Did you take any action from the start or were you thinking this would be over in a few weeks?
Phu Vu: We kept the shop open but washed hands and had masks on because we did not know what could happen. Yes we definitely thought it was going to be like the West Nile, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, etc. and that it will fade out.
Now, being in this situation for many months, how did you manage to keep your business rolling?
Phu Vu: Oh if you know us then you know we just work as nothing happened. It's fight or flight. Eat or be eaten. We did keep to ourselves and did not go places. We ran the shop like normal and offered people mobile service and home delivery.
The supply chain has also suffered. Has it been a challenge getting the bikes/product in stock that you needed for your customers?
Phu Vu: Absolutely hard. It was a job in itself. We had to call our Reps and go on the dealer's B2B everyday or every few hours just to be on top of it. Almost like day trading stock. When parts are available, we would take as much as we are allowed. So now we are stockpiling inventory and warehouse our supplies.
Have you been able to keep your shop open all this time?
Phu Vu: Yes we are considered essential but I wouldn't have cared. My doors are open and you come in a
t your own risk. Our business is our life so we either die from closing it or keep it open. We choose to fight for our survival.
If so, what are measures you had to take to keep the door open?
Phu Vu: We had sanitizer on the counter and we stay behind the counter for the customer's response. It is all up to the customers. Some people gave use bad Yelp review saying we don't care about the crisis but that is dumb. The customers come to us! They enter at their free will. Don't come in if you are not comfortable.
Have internet sales/mail-order sales made up for loss of shop sales?
Phu Vu: We actually suspended our internet because we don't have enough supplies for our local walk-in and we are just too busy. Our local walk-in relies on us to be there for them so we need to have what they need. During these crazy time, it's the local communities, they need to stay tight and support each other.
During the pandemic has it been difficult to organize local events to support the local scene and get the customers in the shop?
Phu Vu: Yes but we have a very tight relationship with our communities. We have spent the last 20 years building the trust. Even before the crisis, we focus more on our walk-in than online sales. Whate
ver we organize, our customers support it.
What mouth masks do you sell?
Phu Vu: A lot of people would like this but we don't. If it is such a serious health issue why would we sell designer masks? It has become a trend. We all should wear the same ones Dr's are using if we are serious about protection. Wearing a Gucci mask just shows people are more worried about fashion than serious protection. It is a joke.
What are the plans for the shop for the coming months?
Phu Vu: Keep doing what we have been doing.
Thanks to?
Phu Vu: Thank you to all the brands that have been fair to us and not be shady with supplies. Some of these brands BS about what they have just so they can double dip and sell the supplies themself. Also they sell to the bigger shops because they can just make a few calls and unload their whole inventory in one shop and close up the warehouse. This way they don't have to keep employees around and get at risk of getting sick because they don't have their Gucci mask on. It's a win win for them. They don't have to split margins with shops or distro and pay employees extra hours and days because the whole container went to only a few buyers. Container comes in. Container goes out. One shop easy.
Address: 16483 Magnolia St, Westminster, CA 92683, United States.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.