Q. Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
A. At Hobarts Cycle we Service all makes and models of motorcycles and ATV’s. We also sell OEM and aftermarket parts and accessories. We are located in Rock Island IL and service the entire Quad City Area including Davenport IA, Bettendorf IA, Moline & Rock Island IL and the surrounding areas
Q. Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
A. I have been in business since 1992 and have been working on, repairing, customizing and racing since I was a kid.
Q. What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
A. The Business really started out of frustration for paying high prices for parts and service at dealerships and Service that was subpar.
Q. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
A. 1. Hard work 2. Quality Work and Products 3. Building relationships
Q. How many hours do you work a day on average?
A. 10
Q. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
A. Website, SEO, Billboards, Grass roots marketing – Most successful = Word of mouth
Q. Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
A. I started in a small garage and grew by reinvesting back into my business.
Q. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
A. Honest Work
Q. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
A. Still in business providing quality parts and service at reasonable prices. I do not want to grow my business so large that I can’t provide quality work in a reasonable amount of time.
Q. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
A. Amazon – for the quality of service and products they provide at a reasonable price.
Q. How important have good employees been to your success?
A. Very important to be able to trust the people that I leave responsible for my reputation
Q. What motivates you?
A. Being able to help people service and repair their motorcycles at a reasonable cost and not have them waiting to get their bikes fixed so they can get back out riding again.
Q. How do you build a successful customer base?
A. Honest Work
Q. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
A. Being my own boss
Q. What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
A. Taking Risk
Q. What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
A. We are very laid back and easy going, we like to have fun while we are working, while taking our jobs and safety seriously.
Q. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
A. Adventure
Q. How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
A. My business is a family business, my wife works in the office and I have no Kids.
Q. How did you decide on the location for your business?
A. Close to home, I have lived in Rock Island all my life.
Q. What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
A. Riding & Racing Bikes. I also like to Travel. I love fun rides including wild roller coasters and amusement parks
