Name of business: SinCity Portage
Address: Downtown Las Vegas; seeking space for headquarters
Phone: 625-3220
Email: [email protected]
Website: sincityportage.com
Hours of operation: 9 a.m to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; will be expanding hours soon
Owned by: Matt Reyes / Poets Bridge Ltd.
In business since: Aug. 26
Describe your business.
SinCity Portage is the first bicycle courier company to operate in downtown Las Vegas. We offer delivery of food and goods by bicycle.
Before the Zappos and Downtown Project era began, there was very little need, if any, for a bike messenger downtown. The law offices were already controlled by couriers and filers who use cars.
But with all of the restaurants, businesses and people moving downtown, the need for goods and services to be delivered is a natural demand. I’ve always said that bike messengers are a symbol that your city is growing up. The revitalization is what is sparking the growth.
Do you plan to expand?
The plan is to expand coverage for neighboring districts within downtown, as well as to cover the Strip and Convention Center area.
We also plan to expand with retail space for urban cycling parts and apparel. And I’m currently playing with the idea of supporting an urban cycling team.
Who are your customers?
Anyone who lives, works or plays in downtown Las Vegas. We also have partnered with Zappos, Lux Delux, Sincerely Soap and some property managers.
Even the people who don’t utilize our service are our customers. The taxi, limo and delivery truck drivers who see us on the streets riding alongside them — with consistency, they become more aware of our presence. That goes for anyone driving. We calm the traffic and make people think about other forms of transportation.
A customer isn’t always defined as someone who pays for something. They can be subscribers or consumers of a movement we are creating.
What makes your business unique?
SinCity Portage is investing in the community by connecting it. Proudly, we are all pedal-powered, all digital and green conscious. We use only bicycles to make our deliveries.
We are focused on providing a stone's throw delivery service, an environmentally friendly option and promoting a bike-friendly city.
Furthermore, the days of the grungy, attitude-stricken bike messenger are long gone. Today’s successful bike courier companies are customer-focused.
What is your business philosophy?
Keep it simple; flexibility is the fountain of youth; and work your way into a position where nobody can tell you no.
My business philosophy adheres to a lot of the successful philosophies practiced by Apple, Zappos and various Internet startups. I come from a tech background. The one thing that made all of these places special, and ultimately led to their success, was the fact that they cared about their people. That is huge for me.
My crew of riders are the company’s biggest asset. They’re the ones grinding it out on the streets, making the deliveries with incredible speed and loving what they do. So I stand behind them and support them in every way. I embrace and respect their individuality and their personal upbringings.
What’s the most important part of your job?
From the user end, to be timely, compassionate and trustworthy. It doesn’t matter whether it’s chips and a soda, a bar of soap, a high-valued package or lunch, every delivery is treated like gold. Our customers appreciate it, because it’s their stuff and they put trust in us to make magic happen when they can’t leave their office or home.
From the technical side, hands down, it has to be communication.
What is the hardest part about doing business in Las Vegas?
Just finding your place and believing that you belong there. Once people see the drive and passion you have, they begin to believe.
Timing and having a niche also help, especially here. It seems like almost anything goes, but in reality, it’s not like that. People think it’s easy to start your own business in Vegas, but unless you have the fortitude to endure loss and heartbreak and the classiness not to respond emotionally to criticism, you will not make it.
What is the best part about doing business in Las Vegas?
The weather. We can ride our bikes year-round.
Also, the wide openness of opportunity that remains to be discovered for new businesses, bicycle-related and otherwise.
What obstacles has your business overcome?
In the beginning, it was really slow, like molasses, desert tortoise slow. I would have friends who live downtown call to have something delivered just so I could dispatch a job to one of my riders. Eventually, my initial crew stopped coming downtown because there was nothing for them to deliver.
It was due in part to a lack of knowledge about our business and a system that was too difficult to understand. I had to re-examine our website. I had to simplify the zone coverage.
When we first started, we partitioned downtown into four zones and priced delivery rates going outwards. Now, it’s just two zones with starting costs of $4 and $5. Rush deliveries are double that.
How can Nevada improve its business climate?
Help and promote organically grown businesses, meaning mom-and-pop businesses. They are the businesses that will make the downtown climate diverse and eclectic. I’ve read blogs about an Ikea popping up somewhere in the city. That is probably the last thing we need.
What have you learned from the recession?
I’ve learned that Top Ramen can play host to a number of assorted ingredients!
It has made me pursue a simpler life and understand needs versus wants. I don’t come from a rich family or old money, so in times where money and resources are scarce, I’ve learned to deeply value even the littlest things. I’ve turned fear into motivation and self-doubt into confidence. I’ve failed before and got right back up.