Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Ochoa.
Hi Jennifer, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I went from being COO of a multimillion-dollar company to owning a bike shop on Tybee Island… and it’s the best decision I could have made for the life I wish to lead. I moved to Savannah 16 years ago to do fundraising for the Savannah Music Festival and completely fell in love with the city and its people.
From the music festival, my journey took me to run various business operations for Savannah-based companies such as Gaslight Group Restaurants, and then most recently the Savannah Bee Company –which grew its national presence into 15 retail stores across the U.S. during the seven years I was there. I’ve always been a bit of a workaholic for better or for worse and will forever be grateful for the skills I learned and the people I met along the way. But in the back of my mind, I always wanted to own my own business… I just had no idea what that would be.
After living in various parts of Savannah, my husband (whom many Savannahians know as violinist Ricardo Ochoa) and I ultimately ended up on Tybee Island with all of its quirkiness, and now we cannot imagine living anywhere else. I was still running operations, including their bottling line & fulfillment warehouse, for Savannah Bee Company (an absolutely wonderful company) at their headquarters on Wilmington Island.
A random evening dart game between Ricardo and our friend Tim brought to light that Tim was ready to retire from his business to spend time with family. A few evenings later (with several glasses of wine & a few deep breathes), we decided this was the right opportunity for our own family. So I went after my dream of being a business owner and thus now own TIMS Bikes, Beach & Disc Golf on Tybee Island.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was honestly a scary decision to (1) step away from a stable, high-end position at a very successful company, and (2) step into a business that is very seasonal in nature on a small 3-mile-wide island. But I’ve always trusted my gut when it comes to making these larger decisions, and I knew this was the right decision for me at this time in my life.
Being a workaholic, my biggest personal challenge has always been work-life balance. In all of my jobs, I would work long hours and not give myself the physical or mental time & space I needed on a personal level. So instead of being nervous about having a business that does slow down some after peak season, I’m teaching myself to embrace the opportunities. Now in slower months, I can not only focus on strengthening the business but also read books again, take morning walks, spend time during the day with my family, learn a new artistic hobby. And just maybe look at adding on a second business at some point 🙂
Purchasing an existing business (TIMS Bikes & Beach Gear was established nearly 15 years ago) definitely helped take some of the stress out of the initial business setup, as I had a customer & employee base from day one. So while there was a price tag upfront, I was able to jump in with all wheels turning from the very start. In fact, the purchase went through the week of spring break 2020, so definitely hit the ground running while learning the business at the same time. The transition has gone incredibly smoothly, and we had a very strong first year. (On a side note, I cannot say enough wonderful things about the Small Business Association (SBA) as well as local Queensborough Bank, whose wonderful staff at both helped make the process a lot less daunting for a first-time business owner.)
I’m also a believer that all paths are taken to have a purpose in bringing you to where you are at this moment. My previous paths (a music festival, restaurant group, & artisanal honey bottling company) may be seemingly pretty different, but while there were both successes & challenges at all of them – as every job will have – they were all integral to providing me with my unique skill set that lets me say, “I got this,” to start this new adventure.
My next step is to really embrace the fact that I don’t need to pass every decision through teams of 20 people… as a small business, if I want to try something, don’t need to be afraid to just go for it. Not every decision will be the right one, but at least I will have tried for it.
As you know, we’re big fans of TIMS Bikes, Beach & Disc Golf. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
TIMS Bikes, Beach & Disc Golf is unique for Tybee Island, as it is the only business here that rents not only bicycles but also beach chairs & umbrellas, as well as baby gear such as cribs, strollers & high chairs. Basically, we offer all of the larger items you don’t have room to pack for your getaway. We like to say that we’re delivering memories one beach bike at a time, as our ultimate goal is to take the stress out of the logistics for your vacation so you can focus on what really matters.
We cater not only to those traveling from out of town to stay overnight on Tybee, but we also have quite a few visitors and residents alike from Savannah come out to Tybee to rent a bike or some beach gear to spend the day. We have two shop locations– one at the North End when first come onto Tybee (1101 Hwy 80), and a second shop at the farther South End of the island, next to the large public pier (1510 Butler Ave.).
The previous owner Tim had done a great job in building a loyal customer base, as we routinely get orders from individuals telling us they have been renting for years. I get asked pretty regularly whether plan to change the business name now that I’ve purchased, but with its steady reputation and loyal following, honestly do not see the need for it. What we ARE doing is enhancing & cultivating – taking what works and making it grow even further. At the beginning of this coming year, we’ll be revamping the website, adding an inventory system, logo rebranding, and adding on digital marketing.
We already added disc golf to our offerings, with discs, bags & apparel for sale. Tybee added a disc golf course to Jaycee Park around the beginning of Covid, and it is quickly picking up as a favorite sport for many in the area. In just 6 months, we’ve already grown a following of disc golf customers and are on the way to becoming the leading source for discs in this general area. My husband Ricardo has really taken on & grown this project and has just added a Tybee league tag group for 2022, as well as a putting tournament for the winter months (can check out our Facebook page for details).
We’ve also added and are still refining & growing a retail shop at our North End location. This offers customers little add-ons for their trip, and we try to carry items that are unique from the general beach souvenir stores on the island. For our bike rentals, we offer cruiser bikes that can be ridden on the beach, as well as tandem bikes for two, adult trikes, and multiple kids’ sizes & pull-along.
So really have something for everyone in the family. (Bikes really are the BEST way to get around the island!) And for those that just want to relax and dig their toes in the sand, we have beach chairs, umbrellas, carts, and games.
Free delivery & pick-ups are available for those staying overnight on Tybee. Discounted rates are offered the more days you rent.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
People who know me well know that my favorite saying is, “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.”
Be open-minded, as you never know which opportunities will open doors for you. And honestly, there is no one right path, so do what is right for you. What has worked for me is good old-fashioned hard work and to take things as they come. Instead of being hyper-focused on staying within one field, I kept an open mind for what came my way and have always been pretty fluid about fields to work in.
As a result, I believe I have now found a path that lets me still be a (just partial) workaholic, but in something that lets me align my ambition & goals with family life & personal balance. Believe me, even a year and a half ago I would have been very surprised if you told me I’d be purchasing a bike rental company.
And networking doesn’t have to occur in an office setting or a conference room. One of the most valuable things I have learned from my husband Ricardo is to simply start opening up & talking with people around you, as you never know what sparks could fly and paths could change from one simple conversation… even during a dart game.
Pricing:
- Bikes – range from $15 to $25 per day
- Beach Gear – Chairs, umbrellas & range from $10 to $30 per day
- Baby Gear – Ranges from $10 to $25 per day
- Disc Golf Sales – New & used discs range from $7 to $22
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: timsbeachgear.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timsbeachgear/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timsbikeandbeachgear/
Image Credits
Wen McNally
Ron Scalf
January 27, 2022 at 8:20 pm
I would invite you to become a member of the Tourism Leadership Council (TLC). Your friends at Savannah Bee Company are members and can tell you all about us. Please send me an email if you would like additional information. On most weekends, I can be found on Tybee. I moved from Tennessee 5 years ago and the only regret is a didn’t move to Savannah sooner!