In Partnership with Inc.
Jonathan Ross Shriftman, Sole Bicycles
FULL ESSAY
A rising college senior, I took one of my passions, riding fixed gear bicycles, a socially responsible, popular and new emerging trend, and turned it into a business by manufacturing, importing, and selling these rare cycles online. My business solves a pain because normal fixies, as they are known as, usually cost upwards of $1,0000 and I am able to retail them, made with the same high end materials, for only $240.
To properly answer this question, of how I would use Alibaba, I must be honest and say that I have already utilized Alibaba for the purpose of locating my manufacturers. The beauty and fantasmo of the flattened world is amazing. From my dorm room, I was able to reach out and contact numerous factories in Asia, where I ultimately found one manufacturer that can perfectly make the product I want.
If I won Newpreneur of the year, I would directly use the grant funds to purchase a larger amount of inventory to keep up with the high and ever growing demand. I have more demand than I can supply up front. The second use of the grant would fund a grass roots college campaign. I want to put my bicycles on campuses so students can gain real life exposure. The feeling of riding a fixed gear is different than normal bikes because you must always pedal, so there is no coasting. Additionally, the bikes have thin road tires and a light-weight frame. Together, the feeling is so exhilarating, as if the rider is "one with the road". While the main focus of my venture is e-commerce and promoted through Google and social media like Twitter and Myspace, hands on and word of mouth marketing is still so crucial and most effective tool for successful endeavor I believe.
While some businesses have been established and are so intricate, the beauty of mine is that at the heart, it is still a bicycle. In this technologically powered world, something so simple as a bike keeps ones body healthy and the environment clean. I am driven, motivated and have learned a tremendous amount about business not taught in any classroom recently. Alibaba was one of the key factors in making that happen.
