pictures! And you're right...that Bianchi on the end is absolutely gorgeous!

How exciting!

[Tri Girl]

Wow- it looks so GREAT!!!!!!
I can't wait to see it in person when I'm out there in Nov. I'm sooooo excited for you! It looks like it'll be a great store with a great layout! :D

[crazycanuck]

Umm..What brand is that Red jersey with the bike (is it a bike ?)on it? I don't need another jersey atm but gee it's nice!!!

[Zen]

RM- my apologies if I missed this earlier but what kind of location do you have? strip mall/plaza type? Can you see the front door of the shop from your spot in the parking lot? Street visiblity?

[PinkBike]

denise, i plan to check it out soon as you open, so let us know if it is indeed the 15th!!!

[Jones]

Denise,
Congrats. The pics of the store look great. I wish you every success and if every I am in AZ I will drop on by.
Jones

[Running Mommy]

Umm..What brand is that Red jersey with the bike (is it a bike ?)on it? I don't need another jersey atm but gee it's nice!!!

That is the Sugoi Goya. I LOVE that jersey too!!
Shall I throw one in your next box?? heh heh heh:D

[Wahine]

Congrats Denise. This is so exciting. I think I'll have to find an excuse to go to AZ just so I can pop into the store.:D

[KSH]

Awesome!

So, will you be renting road bikes? I'll need to rent one while I'm in Arizona for Ironman Arizona. No, I won't be racing, but I will be out doing some training rides while I'm visiting.

[ClockworkOrange]

Hi Denise

YAY.........................Hope all goes super duper for the 15th

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Missbe/img06.jpg

Sending lots of good wishes and good luck from the other side. :D

Would love to be booking a flight to visit you, with Cally of course. :rolleyes:

Clock

[Jo-n-NY]

Denise, all your pics were great. Thank you for sharing. I cannot wait to see it all complete. I wish you so much luck with your Grand Opening.

~ JoAnn