Since 1974, the team at the Hostel Shoppe has been serving the community of Stevens Point, WI, with its expertise in cycling. While the shop offers a wide range of bikes, its mission is to help individuals of all ages and abilities enjoy cycling through its supply of recumbent bikes.
During the pandemic, bike shops across the country saw a surge in demand. Breanna VanDeHey, owner of Hostel Shoppe, was thankful her service was deemed essential and therefore allowed to re-open after initial shutdown orders. But it was far from business-as-usual. VanDeHey notes that many of the store’s customers and some staff members were considered high-risk for Covid-19 complications. When she re-opened, she kept the sales floor closed and worked to build the business’s online sales capabilities. The store also offered curbside pickup of orders, contactless payment options and delivery.
Throughout the turmoil of the last year, Hostel Shoppe has remained committed to supporting its community. When the shop halted plans for a large, in-person gathering to celebrate cycling, it shifted gears to host a virtual, month-long challenge raising funds for the local Boys & Girls Club. VanDeHey says nearly 300 riders from across the country participated, raising almost $30,000. This push to step up for an organization that was seeing a dip in donations, but still providing essential services to the community, resulted in recognition from Synchrony, a consumer financial services company and partner of Hostel Shoppe. Synchrony’s small business awards program, the Pillars Project, honors innovative small businesses who have supported their communities through times of change.
“It was very gratifying and rewarding to know that the efforts that our team had put in to keep Hostel Shoppe going and to support our community were being recognized,” VanDeHey says. The award money is going toward bikes for a rental program, which will allow riders to try different models of recumbent bikes before purchasing. VanDeHey acknowledges that bikes are expensive, and offerings like the rental program combined with financing options they have through their partnership with Synchrony can give customers peace of mind about making the purchase. “Because we are trying to empower customers to get out and enjoy riding, we want to take as many hurdles and barriers out of the way,” VanDeHey says. “Synchrony allows us to do that.”
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