29 replies to this topic

[sazzle]

Thanks to Princes' Trust I am now setting up in business recycling bicycles. The workshop is in Whiteshill, Stroud but we will also take repairs in at home in Tuffley if easier for the customer. Prices are very competitive. For more info please feel free to pm me or call myself or Stuart on 07885790074.

Bike recycling. - If you have a bike that is destined for landfill we are now offering you the option to bring it to us instead for recycling. We promise to dispose of anything that we can't use responsibly but this will be minimal as most of the materials can be re-used. Please call us on 07885790074 to book a slot to bring the bike in.

Repairs - we can take in repairs at both our home in Tuffley and the workshop in Whiteshill. Competitive prices, fully insured and compliant with business law you can rest assured you'll receive a second to none service with quick turn-around.

Edited on 04/06/2011 to update details after moving home and bringing business information up to date.

[Eddie]

The very best of luck with your new business

[Noah's Ark]

Good Luck Would you be interested in taking in damaged bikes, the number I see dumped on my travels, most have missing wheels or broken chains, but frames are usually ok.

[sazzle]

Within reason I would consider taking most bikes NA. I'm hoping to get involved in a charitable scheme that could probably make use of them if I can't.

Thanks both for your kind wishes. x

[AlexMcKee]

Hey nice one Sazzle, good luck with your venture.

[sazzle]

Edit to first post to include new services. x

[Eddie]

How are you doing sazzle ?

[sazzle]

Not too bad thanks Eddie. Things are really coming together now, my little seed of thought has become reality. x

[Eddie]

Nice to hear that. I know how difficult it is to start a brand new business.

[sazzle]

It is hard work but I've had a lot of support and encouragement. I'm on a steep learning curve at the moment but my fiance is a trained cycle mechanic luckily so he takes care of the technical bits whilst I take care of all the other stuff. My family and Princes' Trust have enabled me to start a business that I'm very passionate about so this is a really exciting time for me. x

[Invicta]

What a superb idea - good luck.

I recently needed to quickly find a home for a Guinea Pig (surprise Christmas present for one of our boys - but their grandad forgot to ask if we still had a cage).
So I took all the innards out of an old PC Monitor, put a mesh across where the screen used to be and shaped some plywood to form the floor.

Tip - If you consider doing this in any volume the screen and PCB is subject to Hazardous WEEE Regulations so either expect a charge of £55 per 45 Gallon drum (plus disposal) from a Waste Co or find a business that doesn't mind including your waste in with theirs.
I was OK with mine as it was a one off.

HTH
Bernard

[Glawster -Born]

Only last week, I went to Gloucester tip and saw two or three pushbikes which looked like new, had been thrown into one of the big skips. Bike's which YOU could have used, or repaired. Are you advertising enough ?

( Warning! ) Nostalgia Trip

when I was younger in the early 1970's I would have to repair my bike myself, otherwise if a wheel was slightly buckled, would take it to an old bike repairer in Marlborough road, named Ken Thomas who'd sort out the problem. He always had loads of bikes in for repair and was always busy.

But kids today just have to have the latest bikes, instead of learning how to repair the perfectly good ones they have.

G-B

[Poppy P]

Only last week, I went to Gloucester tip and saw two or three pushbikes which looked like new, had been thrown into one of the big skips.

G-B

I'm told that at least one site in Gloucestershire, has a set aside area for goods that are too good to dumped. Shame they don't all do it.

[Glawster -Born]

Maybe Glos City /County Council could be persuaded to adopt the scheme ?

[Reg Cubit]

The tip is run privately for the County Council.

[sazzle]

Reg is right about the tip being privately run. We did look into rescuing them but unfortunately this wasn't possible.

We advertise as much as our budget allows but we're trying to grow the business slowly and surely rather than over extend ourselves in these still fairly early days.

The problem with bikes being sent to landfill is huge but we're doing our best to grow to a size where we could comfortably cover the cost of a decent sized unit and get some extra pairs of hands so that we can make a bigger impact in the numbers of bikes that are thoughtlessly thrown away.

We're going to be back in The Mall in Gloucester for a week at the end of August. This is a promotional week all about the environment and recycling. It'll give us a great opportunity to spread our message a bit further and try to promote our repair service too so this should make some sort of impact.

Thanks Glawster-Born for bumping this thread as it all helps with spreading the word. :-)

[Glawster -Born]

Maybe contacting BBC Radio Glos and local media and schools asking for old bikes would be a good idea, but as you've already said, you need storage space for the bikes first. The police send ther collection of stolen bikes to auction, otherwise maybe they could supply you with some ? ( Just a thought).

G-B

[sazzle]

Thanks for your advice G-B.

BBC Radio Glos were very helpful last time we were in The Mall. They came out and interviewed us as they were doing a show all about promoting cycling. TiG have done a few pieces about us in The citizen and Stroud Life also.

With regards to the Police, as you say they send the bicycles to auction. This is the best way for them to get a good price so they didn't want to let us have them.

We do still need to target the local schools, this will be something for September.

From the advertising we've done and the contacts we've made through our repairs and new accessories we do have a steady stream of bikes coming in but we've got a long way to go. We're really proud of the fact that we started with nothing and we've come so far but we have certain obstacles to overcome before the business will truly become what we dreamt of. ie: time and space.

On a side note, we are on the look out for a suitable and affordable premises so if anyone knows of one feel free to get in contact. It's a shame that G.C.C. aren't providing the same help to small businesses looking to move into a premises as Cheltenham Borough Council as they've got a really good scheme.

[Glawster -Born]

Thanks for your advice G-B.

On a side note, we are on the look out for a suitable and affordable premises so if anyone knows of one feel free to get in contact. It's a shame that G.C.C. aren't providing the same help to small businesses looking to move into a premises as Cheltenham Borough Council as they've got a really good scheme.

Have you joined Business Link ? They are free to join and can help with every aspect of running a business and offer free support and business advice, as well as courses. ( Some you pay for / Some Free ) They might also be able to help regards finding storage and/Gloucestershire.

Business Link
Chargrove House
Shurdington
Cheltenham
GL51 4GA

Tel: 0845 600 9966
Email enquiry@businesslinksw.co.ukor Premises.

Otherwise 'The Big Yellow ' in Eastern Avenue might be able to offer you a good deal regards storage of bicycles ? Always worth enquiring and ask about negotiating a deal.


Otherwise you could look in Eddies 'The Gloucestershire Portal'
See http://www.visit-glo...age&cat_search=

Hope this helps ?

G-B

[rich9]

If you are considering asking Big Yellow then also try Advanced Storage and Removals on Gloucester Business Park. Their published rates are cheaper and they were very helpful to me when I was moving house.