361 From a 90-page business plan to a buzzing community hub w/ Nate Lessnick, Founder of Flow State Bike Co
Nate Lessnick
Founder of Flow State Bike Co
Welcome back to another episode of the Visionary Life Podcast.
When Nate dreamed up Flow State Bike Co, it was never just about bikes. It was about belonging. He saw this gap in the local bike scene, no real hub for mountain bikers and gravel rides, to go meet, grab a coffee, talk trail conditions, and feel like they belonged.
But making the LEAP from idea to reality? That’s often the hardest part.
Nate spent over a year crafting a 90-page business plan. Not because he has to but because he needed to be fully aligned with his vision. That document became his compass.
And then… when he opened the doors. Not knowing who would show up… the COMMUNITY came in full force. They were ready. Not just for a shop. For this shop. His vision.
In this episode, we chat about:
Why your vision isn’t “too specific”
How slowing down to reconnect with your “why” can give you the clarity you need to move forward
What happens when you build something rooted in real purpose, people feel it, and they will show up.
If you’re ready to get your idea off the ground and actually make it happen, this episode is for you.
To connect with Nate:
To connect with Kelsey:
Access the transcript for this episode:
-
You're listening to the Visionary Life Podcast.
00:02
I'm your host, Kelsey Reidl.
00:04
Each week I'll bring you conversations with the most visionary humans on this earth in hopes that you'll be able to absorb their wisdom, avoid their failures, and feel less alone on the roller coaster ride that is entrepreneurship.
00:17
This season, I'll be chatting with creative thinkers, masterful marketers, brick and mortar shop owners, brand builders, and people just like you who have a story to share or a vision that inspires.
00:29
If I can share one quick secret with you before we get into the episode, it's that we all have a little bit of visionary inside of us.
00:37
You know, that spark that nudges us to pursue our full potential in this lifetime.
00:42
But perhaps somewhere along the line, it got covered up.
00:45
I'm here to tell you that it's never too late to explore that inner voice and access the brilliance deep down inside of you.
00:52
It's in you.
00:53
It's in all of us.
00:54
Let's dive in.
00:57
Hey visionaries, welcome back to the podcast.
00:59
Today I have a really selfishly amazing episode because as you guys know, I'm a passionate mountain biker.
01:06
I'm actually hitting the trails right after this.
01:09
I'm so excited.
01:10
And I also love other styles of biking, Rd.
01:12
cycling, gravel cycling, fat biking.
01:14
But enough about me.
01:15
Today I am chatting with Nate, who is the founder of Flow State Bike Co.
01:21
It's actually been voted one of the top ten bike shops in Canada by.
01:26
Canada Cycling magazine.
01:27
It's also just like a really, really cool spot if you live in Ontario and if you just love going into a shop where you can buy a bike, sit down, have a coffee, get some apparel, have a snack, have a drink with friends on their patio, and it's also in just the most magical little town, then this is the episode for you.
01:46
It's like, how do we actually bring that vision to life?
01:49
So before we get into it, I just want to say happy April.
01:53
This is such a.
01:55
Month of renewal and just for a lot of people having that fresh sense of energy towards their business.
02:03
And if you're feeling that surge that you want to pour more into the business, that you're excited to get into growth mode or whatever season you are in, then I'm cheering you on because I truly believe that April, May and June carry a lot of potential with them in terms of business growth months.
02:25
So 90 days where a lot of you are in a Sprint season, you're taking all the ideas that you marinated on in the winter and you're bringing them to life.
02:33
And I'm just so excited for you in terms of some announcements and just some things that we have coming up if you're part of our Wave Mastermind for female entrepreneurs, specifically entrepreneurs who are women in Canada.
02:46
We are offering co-working now.
02:48
We have a book club that you can participate in each quarter.
02:52
I'm also doing a really fun training at the end of this month all about how to rank on ChatGPT.
02:59
This is a topic that I'm feeling really excited about and so if you want access to all of this type of programming plus meeting up on Zoom every single Wednesday for accountability and support and inspiration, head to Kelseyreidl.com/mastermind.
03:13
We'd love to see your application come through.
03:16
And if you're looking for one-on-one coaching, we are now booking for June and July of 2025.
03:22
All right, so let's get back into Nate Lesnik, the founder of this incredible bike and coffee shop who I'm interviewing on today's show.
03:31
Like I mentioned, it's not your average bike shop.
03:33
It is this gorgeous building in a small town called Arkell, and it's just outside of Guelph, Ontario.
03:39
It's kind of like a cozy cottage.
03:41
And I'm really excited because we get into the behind the scenes story of how Nate created this business, what he was up to before the challenges of taking such a massive leap.
03:55
How did he put together the plan in order to bring this shop to life?
03:59
What were the highs and lows?
04:01
What were some of the unexpected moments?
04:04
So this is a really fun conversation.
04:06
If you ever have a chance to go visit Flow State Bike Co in Arkell, Ontario.
