Write Bike, a start-up business based in home, provides correspondent services for cycling related articles. Kraig Guthrie, the founder and sole employee will produce cycling related articles on a freelance basis for a variety of print and online magazines. Write Bike can be made a profitable home-based business by leveraging Kraig’s industry experience.
Write Bike can produce many articles related to cycling. Some articles may include product reviews. Kraig is able to provide objective product testing by conducting extensive testing and using consistent criteria-based measurements. Write Bike also offers interviews, typically with professional racers as well as industry personalities. Kraig has been a racer at the top level, and is available to give interviews to customers. Kraig also will be selling reports on the annual bicycling industry trade shows. These are the top places to see new product launches. Aside from his vast riding experience, Kraig will be able offer training articles and fitness tips. Write Bike will create articles on demand or speculatively.
The Market
It wasn’t that long ago that the only way to find cycling information was through a local bike shop or a printed magazine. There are now many online magazines that specialize in cycling. Write Bike sells articles either to print magazines or online magazines. Many magazines are merging to create larger publishing companies and staff writers are being fired. This is a result of the consolidation phenomenon in the publishing industry. This benefits Write Bike because it creates demand for freelance articles. The two target market customers: print and online magazines, comprise a total of 350 potential customers, 250 and 100 respectively. These two customer segments are growing at 2% and 8% annually.
Management
Kraig Guthrie brings a wealth of experience to Write Bike. Brown University awarded Kraig a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Journalism. Kraig competed in the Brown University cycling team and also wrote for the student newspaper. After graduating, Kraig continued his pursuit of cycling at both a competitive and business level. Kraig was an elite cyclist who participated in the Olympic Training sessions. Kraig also owned a bicycle shop that he ran for several years. Kraig joined Shimano America in the role of a top bicycle component manufacturer. Kraig has been involved in a number of roles and responsibilities for Shimano and gained an intimate knowledge of the industry as well as the people who make it up. Kraig’s expert knowledge of the industry will be invaluable in the production of articles.
1.1 Mission
Write Bike is committed to writing well-written articles on the bicycle industry. Write Bike has the unique ability to provide insight into the industry by leveraging Kraig’s vast network of industry colleagues.
1.2 Keys to Success
- You can create informative, well-written articles for the bike industry.
- Continue to develop a network of contacts, both as a source of information as well as to develop the market’s acceptance of Write Bike’s articles.
- Remember to keep your audience in mind.
1.3 Objectives
- Regular, consistent submissions to multiple publications are encouraged.
- Create a profitable home-based business.
- Continue to develop and maintain a network of contacts within the bicycle industry.
