Dick Heidt - City Magazine

Young Entrepreneur
Success Story
Award
Tyler Herman
Broken Spoke Bike Shop
306 South 15th Street
Bismarck, North Dakota
(701) 751-2676
“Gearing Up for Success”
Tyler Herman, owner of the Broken Spoke Bike
Shop, doesn’t think age should matter when it
comes to starting a business and, after spending
some time talking with this ambitious young man,
neither do we.
The 16-year-old entrepreneur didn’t like the idea
of making money by working for someone else or
by relying on allowance from his parents. Instead,
when the opportunity arose four years ago to
own his own business and to make money
doing something he loved, repairing and selling
bicycles, he jumped at the chance.
Tell us about yourself.
I’m a junior at Bismarck High School. I’ve been
into bikes since I was little. I especially like
mountain biking and, for fun, I do BMX racing in
Bismarck.
Tell us how you started your company.
I was working part time for a local bike shop.
By City Magazine Staff
Young Entrepreneur Success Story
RECOGNIZING ENTREPRENEURS UNDER 30 WHO ARE CULTIVATING
THE SPIRIT OF INNOVATION IN NORTH DAKOTA
The owners decided to move from Bismarck to
Medora, and they talked me into opening my
own shop. My parents thought it was a good
idea and supported me all the way.
Tell us about what you do.
My busiest season is summer when I put in
around 40 hours a week repairing bikes. I also
sell BMX and mountain bikes and keep a limited
inventory on hand.
Starting a new business is a big challenge.
Did you have any early doubts that might
have stopped you?
I didn’t have too many doubts other than there
were a couple of other bike shops in town that
would be my competition.
What do you think is the key to your
success?
Over the years, I’ve fixed hundreds of bikes, and
it’s not often that I come across a bike I can’t fix.
34 thecitymag.com