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Whatever It Takes
Name: Christopher Zane
Title: Principal
Company: Zane's Cycles Inc.,
105 North Main Street, Branford
No. employees: Approximately 30 full-time; 10 part-time
Web site: www.zanes.com
Age: 35
Education: Attended Quinnipiac College
Best movie seen this year: The Hurricane — “Even though the story was polished and glamorized for the big screen,” Zane says, “the message that perseverance and tenacity can overcome injustice and human shortcomings is very heart-warming for entrepreneurs.”
Outside interests: Auto racing, golf, Tae Kwon Do
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Business New Haven
4/3/2000
By: BNH
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Chris Zane founded Zane's Cycles in 1981. He was 16 years old.
“I started as a bike mechanic and would still rather be turning a wrench than doing payroll or returning phone calls,” Zane says.
“Twenty years ago when I started, I never thought in my wildest dreams that Zane's Cycles would become this successful, fun, interesting, rewarding or respected,” Zane says. “Would I be willing to work this hard again? Certainly!
In Zane's case, the hard work continues to pay off. Last year Zane's earned the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Blue Chip Enterprise Initiative for Connecticut, while North American Bicyclists magazine named Zane's Bicycle Shop of the Year for 1999.
Buzz is good, but it's built on a solid foundation.. Zane says sales have grown at least 35 percent each year. In 1999, revenues were up 50 percent over a year ago. Zane attributes his success to understanding human nature and the development and implementation of programs that benefit his customers first, and his business second. Luckily for him, he says, many of his competitors do just the opposite.
His advice to other entrepreneurs is to be willing “to do whatever it takes” to get the job done.
“Every successful entrepreneur I know has the same attitude,” Zane says. “Whether it's unloading a truck in the rain, jumping up and down in the dumpster to make more room or getting up in front of 1,000 people at a business conference to talk about how your business is unique, you need to do whatever it takes.”
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