Employee purchases Sunshine Bike Shop

About three years ago, Kevin Umlauf joined the staff of Sunshine Bike Shop, 1926 E. Sunshine, as a part-time em-ployee. Now, he owns the store.

Umlauf purchased Sunshine Bike Shop July 3 from its previous owners, Dr. Robert Scott and his wife, Janet Scott.

Dr. Scott is a former St. John's Health Systems Phys-ician who is relocating to Tulsa.

The road to ownership

Umlauf said he bicycled a lot in his younger years, but his interest tapered off once he was old enough to drive. His career history prior to joining Sun-shine Bike Shop was primarily in the automotive industry.

Umlauf spent 12 years as a supervisor in the limousine manufacturing industry, and he also owned his own auto body shop for a time. But eventually, he said, he grew tired of the automotive industry. He said he was burned out "you go in somewhere and you work your way up to the top only to find out there's nothing there" so he sold his business interests, took a year off and spent time with his family.

During that time, Umlauf decided, at a friend's insistence, to participate in the MS 150, a 150-mile ride that raises money to fight multiple sclerosis. When he finally decided to do it, he purchased his bicycle and supplies from Sunshine Bike Shop and began to redevelop his hobby.

As luck would have it, during one of his visits to the shop he overheard the manager taking about needing to hire some help. He applied and was hired to do bicycle repair work part-time, but it didn't take long to discover that Umlauf could best serve the store in a customer service capacity.

"Because of my past training as a supervisor in the limo industry and owning my own business, I guess I noticed a lot of things that the average employee doesn't," he said.

Ordering products for the store eventually became Umlauf's responsibility, and he was officially named store manager about a year before he became the owner.

"I spent three years pouring my heart and soul into it. I treated it like it was mine, handled it like it was mine, and the opportunity was there so it seemed like the natural thing to do," he said of his decision to buy Sunshine Bike Shop.

Customers and community

Umlauf said Sunshine Bike Shop has been in existence for about 30 years with different owners. And he said many of the store's customers have been coming through its doors for years.

"People know there's a bike store here, know it's been here for years, but couldn't tell you the name," he said. "I guess it's one of those things that goes back to location, location, location."

But repeat customers might also be attributed to Umlauf's continuing emphasis on customer service as his "first and foremost concern."

"I warranty things for my customers even if a company won't. I want happy customers," he added.

Umlauf said he also believes in giving back not only to his customers, but also to the local community. Umlauf and his employees participate in area sporting events, many of which raise money for worthy causes, and Sunshine Bike Shop also supports such events.

The store donates bicycles and equipment to several area causes, including Ozarks Public Television for its auctions, and to the MS 150, a ride that is still very important to Umlauf.

"I do all the training rides for the (MS 150) tour; we have the largest corporate team on the tour; I've been on the committee for four years, and that's actually what led to this whole thing to begin with," Umlauf said.

Expanding product lines

Even as a store employee, Umlauf worked to add to the types of equipment and supplies offered at Sunshine Bike Shop. The store added kayaks to its lineup, and in addition to bicycles, bicycle repair and related equipment, it also carries some nutritional products. Umlauf said the store also offers other types of supplies and equipment, such as trail running shoes that are used in multisport events like adventure racing.

"People are really, really becoming interested in participating in multisport activities the average person," he said.

It seems people in the industry are beginning to note Sunshine Bike Shop's presence. The store was recently featured in Bicycle Retailer, a trade magazine that Umlauf said discovered the store via its Web site, www.sunshinebike.com.

Sunshine Bike Shop is open for business 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday.