The best day EVER at the ol LBS, and it has nothing to do w/sales!!

[Running Mommy]

Hey All
It seems lately that I'm posting less ride reports, and more food related reports. But I just had to share *my* personal "coolest day ever" with you.

We are an Ibis dealer. For those of you not familiar... Total high zoot carbon mtn. bikes- ohh and a cross and road model too. Top notch rides!!
"back in the day" (the 80's. my teenage years) they were a small company based in my hometown of Sebastopol CA, and I knew them for their Ti bikes. Tho I did not ride back then.
They were a cool , funky company. Got big, sold in 2000 ish, and the new owner group drove it to chapter 7 liquidation w/in 2 yrs.
Long story short Scot Nicol the founder got together w/one of Santa Cruz bikes former partners, grabbed a couple of other partners and brought Ibis back to life. The Ibis Mojo full carbon mtn bike is a work of art. - In fact I do believe that the lone woman partner Roxy is responsible for the design.

We are a dealer, and despite the fact that our shop is "cash poor" and does not have one bike on the floor, or even a demo (tho that is about to change) we have sold three of them. - And they aint cheap!! So not a volume item for sure. For a small shop like ours, selling three bikes is HUGE!

A few weeks ago I rcvd an email from our inside guy at Ibis. Scot Nicol the founder, and possibly their pro rider Brian Lopes were going to be coming through our town on the 27th, and wanted to stop by. He offered to have Scot do a shop employee clinic, demo, shop ride or whatever we wanted.
At first we had an "ohh poop" moment as we felt badly that we didn't even have one of their bikes on the floor. But I didn't want to lose an opportunity like that- esp. if Lopes was going to be along. So I replied, and the ball got rolling. Scot himself emailed me a list of demo bikes he'd have w/him. So we decided that a customer demo was in order. Of course I just can't stop there. So I suggested a post ride "happy hour" back at the shop.
This thing got huge when they posted it on their public site.
So Tuesday (the 27th) rolls around and to our horror a dust storm rolls in about 2 hours before the demo. UGHH!! Of all days!! ACCKK!!
Scot arrived with one of the partners Tom Morgan (no lopes. boo). They seemed impressed with the shop. We made small talk. - Mostly about our nor cal connection. And then the caravan took off for our local homegrown trail system known as FINS.
While they were out my BF Michi and I set about getting ready for the evening soirree. I made a huge batch of rigatoni w/sausage and mozz cheese. - A baked ziti type dish, some penne w/pesto, garlic breadsticks, a veggee platter, and an antipasto platter. I also put my baking skills to use and made oval sugar cookies, which I decorated with the ibis logo.
I filled the cooler w/natural soda, water, and of course... Beer.
When I was buying the beer I saw Lagunitas IPA. That is a nor cal fave, and I debated whether I should get it. Or they would think it was cliche.. But I did pick it up. It's good beer afterall!! ha ha
So apparently mother nature gave them a bit of a break. The demo went very well. It was well after sunset when they arrived back at the shop.

Upon seeing the spread, Scot and Tom were BLOWN AWAY!! In fact Scot grabbed his i phone and started taking video, narrating all that was happening. They loved the cookies (my employee had teased me about kissing up to them) and when they opened the cooler and saw Lagunitas they were STOKED. We ended up having a great party. I'm quite certain that fun was had by all. Everyone raved about the food, and our friends/customers enjoyed talking to Scot and Tom about their bikes, and the bike industry in general. It's always cool when you are talking to someone and they point to a stem on a repair bike and say "see that titec stem? I designed that. It was back when I was working w/Bontrager before he went to Trek"...
Oh yeah, and when they first came in and saw the food one of our "sunday morning breakfast ride" customers remarked to them "Yeah, and you should see what Denise makes for us after our Sunday road rides!! French toast w/homemade bread, homemade pumpkin cake, fresh fruit, it rocks!" - Again they were blown away.
It was just the coolest thing ever to me!! I loved meeting Scot and Tom. And it felt like old home week talking to them about nor cal.
They are a small company- seven in total. And offered many kind words about our shop, and how we run things. Having them see that our customers become family to us, and the kind words they (customers) had to say about us helped as well. It was another confidence booster for us. And just yet another thing to look back to when we get down. We have so many friends, family, customers etc out there rooting for us, that we are determined to make it! And we work a gazillion exhausting hours a week to keep the ship on course. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed and just want to go sit in a dark closet and have a good cry. But then I think back to days like last tuesday, and how I am NOT a weak woman, and I pick myself up and move forward.

