Our landlord at Eadeh, Stacey, recently surprised us with a new bench for the front of the bike shop. The old one had done its job for four years, but it was getting a little tired and rusted up - just needed an improvement for folks sitting outside, waiting for their bike to be repaired or for the mom waiting for her student arriving home on the bus.
When Stacey gave it to us, we thanked her and mentioned we’re going to put a sign on bench: “In memory of Mike” along with a QR code with the following story…
Mike was the head of maintenance for Eadeh for more than 20 years. When our landlord first offered us this space six years ago at a very generous rate, it came with something extra: Mike. He was one of those steady, dependable people who simply showed up whenever something needed attention. If there was an issue with the building, Mike was there. If we needed help moving bikes for a donation event, Mike was there with a truck. He even helped unload.
And what stood out just as much—Mike never complained. Instead, he’d offer small, thoughtful suggestions on how we could be better tenants. Nothing heavy-handed, just quiet guidance that made us better. It didn’t take long to realize—we had the best.
He looked out for us in a way that went far beyond the job description. I think part of the reason was that he saw this was more than a bike shop. He saw a handful of dads & moms building something with young people, he cared about what we were trying to do.
Mike was a special guy. Loyal, generous, and always willing to help. We’re grateful for the role he played in helping ZummoBike get established, and it feels right that this new bench will stand in his memory.
Two fifth graders. One from Audubon, New Jersey. One from Berwyn, Pennsylvania. Both have been wrestling since first grade. Both just finished seasons with 16 wins — most by pin. Now they’re in the shop. And here’s what’s interesting…
They’re not just turning wrenches. They’re:
• Looking customers in the eye
• Explaining bikes clearly
• Reading what someone needs
• Closing the loop with confidence
The Insight: Wrestling → Sales (It’s the Same Game) What they’re doing on the sales floor… is exactly what they’ve been training for on the mat.
1. Reading the Opponent → Reading the Customer On the mat, you’re constantly asking: “What’s this person about to do?” In the shop: “What does this customer really need?”
2. Staying Calm Under Pressure → Staying Present in a Sale Wrestling is intense. One mistake, you’re on your back. Sales moment: Customer unsure, parent asking questions, kid bouncing around… You stay calm. You guide.
3. Technique Over Force → Clarity Over Talking Great wrestlers don’t muscle everything. Great Zummo kids don’t oversell. They explain simply. They let the bike do the work.
4. Finishing the Match → Closing the Sale Pins don’t happen by accident. They recognize the moment… and finish. Same in the shop: Customer is ready → they help them say yes.
5. Confidence Earned, Not Given You don’t fake confidence in wrestling. Same here. Customers can feel what’s real. “We’re not teaching sales at Zummo. We’re creating environments where real skills transfer.”
Three 5th Graders helped run parts of the shop during the last weekend in March.
Jireth (“J”) has been with us since second grade— and it shows. On Sunday, she was on fire. Helping customers choose bikes, invoicing sales, and showing a one-month rookie, Morgan, what Zummo is all about.
Ben Bush, six months into the shop, brings something different—swagger. He’s a strong mechanic, shaped in part by time with his dad, Ken. What stands out is how he communicates and carries himself. He shows up with his own tools—ready to work.
Levi, also a fifth grader and already in his second year at Zummo, came to us through his grandfather—a lifelong bike guy and, as it turns out, a kindergarten classmate of our founder. This past Saturday, Levi worked like someone twice his age—jumping in with customers, learning alongside our lead mechanic, and staying engaged through the final stretch of the day. No one told him to step up. He just did.
The shop did over $2,000 in sales and service that weekend. That’s not the story—it’s the result. The real work is building young people who know how to show up, take ownership, and be counted on.
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