Port bike shop sees increase in sales during pandemic

ZuZu Pedals owner says bikes are in high demand for locals and visitors in search of outdoor activity

ZUZU PEDALS OWNER Tammy Thompson-Oreskovic stood among a number of bicycles in her downtown Port Washington shop. She said there has been an increase in demand because people want to spend time outside during the coronavirus pandemic. Photo by Sam Arendt
By 
JOE POIRIER
Ozaukee Press Staff

ZuZu Pedals in downtown Port Washington is experiencing an increase in customer traffic due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Everybody has been stuck at home and they are re-evaluating what they are doing with their time and their fitness,” said owner Tammy Thompson-Oreskovic, who noted that people want to get out and  move. 

Thompson-Oreskovic said she was able to keep her store  operable when Gov. Tony Evers’ Safer at Home order was put into place in March because her business qualified as essential. Now that the state has reopened, she has had customers from out of state come to her shop at 211 N. Franklin St., and has also seen an uptick in traffic on her website because many stores outside of Wisconsin are closed.

She also said bicyclists along the Ozaukee Interurban Trail frequent her store, looking to spruce up their wheels. 

“The whole industry has had an uptick. We are experiencing a lot of growth,” she said, noting manufacturers are having trouble keeping up with orders.

“Luckily, we ordered a number of bikes before the pandemic happened. It’s been a trickle-down effect because of the number of customers, and manufacturers don’t have enough employees to keep up,” she said.

Thompson-Oreskovic said her employees are available to show people, who haven’t biked in years, the ropes. She also said electric bikes are a popular trend for people with varying levels of experience and abilities.  

“A lot of folks who haven’t ridden in a long time are a little bit leery about putting their leg over a bike in our shop,” she said. “We need to support them, and we’ve even helped little kids and adults learn how to ride. That’s a really exciting part of what we do, letting people enjoy the experience of cycling.”

For customers who are worried about testing their vehicles in the store due to the coronavirus, Thompson-Oreskovic said she can do curbside pick up or deliver the bikes to homes. 

“We want to do what we can to accommodate our customers and practice social distancing,” she said.

Thompson-Oreskovic said she believes the recent spike in sales will outlast the pandemic because people enjoy being outside.

“I think this has changed people’s mindset and they are understanding the need to move more. People are saying, ‘I have time to ride my bike and be with my family,’” she said. “Aside from the general fitness, riding a bike is a way to spend time with the people you love outside.”

 

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Wisconsin’s largest paid circulation community weekly newspaper. Serving Port Washington, Saukville, Grafton, Fredonia, Belgium, as well as Ozaukee County government. Locally owned and printed in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

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