“G&G Cycle shop relocates” |
| Posted: 20 Jan 2011 04:22 PM PST At the end of October, Gary Forster headed for a better spot. After 28 years at his Albany location on Pacific Boulevard, Forster relocated G&G Cycle in five hours. "That's about how long it took," Forster said. "I had incredible people helping me." Forster moved a few miles south to Tangent on Highway 99E, settling into bigger and more visible surroundings. He believes it was the right move in the current economy. "This is a better spot. I just need to hang on," said Forster, 62. "I have four times the space I had before." G&G Cycle, which opened in 1982, sells KTM motorcycles, but his business is a lot more than sales. Small engine repair has become a life-saver for Forster, who has seen cycle sales slow during the recession. "I used to sell 100 motorcycles a year 10 years ago. Now I sell 10 in a good year," he said. Forster's motorcycle inventory is strictly recreational-use dirt bikes. He stocks parts, apparel and accessories for riders. And he does repairs. His repair work extends way beyond motorcycles. In fact, he said lawn mower repair keeps him busier than sales. "Lots of mowers come through the door," he said. "There is more money in bike sales, but on a per-visit basis the lawn mowers are very important." In his first two months at the new location, Forster hasn't seen any slack in his customer base. He has built a loyal clientele over the years, and they followed him down the road. "Some have gone out of their way to find me," Forster said. "They would read the message on the door of the old place and drive here." A group of about 17 customers actually provided the manpower and transportation for his move. They loaded his inventory on seven flatbed trailers and had him moved in a day. "We started at 9 a.m. and we were eating at Izzy's by 2 p.m.," Forster said. "It was a great group of helpers." As good as the move was to make, it was costly as well. About two weeks ago thieves broke into the new facility and took five of Forster's KTM off-road motorcycles, a $25,000 hit he can't afford. Forster said there have been no leads to the burglars, and it could be several weeks before he gets any decision from his insurance company. "Not the start I was looking for," he said. Prior to the motorcycle business, Forster worked for many years at Wah Chang. "They were in the midst of their first big layoffs, and it just seemed like something that would work," Forster said. He grew up on a farm near Shedd and developed an interest in the recreational bikes in the '70s as a young man. The KTM bikes, which have been manufactured in Austria since 1934, are used mostly as off-road vehicles. Forster sells bike parts all over the country. He gets Internet referrals, especially for older parts that he stocks. G&G Cycle is located at 33965 Highway 99E and is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Forster is basically a one-man crew in the shop but his wife, Debbie, does come in daily to help. And his dog Callie is on hand to greet customers throughout the day. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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