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Upcoming Speaker: Erik Saltvold, May 14th, 2008
 This
Year is Erik's 30th Year in Business! That's right, he was only
13 when he started ERIK'S BIKE SHOP. His first bike, a
hand-me-down from an older family member, sparked his interest
in bikes. With entrepreneurial spirit, and the money he saved
from his job (the only other job he's ever had) as a paperboy –
Erik began his business. He bought 150 used bikes, fixed them
up, and sold them.
Erik's original workshop was in his parent's backyard, inside
one of the few remaining barns in the urban setting of
Richfield, Minnesota. A homemade sign brought business to his
doorstep. Throughout high school, Erik worked out of the barn, as
part of a school work for credit program. In fact, half of the
grading system was for on-the-job performance. Being a "one-man
operation" Erik had to grade himself... so he
managed to earn a lot of A's! By his senior year (1982), the
business (now stocking NEW bikes and accessories) began to take
over storage space from his parents' basement... to the dining
room... to the family room. So at 18, Erik moved his business
out of his parents' barn and opened a store on 72nd & Chicago
Avenue South in Richfield, Minnesota.
His business philosophy remains... professional, knowledgeable
service in a friendly store environment.
Now in his 40's, Erik employs up to 140 people and has 13 store
locations, 11 in Minnesota and 2 in Madison, Wisconsin. His
selection of products and services focuses on bicycling, snowboards,
skateboards, and all the gear that goes with them.
Erik enjoys working at the shops and helping customers find that
perfect bike or snowboard! In fact, he often meets a "Third
Generation Shopper" of a customer from his original backyard
barn store!
Previous Speakers
Previous luncheon speakers have included Tom Petters of Petters
Group Worldwide; Jill Blashack Strahan, owner of
Tastefully Simple; Dr. Daniel Cohen, co-founder of CNS, Inc.,
maker of Breathe Right nasal strip and FiberChoice chewables;
and Robert Naegele, Jr., best known for establishing Rollerlade,
Inc., and Chairman of the Minnesota Wild. (See detailed bios on
these speakers.)
Target Audience
Central Minnesota Chief Executive Officers, entrepreneurs, and
other senior executives and Anderson Entrepreneurial Center
program alumni
Program Schedule
The Entrepreneurial Luncheon Series will hold three luncheons
annually; in Fall, Winter, and Spring. Our upcoming schedule
includes:
Dates: September 6, 2007; February 13th, 2008; May
14th, 2008
Time: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Venue: Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites
Sponsorship
For corporate sponsorship opportunities and ticket
information, please contact the
Anderson Entrepreneurial Center. Note: All proceeds go towards
the Emerging Companies Forum, a program that supports start-up
and emerging companies in central Minnesota.
< link to Programs page |