So anyway, thanks for hanging in on this one... These are always long. But if you are an "old timer" you know all my posts are long! ha ha

Have a great day all! I have to go make EMC logo sugar cookies for our Post mtn bike race/Halloween party we are throwing at the shop tomorrow.

PARTY ON GARTH, PARTY ON WAYNE....

[OakLeaf]

PARTY ON GARTH, PARTY ON WAYNE....

Is it too crass for a woman to say.... SCHWIIIIING!!!

You rock, Denise.

[staceysue]

Awesome! I would have loved to have been there!

I don't know how you can beorganized enough to put out a spread like that without making yourself completely exhausted. Heck - a regular 3-course meal take me all day!

[shootingstar]

Runningmommy does it again..with food. Part of your marketing budget is pretty 'simple'.
Glad you had a great get-together & demo, etc. Got a pic or 2?

[kermit]

"We're not worthy, we're not worthy!" You run a great shop, and I wish I lived in your town!

[channlluv]

You are really amazing, and all that good will you're spreading in the community - both locally and within the pro bike people world - can only help your business.

And if I were a cyclist say, in San Diego, and I wanted to ride to your shop and participate in one of your Sunday morning rides, how would I get there? Hmmm? Just wondering, because DD and I do love a road trip.

Roxy

[katluvr]

Big SIGH...that I am not closer to your bike shop (on the other coast)!

You and your bike shop are TOTALLY AWESOME.

Maybe when I when the lottery I'll open one up--would love to do the things you are doing!

K

[jobob]

When I was buying the beer I saw Lagunitas IPA. That is a nor cal fave, and I debated whether I should get it. Or they would think it was cliche..

No way!

and when they opened the cooler and saw Lagunitas they were STOKED.

As well they should be. An excellent choice.


And a fun story, thanks!

[colby]

Sometimes it's nice to have someone hold up the mirror for you. You deserve the pat on the back. You might not have the bikes to demo, but people come back to your shop because you treat them like people, individuals, that deserve individual attention, AND you treat them like family.

Way to go!!!

[Selkie]

Good things do happen to good people (YOU, Denise).

You are inspiring in so many ways....

[indigoiis]

I wish I had a shop like yours nearby!

[Running Mommy]

Thanks all!!! wow. Y'all know how to make a girl feel good.
We just completed party #2 of the week! There is a fall mtn bike series out here (dust devil put on by a crazy guy with a bus named Dave). Today they raced the local competitive track, so I did an "after party" here at the shop. We have a shop team, and we just finalized the roster, so this was the first time for everyone to get together.
Another great time. Even some customers joined in the fun.

But no lagunitas today Jobob.. - with the shop open I didn't feel it was prudent to have a bunch of people in here drinking beer...

Oh and Roxy- From SD it's a straight shot on the 8, then up the 85 to the 10. East a few miles and you are there... If I remember correctly 4.5-5 hrs drive time.. I'm just sayin....

[Tri Girl]

Denise- you are such a cool cat! I wish I knew you in real life!!!
Congrats on impressing the guys from Ibis (which I'm sure it's not unusual for you to impress everyone who meets you). Your shop rocks!!!!
Congrats on a successful demo night!!!


I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I sure wish we lived closer to each other so you could be MY LBS!!

[Trekhawk]

Great story Denise!
If I ever get back to the States on holidays I will definitely be visiting your store.

[azfiddle]

That is a wonderful story,

I hope we can come visit from Tucson sometime.