04:11
Highly suggest it, even if you just want to stop in for the best coffee of your life.
04:15
And I have been there many, many times.
04:19
I cannot wait to go back there this year and to make some memories with my favorite riding people and go on the trails and then hang out after.
04:28
So think you're gonna love this episode.
04:30
I really admire people who bring together these physical spaces to have community gather and to really see their mission forward, even though it is.
04:40
No easy task to start a shop, to start a retail shop.
04:45
You'll definitely want to tune in the whole episode.
04:48
Nate tells this crazy story about the dream he had and how he woke up and told his wife.
04:52
And then one year later, after that dream, the space was born.
04:57
So definitely go check out Flowstate Bike Co on Instagram.
05:01
Check them out if you are in the area and even if you are not in Canada, you can't get to the shop.
05:07
You're gonna be really inspired, especially if you're someone who's ever imagined.
05:11
Starting up a brick and mortar.
05:12
So enjoy the episode and I will see you guys on the other side.
05:18
welcome to the Visionary Life podcast.
05:21
I'm so excited to sit down with you today and to chat about all things biking and community building and how you came to create flow state bikes.
05:30
And we're actually kind of sitting down to chat one-on-one for the first time.
05:34
I've never had a conversation to really hear the origin story and to get to to know you better.
05:40
So this will be really fun.
05:41
So thank you so much for being here today.
05:44
Thanks for having me, Kelsey.
05:44
It's really great to be here.
05:45
I'm a huge fan of the podcast.
05:47
Oh, it's amazing.
05:48
And yeah, we were chatting before pressing record that both of us are big consumers of podcasts and just such a fun way to learn and be inspired and to grow as entrepreneurs while we're doing other things and multitasking, so.
06:02
Let's get into it with your story a little bit.
06:05
So the concept of Flowstate bikes, it feels very unique and it's something that I've always craved in the different towns I've lived in over the past decade.
06:14
And I'm definitely sad that I don't live a little closer to where it is, but I'm curious and I'm sure the listeners are too.
06:21
How did you come up with this concept for a bike shop mixed with coffee and food and drinks?
06:29
And also community.
06:30
Can you give us a little bit of the history of what led you to this point where you're like, that's it, I'm opening my own shop and this is going to be what I commit to for the foreseeable future?
06:42
Yeah, I'm kind of the same way I've I've, I've been wanting and craving this sort of sort of hug for cyclists for for a while wherever I lived.
06:52
But I guess the shorter answer is that it really came as cliche as it sounds, it came as a dream.
06:59
It was November 12th of 2021.
07:04
I I woke up from a dream that I was sort of running this bike cafe and I told my wife I I had the craziest dream last night.
07:12
I was like running this this bike shop.
07:14
It was a cafe.
07:15
There was this really great vibe to it.
07:18
And then our one-year-old at the time started crying and then the conversation was that that was it.
07:24
But later on in the day she she texted me and said, hey, this whole bike shop dream that you had, I kind of want to hear more about it.
07:31
So that night she was like, let's let's open up a nice bottle of wine and and let's let's talk about this a bit more.
07:38
And and so we did and and I sort of poured out this this dream idea that that sort of seemed to be burning deep inside me.
07:48
And she was like, you know what, I think maybe you should, you should look into that.
07:51
You should start start scratching that itch.
07:55
And I think that was kind of the the spark that I needed to really pursue it.
07:59
At the time I was, I was working kind of like you, I think in marketing and it was, it was a great work environment, really kind of in many ways checked a lot of boxes, great team, but I I certainly wasn't feeling the most fulfilled.
08:17
And so over the course of say 8-9 months, I started really sort of on the side looking into how this bike shop idea could really be, could really happen and.
08:31
Lo and behold, I I took all the steps and found found the perfect location and quit my job in in August of that or September of that year.
08:40
And then we opened fully exactly a year to the date that I that I had that dream on on November 12th of 22.
08:48
And here we are.
08:50
So we're going into, we're going into our third year.
08:53
Well, what a crazy story.
08:55
I feel like this is almost just like the most serendipitous entrepreneurial story that you have a dream and you wake up and you tell your partner and they're supportive.
09:04
I know we're gonna get into, I'm sure, some of the challenges and the different roadblocks that you would have overcome.
09:10
But a couple things that I wanna double tap on there, I think you know there is.
09:15
This.
09:16
There's two options.
09:17
When you have a dream like that and there's something that's on your heart, you can say, oh, that's not for me, just push it aside, push it aside.
09:23
I already have a job.
09:24
I have a career.
09:25
It would be irresponsible to even consider making a change.
09:29
But then I think there's people like you who are like.
09:31
Maybe I'll explore this.
09:33
And then as you start to explore it, something that starts as a dream, you then verbalize it to one person.
09:40
That could be your partner, that could be a friend, that could be like your dog.
