Schwinn Sales West
Finally riding a big boys bike
George Garner started in California with Valley Cyclery in the San Fernando Valley. He was a very progressive dealer at the time that most bicycle stores were still grungy, 100 watt light bulb operations. I credit George and Ray Burch with changing the entire Schwinn dealer network. They invented what would later be called a Total Concept Dealership. They connected up with a local cabinet maker in Los Angeles called Bart Ralston. He custom built to fit the store size and installed the Schwinn Total Concept drawers, cabinets, divider wall, carpeted the showroom, everything was done turn key. They used the Schwinn Reporter to give credit and display the dealerships that were completed with hopes to shame other dealers to join the trend. As you know they were very successful in promoting this dealership look all across the nation. The Bike Boom of the 1970's pushed the rest to jump onboard. Eventually all the dealerships looked the same inside. They even built a Total Concept Dealership and completely stocked the store in the basement parking garage of the Hotel Fountain Blue in Miami, FL for the national dealer meeting, in the early 70's.
George, and then wife Shirley separated, and George moved to the Chicago area, Northbrook actually. He opened Valley Cycleries in the Northbrook area. I'm not certain George ever was actually employed by Schwinn; he might have had a Schwinn expense account. He had the title of Schwinn Dealer Consultant, he was definingly tight with Schwinn. Somehow. his annual dealership sales were always counted with both his Illinois and his former wife's California locations. George Garner really liked bicycle racing and was instrumental in the 1960's building of the Encino Velodrome. It was the only velodrome west of the Mississippi river at the time. The Encino Velodrome was built almost entirely by the Schwinn Dealers in the area. The dealers were successful and gave back to the cycling community. George also was active with the Northbrook Velodrome after moving to the Chicago area. George was one of the top five dealers in the country year in and year out.
Keith Kingbay was Al Fritz's sidekick. Al was the father of the Schwinn's Fitness business. In the early days Keith championed the Schwinn Fitness business at these dealer clinics. Later the fitness presentations were taken over by Vonda Carter and (Ignaz Schwinn family member, Stan Dembecki). I covered the Sacramento Valley area at the time and had a huge demand (in my mind, LOL) for industrial Cycle Trucks. Gallo Winery had a large glass bottle factory in Modesto, and they used Schwinn's Cycle Truck in the factory. My local dealer Bob's Cyclery Bob Boranian had their fleet contract. Over an evening dinner, Al Fritz and I had a lengthy conversation about the direction for new products at Schwinn. He asked me what I needed most in my district. My answer was quickly Cycle Trucks. He challenged me if could I sell as many Cycle Trucks as he could sell this new thing called a Schwinn Airdyne. That's why he got paid as a Schwinn V.P., he saved the company once again. Sig Mork the Schwinn Western Regional Manager and Al Fritz were the two guys that sold the Sting Ray concept to Schwinn management in the 60's, they sold Schwinn on the lightweight ten speed (Varsity/Continental/etc), and now Al Fritz pushed hard on the Fitness Business. They brought Kevin Lamar in with the Bowflex Acquistion, and the fitness business carried Schwinn for the final years. I believe Al Fritz came to work at Schwinn as Frank V's secretary. He was a very forward-thinking guy and made a lot of money for Schwinn over the years. He knew how to make things happen.
I have some of the 500/1000 club pins. Mine were earned as a dealer, not bought or traded. The 500 pins had a ruby stone, and the 1000 club pins had a diamond. I was not aware of the four various balloon tire pins. I also have a large Reporter collection in original binders. Some other CABE members have asked me to put together my Reporter inventory with hopes of trading extra copies for missing copies.
It's great to discuss the history of Schwinn and put the pieces together.
Thanks
John
George, and then wife Shirley separated, and George moved to the Chicago area, Northbrook actually. He opened Valley Cycleries in the Northbrook area. I'm not certain George ever was actually employed by Schwinn; he might have had a Schwinn expense account. He had the title of Schwinn Dealer Consultant, he was definingly tight with Schwinn. Somehow. his annual dealership sales were always counted with both his Illinois and his former wife's California locations. George Garner really liked bicycle racing and was instrumental in the 1960's building of the Encino Velodrome. It was the only velodrome west of the Mississippi river at the time. The Encino Velodrome was built almost entirely by the Schwinn Dealers in the area. The dealers were successful and gave back to the cycling community. George also was active with the Northbrook Velodrome after moving to the Chicago area. George was one of the top five dealers in the country year in and year out.
Keith Kingbay was Al Fritz's sidekick. Al was the father of the Schwinn's Fitness business. In the early days Keith championed the Schwinn Fitness business at these dealer clinics. Later the fitness presentations were taken over by Vonda Carter and (Ignaz Schwinn family member, Stan Dembecki). I covered the Sacramento Valley area at the time and had a huge demand (in my mind, LOL) for industrial Cycle Trucks. Gallo Winery had a large glass bottle factory in Modesto, and they used Schwinn's Cycle Truck in the factory. My local dealer Bob's Cyclery Bob Boranian had their fleet contract. Over an evening dinner, Al Fritz and I had a lengthy conversation about the direction for new products at Schwinn. He asked me what I needed most in my district. My answer was quickly Cycle Trucks. He challenged me if could I sell as many Cycle Trucks as he could sell this new thing called a Schwinn Airdyne. That's why he got paid as a Schwinn V.P., he saved the company once again. Sig Mork the Schwinn Western Regional Manager and Al Fritz were the two guys that sold the Sting Ray concept to Schwinn management in the 60's, they sold Schwinn on the lightweight ten speed (Varsity/Continental/etc), and now Al Fritz pushed hard on the Fitness Business. They brought Kevin Lamar in with the Bowflex Acquistion, and the fitness business carried Schwinn for the final years. I believe Al Fritz came to work at Schwinn as Frank V's secretary. He was a very forward-thinking guy and made a lot of money for Schwinn over the years. He knew how to make things happen.
I have some of the 500/1000 club pins. Mine were earned as a dealer, not bought or traded. The 500 pins had a ruby stone, and the 1000 club pins had a diamond. I was not aware of the four various balloon tire pins. I also have a large Reporter collection in original binders. Some other CABE members have asked me to put together my Reporter inventory with hopes of trading extra copies for missing copies.
It's great to discuss the history of Schwinn and put the pieces together.
Thanks
John
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