Happy New Year everyone!

Me in Laguna Beach, California a few days ago.

Hello friends (and everyone else too).

You’ve probably noticed things have been pretty quiet around here. That’s because I just got back from visiting family in California for Christmas, and unlike years past I decided to leave my computer in my bag the entire time.

I know it’s New Year’s Eve and most of you are ready for some pensive and/or party time before the clock strikes midnight… but I just wanted to say Happy New Year and thank you for an amazing 2021. We accomplished a ton this year and BikePortland is poised to get even better in 2022. And we cannot do it without your engagement and support.

Stay tuned next week when we wrap up the top stories of 2021 and share a few thoughts about where we think things are headed in the new year.

And of course, our usual daily offerings of important news and information will start up again on Monday.

Happy New Year!

Job: Mechanic Position, Full or Part-Time – RecumbentPDX

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Job Title

Mechanic Position, Full or Part-Time

Company / Organization

RecumbentPDX

Job Description

RecumbentPDX is looking for a mechanic who loves high-end builds and serving interesting customers. We are a recumbent specialty shop with a mission to get our customers out on the road in laid-back style. Start date Feb 1, 2022.

Experience with 2- or 3-wheel recumbents is a plus, but your excellent mechanical skills are transferable, and training is provided. Enthusiasm is required as well as patience to solve complex fittings and builds.

Competitive wages, weekend hours required.

How to Apply

Please send us an email, info@recumbentpdx.com, and please include work experience, availability and salary expectations. Lastly, please let us know what's the coolest thing you noticed on our website: www.recumbentpdx.com or on our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/recumbentpdx/

Family Biking: Saying ‘no’ to our kids can lead to many other yeses

(Photos: Shannon Johnson/BikePortland)

Tis the season, isn’t it? The season of consumerism, consumption, over-buying, over-spending, and over-doing. Tis also the season of comparisons, between your family and everyone else’s. Family comparisons (is life a competition this time of year?) are even made the old-fashioned way, via holiday cards, in case social media were not judging you enough. Soon even the daily snail-mail makes it abundantly clear that everyone you know had a perfectly rosy year, amazing children, and are always happy. Everyone else’s family seems, from the photos, to “have it all” and “do it all”.

It’s really hard to be a parent in this age of comparison, perfectionism, social media, social judgements, and American expectations. Every parental choice can feel complicated and loaded. I fret over every decision, especially this time of year. I think family biking can help us here, as our heads spin and pocketbooks strain.

Read more

Job: Shipping Specialist – Velotech, Inc.

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Job Title

Shipping Specialist

Company / Organization

Velotech, Inc.

Job Description

Velotech, Inc. is a locally owned business that has operated in Portland since 2002. Velotech is the parent company of BikeTiresDirect, Western Bikeworks, and Trisports.

​​​​​​This position is responsible for picking, packing and shipping customer orders. Qualified Shipping Specialists also execute product put-away, clean their work area, execute physical counts, and available for general physical and/or minor administrative labor.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
Pick incoming web orders and warehouse pick up orders.
Pack and ship orders according to supervisor’s guidelines.
Maintain accurate inventory through regular cycle counting.
Assist receiving department with put away of new items.
Maintain a clean and organized workspace.
Assist with any projects, or assist in other departments as instructed by supervisor.
Perform all duties in a safe manner and report all safety concerns immediately to supervisor.

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS:
Wear closed toe shoes at all times in warehouse.
Be able to lift 25 lbs above your head without assistance.
Stand for long periods of time.
Be able to lift 50 lbs without assistance.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:
Excellent communication and organizational skills.
Solid knowledge of cycling products.
Ability to work in a high volume, fast-paced environment.
Ability to work independently or with others to manage multiple task with minimal supervision.

BENEFITS:
Generous Employee Discounts
Flexible Schedules
Health Insurance
Paid Time Off
Floating Holidays

*Vaccine mandate in place for Covid-19.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch and sit for extended periods of time.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This description is intended to provide only the basic guidelines for meeting job requirements. Responsibilities, knowledge, skills, ability and working conditions may change as needs evolve.

How to Apply

If interested, please click on the link to apply:
https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=4367&clientkey=F102FCECFB43ED66CAD0C8276CB962A9

Job: Category Manager – Velotech, Inc.

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Job Title

Category Manager

Company / Organization

Velotech, Inc.

Job Description

Velotech, Inc. is a locally owned business that has operated in Portland since 2002. Velotech is the parent company of BikeTiresDirect, Western Bikeworks, and Trisports.

JOB OVERVIEW: Ultimately responsible for assigned categories inventory levels and turns, revenue and profitability. Manage product assortment lifecycles from first receipt to closeout status.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
Drive seasonal strategy for categories of responsibility and create best in class channel relevant assortments specific to our consumer and on trend that drive top line sales and profitability to achieve targets. Build assortments that showcase the breadth of the Velotech brand portfolio, ensuring a balance between commercial and brand objectives.
Build and maintain relationships with cross-functional teams (i.e. marketing, web sales/customer service, retail store, operations) to obtain information necessary to create and execute merchandising strategies.
Identify, develop and execute sales, marketing and promotional opportunities at the category, collection and product level to maximize sales for both pre-season and in season for all entities
Analyze seasonal assortment of products, use the data to create strategy for future seasons, and recommend/execute courses of action.
Interface with retail store to optimize on-floor presentations and inventory turn.
React to changing consumer trends via weekly, monthly, quarterly and seasonal product decisions including being first to market, keeping product in stock at optimal levels, temporary and permanent markdown decisions and driving advertising decisions all while keeping within gross margin targets.

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS:
3+ years Purchasing, Procurement, Buying experience.
Proficient in MS Word and data entry.
Advanced Excel skills.
Proficiency in written and spoken English.
BA/BS degree preferred.
Domestic travel for work events.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:
In depth knowledge of the bicycling lifestyle and industry highly preferred.
Proficiency with Inventory Management Software, Digital Photo Editing Software and MS Office.
Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and accuracy of data.
Excellent analytical skills and a thorough understanding of retail math concepts and applications.
Ability to identify, quantify and implement sales opportunities and market trends.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to understand and translate financial data to make recommendations and decisions.
Strong communication, negotiation and presentation skills, written and verbal.
Ability to think strategically, synthesize complex data and develop innovative solutions.
Ability to influence decisions and outcomes cross functionally.
Ability to accept and meet critical deadlines.
Ability to successfully manage multiple distribution channels, each with unique customers and processes.
Experience with, and a thorough understanding of; managing, adhering to, and influencing Open to Buy and KPI’s.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk, and sit for extended periods of time.

The employee will be sitting at a computer for extended periods of time. There will be repetitive motion (filing, typing).

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

How to Apply

If interested, please click on the link to apply:
https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=56274&clientkey=F102FCECFB43ED66CAD0C8276CB962A9