09:45
And then all of a sudden, as it comes out of your mouth, you're like, well.
09:49
Maybe it's not so crazy.
09:52
Like it really starts to feel real.
09:55
Um, for you.
09:56
Like when you started to talk to your wife, did it really start to unfold naturally?
10:01
Did you start kind of dream storming together?
10:04
What happened after that conversation that you you did to move the business forward in little ways?
10:12
Yeah, I think at first it's it's you sort of think, well, this is just my my own little idea.
10:17
This is kind of like something that I would really enjoy.
10:19
But would other people, would that really resonate with them?
10:24
And so hearing the fact that that there might be some interest, opening up the conversation with a few friends and seeing that, hey, this is actually maybe not so crazy, gave me a bit of confidence to to kind of start pursuing it a bit further.
10:37
And the fact that, I mean it's sort of a new concept here at least in in our area as far as a bike cafe to to be able to walk in and and order coffee or to shop bikes all under one roof.
10:48
But it it really maybe to give you a bit more back of a back story, I prior to the pandemic I I worked for eight years for a bike travel company called Sacred Rides.
10:59
And the gift of that job is that I I really, you know got to spend a good chunk of my 20s exploring the the world on my mountain bike and.
11:08
What I got to see in in travels to New Zealand or Switzerland or Peru is that bike shops could really be this community hub that that people could gather and and hang out and.
11:21
Chat with a mechanic and get tips or just grab a drink, grab a latte, grab a beer and sit on the patio and have this really great setting for adventures and mountain biking, ideally close to trails like that's all those are all the the elements that I kind of saw as a a great recipe for more than just a bike shop, but kind of more of a of an experience.
11:45
And so that really opened my eyes to the possibility of what a bike shop could be.
11:49
And it wasn't something that I was seeing locally.
11:52
I grew up in Toronto and you know, a lot, a lot has changed.
11:56
But as far as the bike cafe goes, I I've since moved, I I live in Guelph now and and just wasn't, I wasn't seeing that great bike shops.
12:05
But I would only, you know, even as a passionate cyclist, I would only really go if I needed, you know, you know, parts or service.
12:13
Never to really hang out and meet friends and and commune.
12:18
So that's where that that idea came from.
12:20
And then I kind of had one location in mind you know wouldn't look around to a few others but this this one location that we luckily managed to to secure was always just it just sort of checked all the boxes.
12:35
It's a it's a beautiful sort of country market right next to trails and and when when the.
12:42
The opportunity came knocking then and then I was like, OK, this is confirmation that I I need to, I need to really dive into this cause it sounds like this could really work.
12:53
So amazing.
12:54
So before that moment of signing the lease and like really committing to doing this.
13:02
I am curious to dive in a bit more to how you validated this idea.
13:07
So I think what's cool about what you shared is like #1, you knew it was something that you would want to be part of and a place that you were seeking but couldn't find.
13:16
And then you also mentioned that you had conversations with a few friends kind of saying like, hey, I have this crazy idea.
13:23
Do you think it would work?
13:24
Would you come?
13:26
Was there anything else you did kind of in those first few months?
13:30
To really validate that, yes, this could work from a financial perspective, this could work because hundreds of people are telling me or I know that it will be a success.
13:40
Like what were some of those things you did to reassure yourself, but also the people around you, that this could be a viable idea?
13:50
Yeah, absolutely.
13:51
It's certainly friends are friends and family are great, very supportive in in many cases, but.
13:58
And and my target market too, like I have quite a few friends that I go riding with and they were like, Oh yeah, that's amazing.
14:04
We should totally, you should totally do that of course.
14:06
But beyond that, I really want to make sure that it was something that that that would long-term and sustainably make sense.
14:14
So I started having more serious conversations with friends of mine in the industry, so bike reps or bike shop owners or managers.
14:24
Sort of outside of my own region, one in Newfoundland, one in Quebec, one in Toronto.
14:30
So yeah, quite a few just just really getting different perspectives and and and from just really getting the the lowdown on the reality of the the bike industry.
14:42
Just remember this is 20/21/22, we're just kind of still in the midst of the the pandemic.
14:47
Things are kind of crazy shortages and and demand just.
14:53
Really kind of a wonky time.
14:54
So but there the demand was huge and and I really kind of saw the opportunity to to really delve into the outdoor space and really offer mountain bike more so than just bikes, but experiences possibly group rides and and skill camps.
15:12
Those are all things that eventually I'd like to get into as well and the fact that we're so close to trails really lends itself.
15:18
To that idea.
15:19
But yeah, it it was kind of having more in-depth conversations with people in the industry and getting really insightful conversations, having really those those insightful conversations with them and getting that the reality check as to whether or not it made sense.
15:35
And and some of them, you know, I'm grateful.
15:37
We're very honest, like, hey, it's it's not, it's not a walk in the park, it's it's super challenging.
15:41
You've got to deal with this.
