Pandemic Shop Profile: Trek Stores Florida

A few months back, I interviewed Joseph Dubois from the Trek Stores of Florida regarding his not only surviving but thriving after the financial crisis in 2008. Those interviews and links to the podcast we also did can be found here.

What started as an idea from NBDA president Brandee Lepak to do some podcasts (found on the Bicycle Retail Radio page) interviewing retailers and adapting and operating during the worldwide Covid19 pandemic, also has us doing written profiles as well.

So let’s dig in to see how the Trek Stores of Florida are doing at this time. For clarity, it is important to note this profile took place on April 7th, 2020.

Number of stores: 9

Number of employees: 69

Are you currently open? 

Yes, with doors locked and the employees controlling the flow 100%. Most people in the store are generally less than 5. Some are only allowing one customer at a time. The order of importance in the daily store operations right now is employee and customer safety, followed by sales being a distant third. The mindset of the employees is paramount, and they should all feel safe and calm. Store managers have absolute control over the flow of customers. Masks and other cleaning supplies are being sourced, and employees are also looking for help in procuring those items for their personal use as well, as they are hard to find, especially when working full time. Last, if an employee tests positive for Covid19, that store will need to shut down for two weeks, so it is also essential from that standpoint to keep everyone safe and healthy. They are also doing a minimum $40 repair labor charge for each bike to get a wash to drive home further the safety aspect.

Have you been able to keep all your staff?

Yes. We are currently hiring. Some staff members feel safer working off-hours to limit exposure and have been 100% accommodating to their wishes.

Service and bike building volume:

Three weeks out on service and getting behind on bike builds. The business is currently excellent.

Are you doing pickup and drop off?

Yes, but not a significant amount. Most people seem fine waiting in line outside the store to be able to do this in person. Doing some deliveries as well, if needed, but it is time-consuming with all the other things going on.

Vendor supply:

Good so far. Trek has been significant sourcing needs from various warehouses and keeping everyone in the loop.

Has there been an increase in online ordering?

There has been only a slight increase in online ordering.

Do you do online repair scheduling?

Not at this time.

Have you reached out to landlords?

Yes. Some have been great, and some have said the rent is due on time.

Have you reached out to suppliers?

Trek reached out very early on and is very much wanting to help in any way. With the current sales volume, there has been no need to discuss further at this time.

How are you communicating with your customers during this time? 

We are sending more detailed newsletters, websites, and social media posts about changes in processes, and hours.

Are you worried about recapturing the same level of business after the pandemic? 

Business is still there currently, but things will differ until there is a vaccine in regards to cleanliness and distancing. In general, the company will probably not just “snap” back but take a while to get back up to speed overall in the economy. A big potential bright spot is all the new people finding cycling now will hopefully fuel the industry going forward. It could bring more people into it as they discover the sport.

Are you worried that we have now trained our customers to buy online, and has retail forever been changed by this?

Maybe certain aspects, but people can’t browse right now, and people crave interaction, which may have the opposite effect and reinvigorate brick and mortar retail buying habits.

How are you taking care of yourself during this time?

Working more now than in years, with a 4-year-old and schools closed. In addition to being parents and business owners, they are also now teachers. At this point, Joe described his morning routine of typically rising at 4:30 am to get in one hour for himself. Time spent meditating, exercising, and listening to podcasts to get fired up for business and life. Now is a time when you can expand your horizons instead of contracting.

What does the future look like for you?

Being in a strong position before the pandemic gives you back the fruit of your labors and allows you to grow and expand and take advantage of the new opportunities that will arise. Checking out new leases and negotiating poor ones is an excellent example of something you can do.

To wrap this up, speaking with Joseph Dubois is always inspiring as he genuinely cares deeply about not just his business, but his staff as well. His enthusiasm for improving his business is infectious. The energy spent growing the company before this pandemic is helping to dramatically lessen the blow to the store – in fact, at this point, business is booming.

Thank you, Joe, for taking the time for this shop profile!

 

The NBDA has been here since 1946, representing and empowering specialty bicycle dealers in the United States through education, communications, research, advocacy, member discount programs, and promotional opportunities. As shops are facing never-before-seen circumstances, these resources offer a lifeline. Together, we will weather this. We at the NBDA will not waver in our commitment to serving our members even during this challenging time—but we need your support.

Now is the time to become a member as we join together to make one another stronger. Whether you’re a retailer or an industry partner, your membership in the NBDA is one of the best investments you’ll make this year. 

Learn more about the benefits of being a member and join now.