Unicycles in New Zealand

Anybody know these folks?

Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ

==============================================
*Up to speed on one wheel.*

By Ellen Read.
420 words
17 October 2003
New Zealand Herald
English
(c) 2003 The New Zealand Herald

When the Allis boys wanted to learn to ride unicycles last summer,
frustration at the difficulty in finding one prompted the family to set
up its own unicycle-selling business.

Ten months later, three of the boys, aged between 9 and 14, are
directors and shareholders in the home-based online business 'UNICycle
Shop NZ' (http://www.unicycleshop.co.nz), with parents Margaret and
David Allis.

"We thought the unicycles were great for them over Christmas," David
Allis said.

"They weren't stuck inside in front of computers, and we thought it
would be good to teach them something about business too."

Starting a business was a leap in the dark for Margaret and David, who
live in Devonport on the North Shore.

But they knew they were on to a good idea, and thought learning the
process with their children would be fun.

The original plan to import the bikes was revised to buying them from a
wholesale importer and sticking to the selling side of the business.

The company buys from the importer, stores the unicycles and sells them
via its website.

"Scooters and skateboards have been a craze, so we think unicycles could
be the next big thing," David said.

Most of the Allis family have taken to the single-wheel cycles.

Youngest son Luke, 5, also rides, and mum and dad are learning. Daughter
Amelia, 16, is not involved. The couple have another daughter, Esther,
aged 1.

David said that judging from reactions as the family ride to nearby
Narrowneck Beach, the unicycles were a source of delight to spectators.


About half the company's 30 sales have come from people seeing them out
on their cycles.

They are also working on getting schools to try unicycling.

Students at schools in Paparoa and Opua, in Northland, have learned how
to ride unicycles and do tricks on them.

"Our goal is to expand the market," David said.

A former mechanical engineer, who used to work for Fisher and Paykel, he
now has a raft of occupations, including being a part-time minister,
director of a bible college and helping run an alternative education
school and working for the family business.

Son Joseph designed and maintains the website, mum Margaret receives the
orders and stock, all the children are involved in unicycle assembly,
and David does the accounts.

The aim is for the business to grow to a point where it will pay the
boys' university fees.

ON THE WEB 'www.unicycleshop.co.nz' (http://www.unicycleshop.co.nz).


--
JJuggle - Last of the Dogmato-Revisionists

if you kant beet 'em joyn 'em

"...and lately I've been satisfied by simple things,
like breathing in and breathing out."
- Natalie Merchant
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JJuggle wrote:
*Anybody know these folks?

Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ

==============================================
Up to speed on one wheel.*

By Ellen Read.
420 words
17 October 2003
New Zealand Herald
English
(c) 2003 The New Zealand Herald

When the Allis boys wanted to learn to ride unicycles last summer,
frustration at the difficulty in finding one prompted the family to
set up its own unicycle-selling business.

Ten months later, three of the boys, aged between 9 and 14, are
directors and shareholders in the home-based online business 'UNICycle
Shop NZ' (http://www.unicycleshop.co.nz), with parents Margaret and
David Allis.

"We thought the unicycles were great for them over Christmas," David
Allis said.

"They weren't stuck inside in front of computers, and we thought it
would be good to teach them something about business too."

Starting a business was a leap in the dark for Margaret and David, who
live in Devonport on the North Shore.

But they knew they were on to a good idea, and thought learning the
process with their children would be fun.

The original plan to import the bikes was revised to buying them from
a wholesale importer and sticking to the selling side of the business.


The company buys from the importer, stores the unicycles and sells
them via its website.

"Scooters and skateboards have been a craze, so we think unicycles
could be the next big thing," David said.

Most of the Allis family have taken to the single-wheel cycles.

Youngest son Luke, 5, also rides, and mum and dad are learning.
Daughter Amelia, 16, is not involved. The couple have another
daughter, Esther, aged 1.

David said that judging from reactions as the family ride to nearby
Narrowneck Beach, the unicycles were a source of delight to
spectators.

About half the company's 30 sales have come from people seeing them
out on their cycles.

They are also working on getting schools to try unicycling.

Students at schools in Paparoa and Opua, in Northland, have learned
how to ride unicycles and do tricks on them.

"Our goal is to expand the market," David said.

A former mechanical engineer, who used to work for Fisher and Paykel,
he now has a raft of occupations, including being a part-time
minister, director of a bible college and helping run an alternative
education school and working for the family business.

