For the love of bicycles

Crafts are a pillar of the economy. In this series, the German Crafts Journal introduces people who have founded a craft business. Like Potsdam-based bicycle mechanic Christoph Nordwig.

This article is part of the special feature GründerNavi – for founders and young companies

"Thursday is tinkering day," says Christoph Nordwig . Once a week, the Potsdam-based bicycle mechanic opens " Torque ," as he has named his bike shop in the Waldstadt-Center , a shopping center in southern Potsdam. Then it's time to tinker, assemble, and repair.

Exactly one year after opening his bicycle repair shop, Christoph Nordwig already has one employee, but he still doesn't want to give up his true calling: working on bicycles. Even if that increasingly means spending time at the computer these days. "Just recently, a customer came in whose e-bike's software had crashed ," Nordwig explains. In such cases, the modern bicycle mechanic uses a laptop instead of a wrench.

How Christoph Nordwig found his calling

Even as a child, the 34-year-old spent entire days in his grandfather's bicycle workshop in Zeuthen. "It was actually a shelter where travelers from the nearby train station could safely park their bikes," Nordwig recalls. But if the bicycles were already there for an extended period, his grandfather would carry out any necessary repairs. "Perhaps those early experiences in my grandpa's shop helped to alleviate some of my fear of self-employment ," the entrepreneur believes in retrospect.

Christoph Nordwig turned his youthful fascination with bicycles into his profession : School internships and holiday jobs in bicycle shops were followed at the age of 16 by an apprenticeship as a bicycle mechanic , and afterwards by positions in various specialist shops as a mechanic , trainer , workshop or branch manager . "There were positive and negative experiences, but always the thought that I could do some things better."

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Christoph Nordwig's path to self-employment

And because Christoph Nordwig always wants to develop himself further, the decision to become self-employed matured : "I had already built up a wealth of experience. All I really lacked for starting my own business was the master craftsman's certificate as a bicycle mechanic ." The Potsdam native invested a lot of time in this: "I completed part of the master craftsman's training in Frankfurt am Main because the training for bicycle mechanics there enjoys a particularly good reputation."

Nordwig approached the steps towards self-employment with the same meticulousness: "I entered the approximately 27 bicycle dealers and specialist workshops in Potsdam onto a map and looked at where there was still a need, then compared the possible locations with the population figures." In Waldstadt district he found the suitable shop premises and a catchment area with sufficient customers.

From amateur athlete to sought-after bicycle expert

A good choice, he knows now: "I've actually been busy from the very first minute ." His clientele ranges from bikes from the hardware store to expensive high-tech models, and e-bike riders in particular appreciate Nordwig's expertise. The master craftsman now also sells bicycles . "Some customers prefer to trust the know-how of a mechanic," he observes.

Because the bicycle industry is constantly introducing new technologies, Nordwig also regularly attends training courses . And in his private life, he is a passionate cyclist – from BMX racing in his youth to a touring bike trip to the North Cape, and now regular excursions with his e-mountain bike.

Successful start-up thanks to funding and advisory support

Nordwig financed his self-employment, among other things, with the Brandenburg Master Craftsman Start-Up Bonus and a start-up grant from the employment agency . "The Master Craftsman Start-Up Bonus was incredibly important," emphasizes Nordwig, who therefore doesn't want to complain about the bureaucratic effort involved in applying.

"What matters is the end result. I'm happy to put in the effort for that." Whenever there were problems during the start-up phase, the young entrepreneur turned to his advisor at the Potsdam Chamber of Skilled Crafts . "I still do that today, by the way. The Chamber of Skilled Crafts was a great help to me when I was starting out."

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