15:45
And then had had a couple conversations with bike reps too who would rep the brands that I kind of want to rep and saw that there was an opportunity with with a few of them that there there would be interest in expanding to our market specifically.
15:58
So that's when I was like OK, if I can secure these these bike brands and and bring in this kind of this kind of inventory, I think there'd be.
16:08
Even though it's pretty niche, that's kind of the area that I wanted to be in kind of the more mountain gravel.
16:13
There weren't as many mountain focused shops in the area.
16:17
So I more of a there were more kind of road bike options, which is great.
16:21
But I wanted to to really be I mean that's kind of what I what I tend to do is especially with the mountain bike trips, would love to go on on mountain bike trips and that's it's always been my my happy, my happy sport that I that I tend to go to during more challenging times so.
16:38
Yeah, mountain biking holds a special place and that's not to say we may not expand to other areas in cycling, but that's kind of our main focus.
16:47
So as you're like validating the idea, obviously you're hyped about everything.
16:52
Are you also writing a formal business plan?
16:55
Are you going straight into logo design?
16:58
What are some of the other things that you really vividly remember from that year of kind of bringing the idea to life that were important pieces?
17:07
But actually getting to the point where there's a physical shop that is open to the public, what were some of those things that you spent time or money or energy on that were really worth the while before opening the doors?
17:21
Yeah, definitely worked on on a very thorough 90 page business plan, 90 pages.
17:28
Yeah, I was, I went overboard for sure.
17:32
But it I think the process of going through those questions and really thinking it through was helpful just for my own sake of of having gone through the work.
17:44
Really deciding whether or not it was the right fit, cause by this point I I've been working for someone else for 15 years, Sacred Rides and then the marketing company and a few other ebbs and flows here and there.
17:58
But and I I I really started wondering, you know, am I ready to take?
18:04
The leap of of entrepreneurship for like as many as I'm sure some of your listeners, it's a very daunting idea of of going at it on your own.
18:12
So want to make sure that I was ready and the way that I did that was was was by creating this business plan that I may not reference as much these days, but it really helped me hone in on on the why behind why am I doing this.
18:26
Yeah.
18:26
And I think, you know, just even thinking of your values, your purpose, your mission, that was all helpful in crafting the narrative that that I wanted to to portray as to why am I doing this?
18:39
Well, it's it's something that is really resonant for me, but I think it's something that a lot of other people can connect with.
18:46
Creating more than just a bike shop, but a hub, a community gathering place.
18:51
Was something that that was really near and dear to my heart and I could see that there was a a deep need for it too.
18:58
So yeah, can you think back to the feeling that you had when you had arrived at the day where you were about to share the shop with the public like cause just.
19:12
Picturing that feeling, and I've talked to a lot of entrepreneurs and some of them, they're like, I'm so excited and ready.
19:17
Some of them, it's like the fear of God is in them.
19:20
Some of them, you know, it's a mix of both of those emotions.
19:25
What did you feel on that day when you had put so much effort, you've poured your your heart and soul into this plan and now it's a reality.
19:34
What were those feelings that were flowing through you flow to use your word on day one of saying I'm here and now we start the next chapter of Flow State?
19:46
Yeah, it was definitely a mix of of emotions, excitement, acceleration, really kind of there was a lot of.
19:57
A lot of question marks.
19:58
One of my favorite sayings is that everything is figureoutable.
20:02
Marie Furleo, thank you for that one.
20:04
But I mean, you're a mom.
20:06
I I know that you know it's probably not so not so different than than than birthing a child.
20:13
I mean, obviously not not nearly as painful, but it's not like.
20:17
It felt like kind of you're you're creating, you're putting something out there and obviously it's it's you know we're a tiny little shop here in Arkwell it's it's something small but it's it's it's my whole it was certainly that first year it was my whole universe.
20:31
It was everything that I poured my heart and soul into and and occupied a lot of real estate up up in here.
20:36
So yeah it was it was a lot it was certainly a lot of excitement and.
20:43
You know, the day of our grand opening, it was it was just like this this huge confirmation, you know, massive groups of of cyclists came from from all over and and really came to support the shop.
20:52
So we got a lot of of community love and support.
20:56
So we were off to a great start.
21:00
That community that we're in is just just I think was really craving that that that sort of community place to to hang out and celebrate cycling.
21:08
So great reception and it's been it's been certainly a journey since then.
21:13
But yeah, it was those first few months were, you know, everything was new and and and super fun and we just figured it out on the go.
21:23
Mm-hmmWell, you mentioned that you had a bunch of groups kind of roll through on grand opening day.
21:29
And I know that one of the number one questions of start-up business owners and people who are finally putting an offer out into the world is like, how am I gonna do my marketing?
21:39
And obviously you come from a marketing background, but then when you have to do it for your own business, sometimes it's like, Oh my gosh, like now I have to turn the spotlight back on me and create a plan for this business.
