Entrepreneur in the community:
OASIS Bike Works, Fairfax VA
Dave Hartford and Jan Feuchtner in front of Oasis
Bikes in Fairfax. Photo by Ian Mooers
The Patriot Entrepreneur sat down with OASIS Bike Works in Fairfax, VA to learn how this new business is getting off the ground. Jan Feuchtner, BA Communications '03, and partner, David Hartford, have opened their shop on Main Street in downtown Fairfax, VA.
Why did you start Oasis Bike Works?
Dave: A while back I was talking with a friend who was also an entrepreneur at heart and he said, “I don’t mind working 60 hours per week. I just don’t want a job!” That sums it up for me. I am fortunate to be able to make a living at something that is fun and can have a positive impact on the community. On the way I found Jan, who thinks the same way, so here we are.
Jan: Well, I was lucky. I had been toying with the idea of starting a mobile bike company (Ye Olde Mobile Bike Shoppe) for years. I had managed two different bike shops over a time span of six years and just wasn’t getting the satisfaction (or the money) from it that I wanted. I did what most people would do and got a full-time 9-5 desk job that I continue to work at. When I was working at Hudson Trail Outfitters, where Dave was a frequent customer, we sparked up a conversation in the parking lot one evening. Dave proposed his business idea to me. It was a wonderful idea, and everything I wanted from a business standpoint. I jumped on board without hesitation realizing this was the opportunity I had been waiting for – partnership.
How is OASIS Bike Works different from other bike shops in the area?
Dave: The name is symbolic of what we hope to create. We want to be a hub (yes the pun is intended) for cyclists and the community in general. Yes, we need to repair and sell, but we also want to be a place where people with the common interest of cycling can tap into the great cycling community in this area.
Jan: Technically we can do anything with bikes. We can retro-fit current bikes to be tougher, lighter, faster, more practical, more fun, and safer. We carry used bikes that have been “quality tested” starting at $125. We just created a new line of used bikes called, “Jan’s Yunkers” (keeping in mind my name is pronounced 'Yon'). Jan's Yunkers are the epitome of recycled rides which are safe as campus or around-town bikes. They’re cheap and get you from point "a" to point "b". I think they look awesome. We also carry new bikes from a company in New York called NYC Bikes, and carry a line of cruisers with whitewall tires from Sun.
Why did you open your shop in Fairfax City?
Dave: In short, George Mason University! The students of GMU are a huge market that we feel no bike shops have catered to until now. Lots of well intentioned people were telling me that Fairfax was not a good choice and that I should look for a location near the Washington & Old Dominion trail. Although we have only been open for a few weeks, I think we made the right decision in opening near Mason.
Jan: Dave and I have both been living in Fairfax city for years. We’re both familiar with the paths (road and bike) and love the area. At first, we were trying to remain cost effective and had pursued some places that would have made even The Addams Family cringe. Fortunately, we came to an agreement that we wouldn’t be happy in the middle of nowhere and that the extra money it would cost to be where we wanted would pay off in the long run – both mentally and financially. We now have windows, and store-front parking!
“Before we opened our doors, we were utilizing the services of the Mason Enterprise Center at the School of Public Policy to help us start our business.”
—David Harford, co-owner, OASIS Bike Works
How do you think your degree from Mason prepared you for becoming an entrepreneur?
Jan: I graduated from Mason in May of 2003 with a degree in Communication concentrating on public relations. I am an expert in creating resumes, writing papers, and giving presentations. We’ve been in a brick and mortar business for about one month and a complete stranger has already offered us a $3000 investment opportunity. I'd like to thank Dr. Boileau in the Communications Department for instilling those incredibly influential persuasion techniques. However, it would have been nice to have some more emphasis put on entrepreneurship towards the end of my college career. It just didn’t seem like a viable option and no one but my friends and parents were pushing me to go on my own. My professors, whom I feel are some of the best on the east coast, did an incredible job of preparing me for “the real world.” I soon realized though, the real world is what you make it. Currently I’m working full-time behind a desk at a non-profit organization and do enjoy the work I do. But until I met Dave, I had never looked more forward to leaving my day job and becoming an entrepreneur! Though I’m only technically “scheduled” to play, I mean work, at Oasis three days a week, I’ve been there 5 out of 7 days most weeks. I just love it.
What advice can you offer to potential entrepreneurs?
Dave: I would like us to be proof down the road that being a green business is not mutually exclusive with being profitable. We already have a GMU student that is using damaged inner tubes to make belts. We want to recycle as much as possible and promote bicycle commuting.
Jan: It’s a scary notion. I would have to say to never shut out the idea even if the opportunity looks bleak. Luckily, I had someone come whom I trusted and who had the same vision as I do! Look for people you already know for help – ask them to join you. Keep it professional, and draw up contracts. Be willing to make sacrifices to fulfill your long term goal.
To learn more about OASIS Bike Works, visit their web site: http://www.oasisbikeworks.com
Do you know of a Mason grad with solid business experience who you’d like to see featured? If so, let us know by dropping us an e-mail patriote@gmu.edu.