BMX Shop Bizznizz talk with John Dye

BMX Shop Bizznizz talk with John Dye - VOLT BMX (GBR)

Dec 23, 2018

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 4182 times

Name shop: Volt BMX
Location: London, England
Years in business: 9
Employees: Just me and some friends help sometimes!

Did you ever go to school to learn how to run a (BMX) business or did you just 'send it'?
Volt BMX: No, I worked in an other shop for many years, I think if anyone is wise enough to go to business school they wouldn't be doing BMX related business!

Were your BMX industry contacts already made before you started your shop, or did you meet more people along the way?
Volt BMX: Already had most contacts, met some along the way.

Who are some of the people that helped out in the beginning, setting up the BMX shop?
Volt BMX: Many people helped out set up, and it was quite an epic set up. The place was empty for 17 years before we moved in, it was a mess. We had a new roof put on and the whole interior was built from scratch. Jimmy Rushmore and Glenn Robson pretty much built the wood stuff, shelves

and counter and fitted the slat wall. Kev Freel did things at the start too. Lots of people did stuff. Too many to list.

Are Oldschool BMX parts some of your business?
Volt BMX: No. Although I do love a lot of that stuff, that's not what we do.

How big is your local scene?
Volt BMX: Pretty good, we have a lot of surrounding built up areas and skateparks around too.

Name some of the things you have to do to to keep the local scene interested in BMX and your shop?
Volt BMX: Just be active in some way always helps, video premiers, jams, etc, try to keep active online.

Do you believe there are people out there killing the BMX market with agressive pricing?
Volt BMX: Yep. Complete cut throat assholes killing scenes. In the hopes of what, they will be the only ones left at the end of it? Great idea. They're not even qualified to be working within the industry. Just 'cause you once rode a BMX doesn't mean you are rider owned. Accept who you are and be happy with it. You are cheapening it for the real ones. Shops are distributors and bad distributors at that, they end up killing the brand and selling it all off cheap directly which affects the real rider owned stores.

Why would a rider have to go to a specialized BMX shop in your opinion?
Volt BMX: Hopefully a specialised shop will haver good knowledge, and be able to uncomplicate the bullshit written online, which makes everything seem so overwhelming. Also they should be able to trouble shoot a problem - the internet ain't fixing no bikes.

International shipping, what's your take on it?
Volt BMX: I don't care too much. Sometimes you can only get the product from a certain place, ideally you want to keep everything local as possible. In my opinion small communities are what the world needs, not one huge ruler.

What are some of the better months for your shop and why?
Volt BMX: Summer months are always the best.

What would a good day at the BMX shop for you look like?
Volt BMX: Go riding in the morning, do the morning shift on my own, pack up some mail orders, friends come around in the afternoon, get some people through the door in the afternoon, day is done.

Who laces the wheels at your shop?
Volt BMX: Me.

Do you have a specific bike mechanic working for you?
Volt BMX: No.

What company has the easiest bike to build up out of the box?
Volt BMX: United at a guess.

Volt BMX:
2 Cazenove rd
N16-6BD Stoke Newington, United Kingdom

voltbmx.com