21:50
Like, I don't, I don't know, everything goes out the brain, but.
21:53
What were some of those initial marketing efforts that you feel provided the most return on investment like that really helped to spread the word that got those first few customers and clients through the door?
22:07
What did you do knowing that this is a few years ago, so still pretty relevant to today.
22:12
What do you feel you did that was most effective to get visible, spread awareness and get the word out there that flow state was now open for business?
22:22
Hey Visionary, I want to interrupt this episode to share a little bit more about one-on-one coaching.
22:27
I work with clients who want to stay on top of the latest marketing trends, who want to bring more ease into their marketing funnel, or just build a marketing funnel in the 1st place cause maybe you don't have one yet and ultimately take the effort and overwhelm out of your marketing plan.
22:45
I know your energy is limited and you just want someone to tell you what to do.
22:50
Should you be on threads?
22:51
Should you be creating on TikTok?
22:53
How do you grow an e-mail list?
22:55
What does SEO mean anyways?
22:57
This is why Ioffer private one-on-one business and marketing coaching for business owners like you who need help with their marketing strategy.
23:07
You can head to kelseyreidel.com/private coaching to learn exactly what it's gonna look like if we decide to work together.
23:15
And I'm excited because I can give you the precise strategies that will take your business to the next level this year.
23:21
So if you want to learn more, Kelsey rydal.com/private coaching.
23:25
Of course it is a bit more of an investment than any of my other courses or offerings, but my private clients are seeing crazy results.
23:35
Christina landed a six-figure consulting contract.
23:39
Emily signed 6 clients in one day.
23:42
Barb had a Black Friday sale that generated a lot of money, and these are all based on the strategies that we've implemented.
23:50
So.
23:51
Kelseyreidell.com/privatecoaching.
23:54
You can learn all about it.
23:55
You can see all of the amazing visionary businesses that I've worked with and supported over the last decade, and I can't wait to see your application come through.
24:05
Kelseyreidell.com/privatecoaching.
24:07
Now back to the episode.
24:10
Yeah, we we certainly partnered with a few fairly big, I guess, local businesses.
24:15
So our coffee comes from Lost Aviator.
24:19
We We partnered with Figs Gear to serve beer.
24:21
Those were all kind of well-established and well-loved fixtures here in Guelph.
24:26
So to to have sort of partnered with them and for them to share the fact that that there's a new coffee shop or a new bike cafe in town was was a big help.
24:37
But I sort of focused on on the stuff that II personally would like to would like to see both on social media and and e-mail.
24:43
Those are kind of the the two main avenues that I felt like I could had a bit of expertise in and that I could I could sort of dive into and and really kind of showcase the personality which is kind of just fun adventure more so than just bikes.
24:58
But what what can the bike be used as and that's sort of where the name of the business comes from from too.
25:04
like it's so much more than just a physical piece of equipment.
25:08
It's It's the it's providing that sense of flow state.
25:12
And that's something really powerful.
25:14
I think that that every cyclist, every mountain biker, every gravel rider can really can really relate with.
25:21
Yep.
25:21
SoIt was, it was pretty natural and just like I just wanted to showcase sort of the day-to-day and what we're up to through social media.
25:29
But it never really felt.
25:31
I didn't want it to feel super tasky and I I certainly didn't get into, I didn't want to exhaust myself with with everything.
25:39
I mean it's easy to do as you know with marketing there's there's so many.
25:44
Creating a website, posting blog posts, and sending out newsletters can be overwhelming.
25:48
So I just kind of focused on the areas that that I felt like I could handle and that I thought could resonate the most with our audience.
25:56
And it's grown ever since, and it's been really great, but I never see it as like something that needs to be constantlyYeah, tended to because otherwise it just gets that like gets too much and it it you sort of lose sight off of of what your goal is.
26:15
So I kind of just try to remember to market to to this this kid who just loves biking and and just wants to get out there and and needs a little inspiration sometimes and that's that's me and that's sort of my core customer base.
26:28
So true.
26:29
And such a good reminder to always be thinking about who is your dream client, right?
26:34
And to never lose sight of the person that you're trying to reach.
26:38
Sometimes we think like, I got to create more content on Instagram or I need to send a million newsletters out.
26:45
And it's like, oh wait, but what do that, what does that person need to hear?
26:48
Or do they just need a new trail recommendation or they just want to be reminded that, you know, there's never bad weather to ride or whatever it is, but it's keeping.
26:58
That person in mind and not losing sight of the person that you started this business for.
27:02
So I love that.
27:03
And I mean the other thing you said too is that you focus on partnerships.
27:06
I think so often in the early stages of business, we think we have to do everything alone.
27:12
And it's like, OK, I need to be doing this, I need to be.
27:15
But sometimes we need to look outside of that I or me and say who else has a similar audience like the local brewery?
