Watch our update video
Hello all you QuikrFans out there,
Just a quick update for February 28th, 2023 for the Quik Rack Mach2.
It’s been a long time since my last update, so everybody on the team has been yelling at me to get this done, so here I am I’m getting it done.
The Good Stuff.
We’ve been working on some new product photography here with Eric at a studio in our town and just trying to get out updated pictures and stuff on the website. Sales continue to be really strong. We hit almost $2.3M in 2022, and as an example of how strong sales are, January is going to beat December of 22, and we’re doubling last year’s numbers. So keeps getting better. We’ve been profitable since September of 22, so we’re moving in the right direction. And our delivery estimates are down to seven weeks and aluminum is coming in on time, so it keeps getting better and better.
Feedback and reviews keep coming in.
Reviews keep coming in. It’s truly amazing. All these folks who post these reviews on YouTube and social media and they ask nothing of us. These are fully paid customers; no influencers, no paid reviews… it’s all organic. So nothing like free publicity, right?! And thanks to all these reviewers, it’s what keeps new customers coming in. Because of this we’re going to start a locals program where we let customers share their experience with prospective customers (hey I said it right that time!) near them that way they can hear it straight from their mouth and not ours. So we’ll be reaching out to all of you through email seeing if who wants to participate. Obviously people want to hear from other customers like you, not from us. So we marketers like to call it “social proof”. So keep tuned for our email regarding this.
Go to our YouTube Reviews Playlist
New products you asked for
We released a wheel strap for a keep-it-simple-stupid engineering solution for upwards momentum of heavy e-bikes and to augment the arms when people are using bikes with or without fenders. These heavy e-bikes are big, and momentum is an issue, so look out for videos on that, on those coming soon.
We’re also going to be releasing a custom cushion for the spools that touch the tires for people who have fenders on their bikes just to avoid scratches, so look for some videos and on that too.
Down to a 7 week wait time!
Our seven week delivery estimate is a far cry from the worst that we experienced 10 months ago.
The Bad Stuff.
We keep increasing production, but we’re running into the capital problem that all startups have. Since we don’t have two years of positive cash flow, we’re traditionally “unbankable”.
And SBA lenders they don’t want to touch a small manufacturing startup in the U.S.
SBA Loans are not a slam dunk guarantee that some people think they are. The bank still has a bunch of risk and procedures that they must go through before the SBA comes in to bail them out. So I don’t blame these banks for protecting our savings, but there needs to be some middle ground.
I’ll just stop there.
So, we’re trying also to find some impact investors who love our mission and to build rural manufacturing jobs and it’s a non-stop project, but that’s what it takes to run a company, so we’re doing it.
The megaphone (again)
So remember, always use a credit card; they protect you. Don’t use a debit card.
Recycle, so we can get our raw materials faster and cheaper, and avoid supply chain disruptions in the future.
And thanks for all your support. Hopefully you’re all getting outside and getting some vitamin D. And last, as Gabby would say, “Now get out and ride your bike!”
Thanks all.
Keep riding!
Bryan Wachs
CEO QuikrStuff
NOTE: Best Place for updates
As always, read the Delivery Estimate page to keep abreast of everything. It is our most updated communication to you all. And it has the up-to-the-day status on all orders, process and our progress. As you probably already know, we do blog posts every few months when there are “major” events to communicate, but the Delivery Estimate page is updated with new production dates, DAILY!!!