Tree Fort Bikes isn't just the little dream of a couple of guys who wanted to own a bike shop. The Ypsilanti-based business is growing into a sizable online retailer of bicycles, aggressively adding people and building out the company infrastructure.
"Over the past year there have been a lot of changes," says Dante Tucker, HR & logistics manager for
Tree Fort Bikes. "Our shipping method has changed. We have developed a new training program."
That has allowed
Tree Fort Bikes to almost double in size over the last year. And that's after it doubled in size the year before. Over the last 12 months, the company has hired nine people, expanding its staff to 17.
Driving all of this growth is the online sales of its bicycles. That has pushed not only its web sales numbers but also traffic through its retail store. The company is now looking at a new home to accommodate its expanding customer base while still maintaining its core mission of being a community bike ship.
"We're trying to be the bike shop that people can go to have their needs provided for," Tucker says.
Source: Dante Tucker, HR & logistics manager for Tree Fort Bikes
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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