27:24
Who else could offer value in the shop like the local coffee that you're sourcing and create mutually beneficial relationships and not with any malicious intent, but just really trying to raise each other up and make the community a better place and to support other small business owners and I think.
27:44
you know for some people that comes naturally, but for others, it takes a little bit of effort to kind of get outside of your comfort zone and, and meet the people who are also entrepreneurs in your community and to always, you know, see where you can add value to their business.
28:00
And usually what happens is that the law of reciprocity means that they then want to support you and in turn, the community becomes aA much richer place because of it.
28:12
So I think it's really neat that you've reflected back that partnerships were a really critical piece of that early stage of marketing and not necessarily just being on social media, scrolling, posting and just being on the content creation hamster wheel, right?
28:29
Yeah, for sure.
28:31
Something interesting that I I don't know if I read it on the blog or in a newsletter or somewhere, but you said something along the lines of buying a bike is a big deal.
28:40
It's a ticket to freedom, a tool to spread joy.
28:43
It opens the doors to incredible experiences both close to home and in far-flung reaches.
28:49
And what I think is interesting about reading through that is that I almost felt like I could replace the word bike with entrepreneurship.
28:57
Like starting a business is a big deal.
29:00
It's a ticket to freedom in some ways.
29:03
It's a way to spread joy.
29:04
It opens the door to incredible experiences, both close to home and far-flung, right.
29:10
And I just think it's so interesting that, you know, as we're talking about.
29:15
Bikes and the way that they make us feel free when we're on them.
29:20
There's so many parallels too with entrepreneurship and like, you know, every corner that you turn, you don't necessarily know what's going to be there.
29:27
You can't always perfectly pre-plan the route.
29:31
You feel free.
29:32
But also there's that like hesitation and fear of like, am I able to climb this hill and you know, will I be able to survive the the tougher times when I'm out of fuel and out of water?
29:43
And so I'm curious to hear your.
29:45
perspective on that.
29:46
Do you see a lot of parallels with your riding journey and how you see your biking alongside entrepreneurship?
29:55
Or am I crazy to draw that parallel?
29:58
Absolutely.
30:00
I think it it lines itself so well and it's it's yeah.
30:05
So remembering why I'm doing this, it's at the end of the day, it's because I I love, I really do love.
30:11
I'm passionate about bikes.
30:13
More than just like bikes, but but the physical or the the the feeling of going on a bike ride and that's why I kind of want to spread it and it it really.
30:25
I mean mountain biking is is tough, right?
30:27
Like it's you're you're grueling and sometimes you're in Costa Rica and it's super hot or you're you're here in Canada and it's free, it's freezing cold, you're trying to go fat biking and it's storming.
30:39
But building that resilience is is super helpful.
30:43
And that is not unlike business too.
30:46
Like there's there's certainly been, there have been lots of challenges along the way, but but having the attitude of like, hey, let's figure this out, this is, this is just like another hill to climb.
30:58
let's go through this and after that I'll be a sweet downhill.
31:00
So there are so many bike puns we can use.
31:03
Good analogy.
31:05
For sure, biking has been, it's it's just something I love to to get into.
31:10
And And the fact that it's something that we we get to sell here is, or at least provide fixed bikes.
31:16
And it's it's something that that is also very, it brings a lot of meaning and purpose to know that we're we're providing a tool that that I feel spreads joy andAnd and ensures that that spreads the feeling of slow, which we all can.
31:32
Totally.
31:33
When you're having one of those tough days, like we all have unexpected challenges that hit us in the face or you know, you can never really predict what next week brings when you're running a business.
31:44
But if you're having one of those tough days, is there any?
31:47
Tool or strategy or rituals that you use to get yourself out of that?
31:52
Because I feel like there's only so long we can wallow before we realize I'm the only one that can fix this.
31:57
Like I'm the CEO of the business.
32:00
What do you do when you're having those challenging days?
32:02
Because I'm sure someone listening is experiencing that right now and is looking for some advice or just to feel less alone.
32:10
Absolutely.
32:11
I mean, I'd like to say that I I go for a bike ride and that certainly has has helped in in moments, but you I have not always been able to do that.
32:22
I think it's just a matter of of remembering why you're doing what you're doing, you knowSay it's it's a it's a it's a tough conversation you have to have with with a staff member or perhaps a customer remembering that you're you're dealing with human beings here and that at the end of the day we're human centric business that we we do, we deal with human beings is is super helpful and trying to figure out what what the solution is, how we can help them is is sort of at the core of our business.
32:53
I just, I I like to focus on stories too.
32:56
So So I've I've heard the great thing about having a coffee shop too.
33:00
It's like that that barbershop effect.
33:02
People come to you and and you hear all sorts of of great and and sometimes challenging stories too of folks.
33:09
It's kind of a revolving door.
33:11
And I, one of the aspects I love the most about running the shop is that whoever walks in the shop, we make them feel welcome.
