Are you interested in starting a small business in custom hot rod, custom bike or Kustom Kulture niches? Or are you simply looking for an inspiration? Meet Josh ‘Frankenstein’ Oyler, the owner of Oyler’s Speed Shop, Broomfield CO, USA. This is his success story.
Josh is coming from an auto-lover family. He followed the footpath and get involved in Kustom Kulture business. His entrepreneurial spirit has lead him to starting a business in that very niche.
Everything kicks off with a detailing business. Josh is in the business for 6 years. Despite of the success of the business, he decided that he wasn’t following his passion and he eventually started a business – this time, following his passion – called Oyler Custom Cycles, a motorcycle manufacturing shop. He builds handmade bikes.
Three years in, he decided to close down the shop as he couldn’t keep up with the demands of running a custom manufacturing business.
Ready to startup another business, his son was born and he decided to be a stay at home dad for about 3 years. He enjoyed his time with his son, while evaluating his business prospects and what he need to do to make it a great success.
Today, Oyler’s Speed Shop is a thriving one-year old business, which has already been profitable – a luxury which many small business owners can’t achieve on the first year of their business.
How thriving is Oyler’s Speed Shop? Well, Josh’s schedule is booked for the next eight months. So…
Of course, there are ups and downs, especially in the startup phase of a business; Josh’s shop is no exception. There are times he made mistakes he wishes he wouldn’t done; there are also great times, especially when his customers love his work.
Josh’s small business success tips
Josh offers some great tips for budding entrepreneurs who want to start a small business – not only in mechanic, hot rod and bike business niches but any other industries… here’s the recap:
1. Your passion and attention to details gives you an edge in the competition
Competitors are everywhere; you can’t escape them… that’s life; that’s business. The best thing you can do is to create a value which differentiates you from the rest.
In Oyler’s Speed Shop, what separates it from its competitors is the attention to details. Josh prides his detailed work on his customers’ bikes and cars, and his passion the brands: Not only the customers deserve the best, Josh also think that the brands also deserve the best.
2. Word of mouth matters!
If you do what you do well, people who buy your products or use your service are your best advertisement; they will spread the words about your business – and just like Josh said, it’s invaluable.
3. Love and believe in what you do
There’s no other choice – if you want success, you need to love what you do and believe in what you are doing… because if you don’t then who else? You can’t simply expect your customers to love and believe in your products/services when you don’t, can you?
Are you ready to follow your passion like Josh does?
