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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-02-09, Page 5IT'S YOLIR RII.SINF..S.S """"°'°�" February °'�' Page' Bike repair shop mixes business and pleasure By Catherine O'Brien , T -A staff CENTRALIA - Starting your own business takes more than just a good idea and the desire to be your own boss. You also need confi- dence in the idea and a willingness to work the long hours needed for the business to get off the ground. And then, hopefully, the business will be a success. Mike Davis was aware of this when he opened Mike Davis and Sons motorcycle repair. But he also knew there was a demand in the area for such a business and it was something he did in his free time anyway. So in August 1992, Davis and his wife Suzanne decided to renovate an old shed on the side of their house into a repair shop and store front. "I've always been interested in motorcycles and I wanted a job that I could do at home," he said. Davis based the business on what he always wanted from a repair shop. "I thought of what my needs were as a customer and what I wanted to pay for service," he said. He carries everything from tires to shirts, buckles and even insulated socks. If it's bike related chances are Davis has it or can get it. And over the last year business has been steady. Davis said he's surprised at the rate of success and the number of regular customers he has taken on. As a bike lover himself, Davis said it is important for people to have confidence in the person do- ing the repair work. "1 have a lot of respect for peo- ple who might not know of my work and are still willing to bring' their bikes to me for the first time," he said. Davis has a lot of repair experi- ence, having worked on bikes all his life. He also travelled to Fair- view, Alberta to take the only au- thorized Harley-Davidson course in Canada. He also prides himself on quick repair and said he was fortunate to find a parts dealers. He can get parts for American and Japanese motorcycles usually overnight if he doesn't have the part on hand. .Davis said the key to his success so far has been flexible hours and customer service. "I try to be open when it's con- venient for the customer," he said. "The key is a good guarantee and accessibility." That means being open when people finish their work day and have the time to come out for re- pairs. His specialty is Harley-Davidson motorcycles although his has regu- lar business with all makes. He also doss other small engine work such as snowmobiles. "I've worked on everything from motor -cross bikes to a 1940 Har- ley-Davidson," he said. Davis also targets the younger bike owners. "It doesn't matter if you're a kid with a dirt bike or a seasoned rider, it all boils down to the love of the bike," Davis said. He said young riders are the fu- ture bike owners and their needs are just as important. t. In the future Davis is looking to- wards having a motorcycle dealer- ship. "But I'm really in business for the love of it and hopefully it will be something I can pass on to my kids," Davis said. MIKE DAVIS R SONS MOTORCYCLE REPAIR HARLEY SPE $AUST 2271369 Mike Davis' motorcycle repair shop opened in August 1992. He specializes in all types of bike repair as well as small en- gine repair on items such as snowmobiles. lensall to host small business seminar HENSALL - A Small Business Seminar will be held at Hensall Pub- lic School on Saturday, March 5. Awned at South Huron entrepreneurs as well as residents wishing to start their own business, the seminar will include guest speakers on a wide range of topics, from operating a home-based business to buying a franchise, A special feature of the day -long seminar will be presentations from local successes, whose businesses have grown and prospered over the years. In addition, representatives of the Federal Business. Development Bank, Farm Credit Corp., Huron Small Business Resource Centre as well as a lawyer, accountant and marketing consultant are