Today we’d like to introduce you to Fleetwood Hicks.
Fleetwood, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Born and raised in Dallas, I went to Pearce Highschool and the SMU Business School. I did not know what I wanted to do so I started my career in commercial real estate.
Although I did well, I just wasn’t in love with it. I came up withm an idea to make some tee-shirts and literally started by selling them out of the trunk of my car. One thing led to another and I started my own clothing line….it was called Zedhed. That was the beginning of me realizing I was pretty creative and started my design and apparel career.
Bootstrapped it myself and over time grew the business into a cash cow moneymaker.
My background is apparel and apparel design and I flew to Los Angles in late 2008 to pitch my new line to a multi-unit retailer. After my meeting, I had some free time so I rented a beach bike on Venice Beach. What began as a relaxing one hour ride turned into a 6 hour BLAST! I had so much fun on the bike and where it took me that I came back home and opened up the first ever Beach bike store in Dallas, Texas (no beach within 5 hours of here ;)). Unknown to bike shop protocol, soon thereafter, I was pushed into creating my own custom bike brand (Villy Custom) and took the alternative approach to selling bikes direct to the consumer in a new way. We allowed our customers to create their own personalized bike by successfully offering the first ever 3D custom cruiser bike online builder.
Innovating unique color combinations, stunning finishes and custom features never before seen on a cruiser bike, the bikes began flying off the shelves. Soon thereafter, we were selected by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of America’s 100 Most Brilliant Business ideas of 2010.
My big break occurred when Villy Custom was aired on ABC’s Shark Tank TV Show where I had the good fortune to score the largest investment (Half a million dollars) of Season 3 and joined forces with Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran.
Seeing opportunity, my next step was selling large fleets of custom branded bikes B2B to major resorts (From Marriott to Red Lion), organizations and fortune 500 companies.
Over the past few years Villy Custom has worked with Google, Monster Energy, Nike, Puma, Bedhead, Pepsico, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Mary Kay, and Chipotle, to name a few. My passion is not bicycles, it is doing things in a different way that people like and motivating others to do the same.
Over the past few years it has been an amazing ride. We’ve had 2 Shark Tank updates, been on 3 Barbara All-Star Retreats, had our Brand endorsed and showcased on ELLEN, and even been the Showcase Showdown on the historical game show…. PRICE IS RIGHT. We have also made bikes for a handful of famous people including, Ellen, Julianne Hough, Kevin Hart, Kristen Wiig, Jerry Jones Family, Coach Sean Payton and numerous others. I’ve created relationships with some of the largest Fortune 500 companies and so many great people along the way. We also created a family atmosphere at Villy Custom where we can all count on each other at the job, as well as away from work. A true blessing to work with good people.
This experience has taught me so much and the ability to truly THINK BIG in all areas of my life because anything IS possible if you have the passion and are willing to put forth the effort.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Although this has been a very exciting journey, we have certainly had our bumps along the way.
Finding the right team of employees, improving shipping, production, and inventory control have all been items we are still working through today. We have also explored numerous marketing concepts with efforts to improve Brand Awareness on a much bigger scale. Very competitive industry!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Villy Custom – what should we know?
Villy Custom focused on creating the most stunning and comfortable riding cruiser bikes in the world. My dog, Villy, is our Brand Icon. He is a 130 lb. Bullmastiff. Handsome, loyal and hilarious. A “one-of-a-kind” dog for a “one-of-a-kind” Brand. We are best known for the looks and style of our bikes. We continue to regularly introduce unusual color combinations with unique finishes, including numerous tire colors, mirror-finish powder coating, colored chains, and graphic packages so that any company, resort, organization – or individual can ride in style with personalization. Our bikes are a personal rolling billboard for your Brand!
Additionally, we want to expose others to the joy and freedom of riding a bike “just for the fun of it.” Our customers are not typically “cyclists”, they are everyday people that just want to explore, have some fun, and get a bit of exercise while doing so. Our bikes are comfortable and FUN to ride!
What I am most proud of, out of all of our accomplishments at Villy Custom, is the creation of The REMARKABLE RIDE FOUNDATION, where we surprise kid’s battling Cancer with their Dream bike. What it does for the kids and their parents is a true feeling of satisfaction, knowing that you are brightening these kids’ lives with something they won’t ever forget. We have teamed with Children’s Medical (in Dallas) and Comerica Bank in growing the Foundation.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Positivity.
Honesty.
Ability to THINK BIG.
Working well with people and tapping into good people.
Creating a unique product (ability to think outside the box).
Passion and Belief.
Pricing:
- Our predesigned bikes are awesome, and you can buy them for $465.
- More custom bikes run in the $600 to $800 range.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2931 Irving Blvd., #108,
Dallas, TX 75247 - Website: www.villycustoms.com
- Phone: (855) 998-4559
- Email: info@villycustoms.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/villycustom/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VillyCustoms/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/villycustoms?lang=en
Custom bikes gave away two bikes to patient from the Gill Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. Rebecca Brimmage DOB 3/20/99 with the blue scarf on her head and Owen Wilson DOB 1-6-01.
Image Credit:
Villy Custom
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