33:19
And And there's this like great atmosphere of, you know, we've gotSpike movies on and and great music on and smell of coffee always helps.
33:28
But yeah, over the years I've I've really forged some amazing friendships and and relationships with customers and and and our staff.
33:37
So sometimes just hearing that someone's going through a rough time, it's like what can we do to at least we're here for them and they have a a home here that they can walk into and that that's been that's been really.
33:52
confirming as far as our business ideas that we're more than than just that bike shop.
33:56
It's It's really that community hub feeling that that I wanted to to create from the very start.
34:03
And that's sort of why we, I mean, going back to my very first bike shop or bike buying experience, when I first made that decision of like, okay, this is a sport I really want.
34:14
I'm I'm ready to invest in something beyond the Canadian Tire bike.
34:17
Yeah I I went to,you know I'm not going to bash anyone, but I did go to a bike shop.
34:24
I was 14, 15 at the time, and and it just wasn't the best.
34:28
I knew exactly which bike I wanted to buy.
34:31
And it felt like this major letdown of, you know, I felt like I was buying a magazine.
34:37
And I I remember that feeling.
34:39
And that was something I I brought into this business is how do we how do we turn that feeling or how do we turn the moment of buying a bike into something that isThat is a big deal that that can be celebrated.
34:52
That's you know we're talking about marketing too like that's the that's the best marketing is is word of mouth.
34:57
So if we can help create a really special moment for for folks which is why we also take Polaroids.
35:04
I'm not sure I think you've been to the space we we take Polaroids of of everyone who decides to to buy a bike and and certainly.
35:13
become a part of the space, they become a part of the building.
35:16
And whenever they walk in the shop, they can see themselves holding a bike.
35:20
And in that moment of like, this is amazing.
35:23
I got my bike.
35:24
I'm going to go shred.
35:25
Yeah, Yeah it's so powerful.
35:28
And I love too, as a marketing strategy, like social proof, right?
35:31
Like having people on the wall with their bike.
35:34
I think that's really cool and clever.
35:36
AndYeah, like you've said it a few times in this conversation that you always remember why you're doing this, right?
35:43
It's not just about selling bikes to people and like, you knowGetting another sale through the cash register is literally about changing lives, right?
35:53
Both you and I, I'm sure, have our own origin stories about how biking has changed our lives for the better and made it richer.
36:00
And now you get to provide that same experience for others.
36:04
And it's funny, as you were talking about your your story of buying your first non Canadian Tire bike.
36:10
I was picturing myself.
36:11
I think I was around 20 years old, 20 some years old, and I walked into like this crazy, like intimidating Rd.
36:22
cycling store in Toronto to buy the bike.
36:25
And they just looked at me like I was an alien and I was there to spend a lot of money for my first bike because bikes are not cheap.
36:33
And every time I went in there, I just felt like I didn't belong.
36:36
I wasn't elite enough to be inside of this store and.
36:40
Like you said, like there's no word of mouth marketing from me happening when I have an experience like that.
36:45
But if I have an experience that's the complete opposite, where I feel welcomed, accepted, like there's no stupid question about the bike that I'm about to buy, I'm going to go tell everybody about that.
36:58
I'm going to post about it on my social media.
37:01
And so it's like 2 polar opposite experiences, but such a good reminder that.
37:07
Exceptional customer service and just being remarkable is a marketing strategy, right?
37:13
Having a great product, a great service is a marketing strategy.
37:17
And of course there's so much more that we can do.
37:19
But I love that you've actually taken that customer service, customer centric approach and just woven it through the entire business model knowing that like if we can have happy customers for the first few years, hopefully.
37:34
the flywheel of marketing starts to take care of itself and that word spreads without us having to do traditional advertising.
37:43
Totally.
37:44
Yeah, Yeah it's kind of a crazy concept, but taking care of folks is is a pretty pretty marketing strategy for sure.
37:52
It shouldn't be a crazy concept, but sometimes it is.
37:55
And you're like, wait, how is this shop still alive when they won't even look me in the eye?
38:03
Well, as we start to wrap up here, Nate, I'm curious, has anything pleasantly surprised you about the entrepreneurial journey?
38:08
Obviously you haven't been starting businesses your whole life.
38:11
This is kind of your first foray into it all, running your own shop.
38:16
So has anything surprised you for the better?
38:20
I would say, yeah, it's been an incredible journey.
38:24
It's been so much fun.
38:26
Like we have a ton of fun with the staff here and.
38:31
I would have had I known like it it certainly was helpful that I worked for Sacred Rides for eight years because I really got to see what what running a business, a small business was like.
38:43
And I learned from from Mike, the founder of the business, sort of what to do and what what to avoid doing as well.
38:48
And it was a great, valuable lesson.
38:51
But it also sort of put the brakes on wanting to to jump in right away and start my own thing.
38:56
So which was ultimately was was super helpful.
39:01
I certainly had crazy ideas before starting the shop too, that I'm glad I didn't pursue.
