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Welcome to Velo Vision magazine, covering specialised bikes, cycling as transport and human power. It's a quarterly dose of cycle inspiration.The current issue is Issue 12. The next issue is out early March 2004.
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KMX in the running for business awardThe kids' recumbent trike makers beat off nearly 600 competing enterprises to reach the semi-finals of the HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards.... We've covered the KMX Kart child's recumbent trike several times before - in fact we pretty much kicked off their publicity - and we'll have a review of the trike in issue 11. Press release follows: congratulations to them. **** Barry and Alan Smith, owners of the Company (and not related to each other, incidentally), are hoping the business will be selected as a finalist and go on to win the title and the top prize of £20,000. From humble beginnings of developing trikes from second hand parts in a garage, KMX Karts now has their sights set on becoming the largest supplier of recumbent trikes in the world. When Barry designed and produced his first recumbent trike for his children last year, it caused a huge stir wherever it went - bike fanatic Alan, who he worked with in the Aircraft Industry, was convinced it could be a huge commercial success. In June 2002, Alan and Barry took two prototypes to the Gunswharf in Portsmouth during cycle week. The fantastic response reinforced Alan's belief of the huge commercial potential of the KMX - he and Barry became business partners and KMX Karts was launched in July 2002. The business has since grown beyond their wildest dreams - and not just in the UK. An article in trade magazine BikeBiz prompted a call from a Taiwanese manufacturing company, asking if they had considered developing and producing KMX Karts abroad. Ironically, their biggest challenge was to convince established UK companies to provide components. However, following two trips to Taiwan and endless hours in the workshop, Barry and Alan have developed a quality product at an affordable price and saw their first order of over 300 Karts shipped from Taiwan this May. A third of their order has already been sold before arriving in the UK - and with growing interest from countries around the world, KMX Karts' future is looking very bright! John Rendall, head of business banking at HSBC Bank, said: "To start a business takes courage. To turn it into a successful enterprise takes determination and to reach the final 20 against such high calibre entries is an exceptional achievement. "Entrepreneurs of the future are inspired by the success stories of today and some truly inspirational new businesses have entered the Start-Up Stars competition. At HSBC we aim to help more companies like KMX Karts get off to a flying start." The ten finalists, to be announced in September, will share prizes worth over £65,000, including a £20,000 first prize and £5,000 for the runner-up. Each finalist will win consultancy services and software worth £4,000 from Croner Consulting and Intuit. The HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards, now in its third year, is Britain's biggest awards for businesses under two years old. The winner will be announced at a gala dinner at London's Savoy Hotel on Thursday, 2 October, before an audience of more than 250 business leaders. **** Posted on 06 August 2003 Your comments ...
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