Sign company shows business by bike is no big deal

Signs by bike - Schonman Signs-4

Ben Schonman, ready for business.
(Photo © J. Maus)

62-year old Southeast Portland resident Benn Schonman has owned Schonman Sign since 1978. A self-described “serious cyclist” for over 20 years, it’s not shocking (especially in Portland) that he eventually started doing some of his service calls by bike.

Schonman is part of a growing legion of local businesses that use bicycles to get the job done. What I think is neat about Schonman is that he doesn’t make a big deal about it. He doesn’t use a custom-made cargo bike. He doesn’t have anything “bike” in his business name. For Schonman, the bike is simply the right tool for some of his jobs.

The Schonman Sign-mobile is just a basic Burley trailer attached to his road bike; the same one he’s used for many long-distance rides and tours over the years. He adds a nice sign and off he goes. Schonman can carry about 50 pounds in tools and sign-making materials.

Sign-making isn’t the most green business out there. The majority of materials used are made from petroleum-based, non-biodegradeable corrugated plastic. For Schonman, using a bike, “Is one thing I can do to offset all that.”

Using a bike is also good for business. “People are very receptive,” Schonman says, when he talks about the bike option. “For some of my downtown customers, I’ll ask first if it’s O.K. that I’m wearing lycra in their building while I do the installation. One of them, a law office, said they’d rather I wore regular clothes; but everyone else says, ‘Of course!’… People don’t see it as strange at all in Portland.”

Another benefit the bicycle has on Schonman’s bottom line is that other bike-related businesses seek him out. He’s done signs for Pedal Bike Tours, Sugar Wheel Works, Sweetpea Bicycles, Metrofiets, and Metropolis Bike Shop.

Schonman is a great example of how easy it is for a small business to incorporate a bicycle into their operations. Way to go Benn! Next time I need a sign, I know who to call.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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The eBike Store
12 years ago

Benn also has the best prices in town. He beat out other bids for the windows at our shop by over 40%!

Tourbiker
12 years ago

Awesome….”the best tool for the job.” well said

Todd
12 years ago

Benn has done all our signage, he’s got the right prices, does great work and he does it all in tights!

Paul Tay
Paul Tay
12 years ago
bArbaroo
bArbaroo
12 years ago

Benn is also one of the behind-the-scenes heros of our bike community. He’s put in hundreds of hours as a volunteer event organizer and I have been the beneficiary of that work many times. I’m glad to see him getting some well-deserved PR for his business, perhaps we can pay him back for all he’s done in the community by supporting his business.

Sugar
12 years ago

Not only did Benn do a great job with our signs, the best part of working with Benn was how much pride he took in a job well done. Can’t sing his praises enough!