Q1

How long has Vern and Sonny’s been in business?

A: Eric Stuck (co-owner) and I worked together previously and heard this shop, which was previously only a bike shop, was going to be for sale as the owner was retiring. We took a giant leap and have been in business for about a year! It has been great. We have a good customer base from the surrounding neighborhood in Chicago. We still service bikes and have lots of kids come in off the 606 (an abandoned rail line that has been repurposed as a recreational trail in Chicago) and many commuters. 

Q2

How’s the ski business?  

A: Good – we service skis and bindings and offer waxing. We need some snow! Most of our customers last year were traveling out west because the Midwest ski areas did not have much of a winter last year. Most of our snow customers were headed to Colorado and Utah. We did a wax service for a customer in June since he was going to Argentina to ski during the winter there! People here are ready to get outside and ski nearby!

Q3

What products are you selling for snow?

A: We sell Shaggy’s Skis, which are hand-made in northern Michigan. We are still a small shop and Shaggy’s has a lower buy-in. They are a great product and can 100% customize!

Q4

What is it like to be a neighborhood shop in a major city?

A: We are small and very mighty. Not every interaction has to be a transaction – we spend a lot of time with our customers and these relationships are great. Sometimes we spend time talking about being outdoors and where to go. A lot of the kids who come in to have their bikes serviced want to learn how to do it. If time permits, we work with them to show them how to repair and maintain their bikes. If a customer makes a purchase or buys a service – that’s great. If not, that’s ok, too. We have designed our business to be diversified – much like last winter – we had no snow but everyone was still riding their bikes!

Q5

Why did you join NSSRA?

A: The Combined Indemnified Bindings List! We also like the industry information.