Son Joseph designed and maintains the website, mum Margaret receives
the orders and stock, all the children are involved in unicycle
assembly, and David does the accounts.

The aim is for the business to grow to a point where it will pay the
boys' university fees.

ON THE WEB 'www.unicycleshop.co.nz' (http://www.unicycleshop.co.nz).




--
Rowan - •·.·´¯`·.·•
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JJuggle wrote:
*Anybody know these folks?

"They weren't stuck inside in front of computers, and we thought it
would be good to teach them something about business too."

"Our goal is to expand the market," David said.
*




no, but more power to them!



--
GILD - Waffle-tosser

When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find more
hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have
ever been committed in the name of rebellion.
-- C. P. Snow
'this will only take a minute...(fixed)'
(http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/actions/un.htm)
'and while u're in a good-deed-doing-mood...'
(http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com.)

JUST SAY 'KNOW'!

Namaste!
Dave
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I don't know them, and I don't think they made it to the NZUni weekend
unless they went undercover. JJuggle wrote:
*The aim is for the business to grow to a point where it will pay the
boys' university fees. *
I think they will have to try to eliminate Unicycle.co.nz if they want
to expand their business. How can they compete when their Unicycles are
crap compared to Unicycle.co.nz? Watch out Tony and Peter, the Allis
boys might come and let down all your Unicycle tires or something like
that!


--
Rowan - •·.·´¯`·.·•
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Rowan wrote:
*I don't know them, and I don't think they made it to the NZUni
weekend unless they went undercover. I think they will have to try to
eliminate Unicycle.co.nz if they want to expand their business. How
can they compete when their Unicycles are crap compared to
Unicycle.co.nz? Watch out Tony and Peter, the Allis boys might come
and let down all your Unicycle tires or something like that! *


Maybe they haven't tried drops or jumps yet on their fancy 20" MUni or
the 24" regular unicycle. They look quite a much the same as my
brandless 20". Not a bad uni at all, but definitely not suitable for
drops and jumps. It comes with lasco cranks and plastic pedals. Even the
saddle looks the same. I only use it for freestyle trick practicing. I'm
thinking of replacing the wheel of it with a Qu-Ax next summer if I can
afford it after buying the Qu-Ax for my MUni.


--
joona - )-O --Neat

What, what, what!! Downhill with a unicycle, whoaaa! I'm impressed!
-Niko K.-
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Rowan wrote:
*I think they will have to try to eliminate Unicycle.co.nz if they
want to expand their business. How can they compete when their
Unicycles are crap compared to Unicycle.co.nz? Watch out Tony and
Peter, the Allis boys might come and let down all your Unicycle tires
or something like that! *



i can understand that the market may be too small to support two outlets
of this nature, but if it wasn't for that 'start-up' mentality,
unicycle.com may still only be a good idea

the kids may be in for a rough lesson in the competitiveness of the
marketplace


--
GILD - Waffle-tosser

When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find more
hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have
ever been committed in the name of rebellion.
-- C. P. Snow
'this will only take a minute...(fixed)'
(http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/actions/un.htm)
'and while u're in a good-deed-doing-mood...'
(http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com.)

JUST SAY 'KNOW'!

Namaste!
Dave
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Sorry about that quote thing without a reply, I accidentally hit the
wrong button and was so tired I didn't realise what happened, and I
forgot to delete it in time.
joona wrote:
*Maybe they haven't tried drops or jumps yet on their fancy 20" MUni
or the 24" regular unicycle. *
I did not realise they had new stock. Last night I was too lazy to check
their site, and I was basing my reply on the fact they only had crap
20s, 24s, and giraffes the last time I looked. I think their 20" MUni is
funny. Why would you want suspension on a 20"? I thought 20s were
considered more useful as trials unicycles rather than MUnicycles. At
least they are trying to compete though I guess, they are doing a good
cheap deal on the october special. It's either $140 or $150 for a 24"
which has a nasty weak axle, which is a good price considering they used
to sell them for $180, and most bike shops sell them for more than $180.
I now think Unicycleshop.co.nz is trying to sell as many
weak-axled-unicycles as they can before people realise they can get the
new hardened axle Unicycles relatively cheap from Unicycle.co.nz, with a
wider selection to choose from.


--
Rowan - •·.·´¯`·.·•
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