MILWAUKEE (BRAIN) — Ben's Cycle has recently made several key hires and promotions.
The store, which dates to 1928, is owned by Vince Hanoski, the grandson of Ben Hanoski, who began the business out of his basement. In addition to the retail store, Ben's has its own brand of bikes, called Milwaukee Bicycle Company.
Hanoski recently hired Paul Warloski as the shop's marketing, social media, and community relations manager, Nicole LaBrie as its merchandising and product development manager, and assigned current sales person Austin Prucha as production manager of the Milwaukee Bicycle Company.
Warloski, who had been a middle school English teacher for 21 years, previously did the social media and marketing for several bike racing teams and the Wisconsin cyclocross association. He will be in charge of the store's website, benscycle.com, the Milwaukee Bicycle Company's social media presence and the shop's branding and marketing as well as community involvement.
"Warloski brings a high-level of energy, commitment, and knowledge of what gets people involved and excited about cycling to the shop," Hanoski said. "We're excited to expand our brand in the Milwaukee community as well as nationally. Warloski has the unique skills as a former teacher, writer, journalist, and bike racer to make that happen."
Hanoski said he hired LaBrie in an effort to streamline the company's ordering and merchandising, particularly for women. LaBrie has a degree in merchandising and has worked as a retail manager and bike messenger, bringing perspective to the demands of women's cycling and the Milwaukee cycling community.
"LaBrie is amazingly talented and creative," Hanoski said. "She's already made some very positive changes in the layout of the shop to market more directly to women, which is our fastest-growing segment."
Hanoski appointed Prucha as production manager of MBC, in charge of managing the frame production process and OEM build for Milwaukee Bicycle Company bikes. She will also manage the store's new ebay and Craigslist resale program.
"The Milwaukee Bicycle Company is growing rapidly, and we needed a single person to supervise the production process," Hanoski said. "We also want to offer a resale program for our customers, and Austin is the perfect person to put in charge of that program."
More information: benscycle.com.
