After six years of successful business, Ben’s Bikes is peddling into the New Year with new products, services, and an adding on to its retail space.
Sam and Clara Chandler, owners of Ben’s Bikes, said they are excited to expand the business into the old Fit4Life Studio space next door at 1245 W. Washington St.
Sam says they took over Fit4Life owner Pauline Geraci’s existing lease after she moved her business to the other side of town, and that this is the second expansion he’s done since opening shop in Sequim.
“We’re able to respond to what our customers want,” Sam says. “It’s always been an evolution.”
Ben’s Bikes offers a variety of bicycles, mainly specializing in comfort, from recumbents to traditional two-wheel bikes to pedal assist electric bikes and more. It also features a bike shop with a full staff of mechanics with certifications from the United Bicycle Institute.
With the new space, Ben’s Bikes has about 5,000 square feet to store its wide-variety of bicycles, parts, merchandise and more.
Sam says the additional space will house more rental and used bikes, allow for more storage of parts and bikes being repaired and expand online retail.
The expansion also helps display the business’ new e-bike collection from Trek and Electra powered by Bosch.
The business also now offers trade-in bicycles — a new service in 2019, Sam says — and allows customers to trade in an old bike for a new one. The business then refurbishes the bike with a warranty and coverage for a new owner.
Sam says the business has almost doubled its fleet of rental bikes this year as the demand for them in the summer has increased in recent years with Lavender Weekend and tourist bookings from local hotels and resorts.
The business also delivers rental bikes and picks them up at the end of the rental period.
Ben’s Bikes owners plan to launch an e-catalog and online retail site so customers can search Ben’s bikes, accessories and parts 24 hours a day, and then order and pick them up at the shop the next day. Sam anticipates the new site will be ready to launch in February.
Sam already has a fleet of bikes lined up in the new space and hopes renovations will also be complete by February, the same time as the anticipated new e-retail and website launch.
Since the business bought the first expanded space from Geraci two years ago, Sam says he’s seen a boost in sales.
Sam says he is looking forward to the coming months when the rental part of the business brings visitors and bike riders to the shop.
“This is a great area for biking,” Sam says. “We get customers from Forks to Bremerton.”
To learn more about Ben’s Bikes, visit www.bensbikessequim.com.