among the scheduled speakers who will share their expertise and answer questions from the participants. Lunch is included in the seminar cost of $15. Registration is limited to 100 participants; pre -registration only, by February 25. The Small Business Seminar is presented by the Hensall Economic Development Committee, in co-operation with Centennial College Cen- tre of Entrepreneurship, South Huron Community Development Area and Huron Community Futures Committee, yFt For more information, call 262-2842. BE A REGULAR BLOOD DONOR INVESTMENTS GIC/RSP Yr. - 4.00% 3Yr. -4.75% 5yr. -5.50% •r Segregated Funds 1 YR. - 22.31% 2 YR. - 12.94% 3 YR. - 14.89% Gaiser-Kneale 235-2420,238-8484 • GIC rates subject to change. Short - terns raw available. Segregated fund rates reflect actual past performance. Future returns will vary. Our Top Five Mutual Fund Selections Plus... Ask About Our Free Mutual Fund Chart Service Call Us For Details Gary Bean 235-2231 or 1-800-265-3478 RBC DOMINION SECTIES Memier 0001 Bailie Group 186 Main Street Exeter, Ont. NOM 1S1 SMALL BUSINESS Cost $18 immisimerw /VtaiS ism Refistratio s Forte OEADUNE: FRIDAY, FEB 25 Name: N o Lanny Name: Address: Town: Postal Code: Telephone: . (home) There Is a choice of 3 sessions from 2-3 p.m, and 3 sessions from 3:15-4:15 p.m Please indicate your preference: Which of the 3 sessions would you like to attend in each of the 2 time slob? 2 - 3 p.m — (a) Operating a Home -Based Bust (b) Buying A Franchise (c) Marketing Tourism in S.W. Ontario 3-15 - 4:15 — (a) Marketing & Soling Strategies (b) GST / PST / UIC / EHT 8 Small Tax Planning (c)Small BQurism Glints & Loans PLEASE ENCLOSE PAYMENT: $15 ($14.02. Sage G.S.T.) CMgw or mousy order payable b: Village of Hensall 108 King Street Hensel!, Ontario NOM 1 XO r SATURDAY, • MARCH 5 8:4111 A.M. - 5:18 P.m. Location: HensaN Public School +trig to you Hensel, Economic Development Committee oovinnsEbn tMth: comma/ cosmos carne d Ert'•Penwafh0. Salt Leon miler oAMip Ain Awe, lUon Commis* Flares crdromM• limo evaNt S pot li t °, 9 - 9:15 a.m. Welcome! (Cecil Pepper, Reeve of Hensel!) Moderator. Jim Niesen, Huron Business Development Corp. 9:15 - 9:30 a.m. Starting A Business: What Doss it Take? Trudy Van Buskirk, Marketing consonant 9:30 -10:30 a.m. Identifying Today's Business Opportunities Mitch Lenko, Directs, Centennial CoIege 10:30 - 10:45 a.m. - Coffee Break - Sponsored by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce 10:45 - 11:15 a.m. What Is A Business Plan? Carol Leeming, Huron Small eu.w.s Resource Centre Chris Little, Little a Grant Lawyer - 11:15 -11:45 a.m. Incorporation, Proprietorship or Partnership? - 11:45 112:30 p.m.' - Lunch & Viewing of Exhibits - ' Catering: Pwh.ri�y. BBQ Dessert Rosemary's Panay Grant Kime, Big' O', Exeter Cam & Brian Stedde, Cobble Design, Zurich Dashwood Lock & Key Card Stedde, Huron Ridge Acres Inc., RR2 Zunch Ann Rose, Ica Culture, Hansa Bob Gehan, Stedman's, Exeter 12:30 - 2 p.m. 2.3 p.m. How Did They Do It? Her From Sone Local Successes Choose one: (a) Operating A Hone -Based Business (b) Buying A Franchise (c) Marketing Tourism In S.W. Ontario Joan Cassidy, Brentwood on the Beach Judy Dougal, Gifted HandsIDougalls' U -Pick To be announced To be announced 3 - Ji:15 p.m. - - Coffee Break - Sponsored by HEDC a south Huron Commwt>fry Development Area Trudy Van Buskirk Marketing Consultant William MacGregor, MacGregor Accounting S.Moa Represents*. Mi nati r_d Culture a Tourism p.m. Choose one: , (d) Marketing $ Setting Strategises - (e) GST / PST / UIC / EHT $ Small Business Tax Planning (f) Tourism Grants $ Loans , 4:15 - 5 p.m. The Buck Starts Here: A Panel Discussion on Sources of Funds Dianne DeWys, MC; Jim Niesen, HBDC; Scott Thornhil, FBDB; Dave Gowing, Farm Credit Corp., Milch Lenko, C. nwnn isi coli. _ - Jim Nissen, Huron Business Development Corp. . Wrap -Up 5.5:15 p.m. 1 {ll (,t'.1;tin 1Ic,N t I 1 1) TU 100 I'AItTICII'ANTS �-� - CaOO 262-2812 PRE -REGISTRATION ONLY: DI ADLINE: FRIDAY, Fr 13. 25 4 4