Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ben Taylor, Co-Founder of Beachman Motor Company, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Beachman is an innovative startup that marries iconic 60s design with cutting-edge modern technology. Our flagship product, the Beachman '64 is a vintage-style e-bike & motorcycle platform that looks like a Steve Mcqueen original but rides with the quality and electric technology of a brand new e-bike.
Owning a Beachman rewards our riders with an incredible local transport solution, provides them with a terrifically fun recreational outlet, and frankly makes them feel pretty dang cool. The increased feeling of independence, especially during the COVID-19 crisis, has been an amazing piece of feedback to receive, and we've also heard that the constant praise for the bike has boosted the self-esteem of our riders, many of whom purchase our bikes because it is the most practical transportation they can afford, but it becomes so much more.
It's a common, daily occurrence to be stopped by a stranger on the street and asked about the bike, and those little moments make the world feel much smaller. Connecting people through a shared passion for our designs is equally rewarding for the team at Beachman as it is for those customers being connected.
Tell us about yourself
The story of Beachman begins in 2016 as an idea for a retro brand that stood for the best things in life. Things like enjoying an afternoon by the water or a weekend on the road. The goal of Beachman was to build incredible things that would make these moments even better. Fast forward to 2019, and my co-founder Steve Payne and I had a chance encounter at a coffee shop. Me, the creator of the Beachman name with an idea for a wildly new electric cafe racer, and Steve, the wild cafe racer builder who could bring that dream to life.
In the fall of 2020, Steve completed work on our first prototype, a modified 1979 Kawasaki KZ200, which we simply refer to as "Bike Zero." With a battery system hand-built by Steve, a solid electric drivetrain, and proper café racer styling, we knew we had something special. Around this time, we began the relationship with our factory, who trusted our vision. Using queues from our Bike Zero prototype and building off of a platform they have been working on, we designed our first bike. After crossing our fingers, we ordered 30 bikes to be produced and prayed they would live up to our dream. We unloaded our first shipping crate by hand, and when we cracked it open, we were pleasantly surprised with a set of bikes that exceeded our expectations. We dubbed it the Founders Edition E-bike.
Two weeks later, all 30 bikes had been sold, and we were off to the races. Since then, we've been working to build Beachman into the company we always thought it could be and do it entirely self-funded on our personal credit and business cash flow. From road trips across the country to get a perfect shot to hand building our own retail store in the West End of Toronto. Now, onto our next journey with the 64, we hope to build the greatest E-bike the world has ever seen.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Our greatest accomplishment so far is that we've built a workplace where we can create things other people like us can only dream of. From our bikes to our custom electric dune buggy and all the great apparel and everyday stuff we make like our backpacks, it's just so fun to come into work and create!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Financially, the pandemic has made things tough. We are fully self-funded, so maintaining growth without spending too much money is a delicate balance.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure people care about your idea before you sink everything into it. Not just you and those close to you, but strangers, people who have no reason to support you other than the fact they love your product.
- Don't destroy your life trying to grow quickly.
- Don't pay too much attention to your competition; pay attention to your customers.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://beachman.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beachmanbikes/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben--taylor/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.