39:06
But now that I'm in it, I'm like, there's no way I'd ever go back.
39:10
Yeah, it's it is a lifestyle business too.
39:16
At least at this point, I'm not.
39:17
I don't have any crazy ambitions to expand.
39:20
And I think I was listening to your 1-800 Got Junk.
39:25
It's amazing.
39:26
And it's it's I'm just not at the stage in my life with with two young kids to to really start even imagining what that could look like.
39:35
But it's also a great lifestyle business.
39:39
I get to really be present with my kids and they get to see me do something that that lights me up, which I think hopefully is is something thatthat is a valuable lesson for them, that they can go out and pursue something that that really lights them up in the world.
39:55
And yeah, I I kind of wish that I I would have jumped in sooner, but it it also does feel like I I jumped in at the right time in my life with a bit of, with a bit more experience and some marketing chops too, I guess you could say.
40:13
Yeah, I think I'm not sure if thatIt does.
40:18
And I think, you know, the important piece of what you just shared is that you have to know what season you're in.
40:23
I've been having this conversation a lot too.
40:26
And I know a lot of my audience is in that season of like, I don't know that I want growth at all costs right now.
40:32
And like you see other people, yeah, growing like they're $1,000,000 empires and more, more, moreBut also, I think there's this other side of the conversation that's becoming important of like, when is it important to just know what enough is and what season am I in?
40:48
Like, do I only want to work a couple days a week and spend the rest of the time with my family?
40:52
Or do I not want to be traveling on an airplane 10 weeks to go do talks like?
40:58
And so I think it's just such a vital conversation for all business owners and everyone to have of like, am I in the season where I'm trying to grow this thing or am I happy?
41:07
And obviously continue to dream big, but also just check yourself, like, is this dream worth pursuing now or should I put it on the back burner for later?
41:17
And so, yeah, I think it's really cool to hear you say that and the fact that, you know, you've landed on a lifestyle business that is also still.
41:24
Changing the world and changing the community one bike at a time.
41:27
So I mean, if people are in Ontario and they want to come visit you in Arkell, where can they find you?
41:33
Where can they connect with you online?
41:35
Leave us with all of the different spots where we can stay in touch.
41:40
Oh, thanks.
41:41
Thanks, Kelsey.
41:42
Well, if you are in the Guelph area, please come visit us.
41:44
We're in the South End little town called Arkell, 5 minutes away from Guelph.
41:49
And we are @flowstatebikeco on Instagram and Facebook.
41:55
We have a bi-weekly newsletter that we send out.
41:59
So feel free to join there.
42:00
We'd love to meet you in person.
42:01
That would be the best.
42:02
If you can swing by, come grab a coffee, come grab a beer, just have a chat.
42:06
We are all about that.
42:07
And possibly come join us for a bike ride.
42:10
That'd be even better.
42:12
Um I think that's sort of more or less where you can find us.
42:17
Perfect.
42:17
Yeah, we'll plug all of that in the show notes so that people can come find you and cannot wait for the the warmer weather to arrive so that we can get out and ride the trails in your area.
42:29
Come sit on the patio.
42:30
I've had the luxury of visiting you a couple times with both my local group and then with a group of female mountain bikers from all over Ontario.
42:39
And each time I've been in the shop, I've been.
42:42
Completely blown away, not only with the atmosphere and the experience, but also just the curation of products that you have and just the proximity to such amazing trails.
42:52
So for anyone listening who's looking for a little day adventure, definitely check out Flowstate and we wish you all of the best.
43:00
Thanks, Nate.
43:01
Thanks so much, Kelsey.
43:01
Really appreciate it.
43:05
Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Visionary Life.
43:08
I love bringing you these conversations on a weekly basis, so it would mean so much to me if you could help me out by rating and reviewing the show on either iTunes or Spotify.
43:18
It just takes a second.
43:20
And if you don't want to rate the show, you could also just take a screenshot of the episode and share it on your social media platform of choice, tagging me at Kelsey Reidl.
43:30
I'll catch you in the next episode.
Tune into the episode.
Tune into this episode with on your podcast app of choice:
If you’re searching for an Online Business & Marketing Coach for your Business, rest assured that you’re in the right place.
I've helped over 200+ people to launch their business, go full-time, get fully booked, and become #1 with The Visionary Method
Mentioned on the Episode:
Private 1:1 Marketing Coaching: Small tweaks to your Marketing Strategy can skyrocket your business success…. Working with a Business & Marketing Coach will help you identify new income opportunities, optimize your lead generation & sales strategies, and accomplish more than you ever thought possible, in just 4 months. Apply here ➡
Feeling overwhelmed with your Marketing & Online Lead Generation?
Learn about Marketing Coaching |Rank on Page # 1 of Google with Everyday SEO™ |
Email List: Join the Dose of Visionary Weekly Inspiration Roundup!
You Might Also Like:
