Today we’d like to introduce you to Mel France.
Hi Mel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Founded in 2006, we are Austin’s original and only full-service scooter shop, proudly located in the heart of South Austin. We specialize in both new and pre-owned scooter sales, offering one of the largest selections of scooter parts and accessories in the region. Our experienced service department performs more maintenance and repair work than any other scooter dealer in Central Texas.
Over the years, we’ve proudly done our part to “Keep Austin Weird” while consistently ranking among the top ten dealers nationwide for the brands we carry.
In addition to scooters, we have expanded our offerings to include e-bike sales, service, and stand-up electric scooters, providing even more transportation solutions for the Austin community.
We are committed to helping Austinites reduce parking challenges, lower emissions, and minimize fuel costs through practical and efficient transportation alternatives.
Our customers range from teenagers purchasing their first e-bike, to college students navigating campus life, to retirees exploring Texas parks in their RVs.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our journey has not been without challenges, and like many small businesses, we have faced significant obstacles along the way. Rising rent, property taxes, and operating costs have made it increasingly difficult to maintain our central Austin location while continuing to offer affordable pricing for our customers.
During the pandemic, we remained open to serve the community as one of the few local providers offering essential services such as oil changes, tire replacements, and vehicle repairs. Although that period placed tremendous strain on our business, we persevered and continued supporting customers who relied on affordable transportation.
More recently, increased tariffs and supply costs have forced us to adjust pricing, all while working hard to keep our products and services accessible as a practical, low-cost transportation solution for the community.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We consistently rank among the top ten dealers nationwide for the brands we represent. At Urban Motorsports, we take pride in maintaining an exceptionally low employee turnover rate, which has allowed our team to build long-lasting relationships with customers that extend far beyond a typical business interaction. Over the years, our staff has celebrated alongside customers at birthdays, weddings, and other important life events, reflecting the strong sense of community we have cultivated.
As a small, family-owned business, we operate with a personal and customer-focused approach. Our customers regularly leave positive, unsolicited reviews across multiple platforms, frequently highlighting our knowledgeable staff, friendly service, and genuine commitment to helping them find the right solution for their needs rather than simply making a sale.
What does success mean to you?
For us, success means having happy customers, keeping our bills paid, and continuing to operate a stable and sustainable business. One of our highest priorities is being able to provide our employees with a true Austin living wage in recognition of their loyalty, dedication, and long-term commitment to the company.
Our goal is to be free of credit card debt while also creating room in the budget for meaningful marketing efforts that help us continue growing and serving the community.
Achieving those goals would represent real success for our business and the people who have helped build it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.urbanmotorsports.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urbanmotorsports/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UrbanMotorsportsATX
