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Expansion creates space for multifaceted business in Powell River

Taws adding new bike garage next to original location
Taws Powell River

Since opening at the heart of Marine Avenue in 1971, Taws has continually adapted and evolved. The multifaceted business now includes a variety of products and services for a wide range of customers, all in one location.

In addition to being a full-on, full-service cycling and hockey shop, on-site amenities include apparel, promotional products and custom embroidery upstairs, and everything from signage, wraps and stickers to full canvas prints at Impact Signs on the lower level.

The latest expansion involves Taws Bike Garage, which will open next door to the original location at 4597 Marine in mid-to-late November. The new entity will have a separate entrance, while being accessible from the original storefront as well.

“It will become a standalone bike shop, with a showroom and repair area,” says general manager Dean English. “All the equipment will be moved over there.”

While continuing to stock a comprehensive supply of traditional bike brands such as Norco, Kona and Santa Cruz, as well as accessories and clothing for every type of rider, Dean says electric bikes have become more of a focus over the past year.

“We are fully certified to do work on all the Bosch and Shimano e-bikes, and sell them, too,” he adds. “We do suspension tuning and servicing, all in-house. We will repair any e-bike.”

Bike shop manager and mechanic Justin Bailey, who moved to Powell River recently from Victoria, brings more than 10 years of experience to the business.

“Once the bike shop is up and running over there we will start doing something on the Taws side; it has been 29 years since we did any type of renovation here,” explains Dean. “We’re going to make a showroom for the apparel and promotional products, shift the hockey area and refresh the entire space.”

Uniquely branded promotional products include any type of logo or slogan added to jerseys, shirts, jackets, hats, magnets, pens or anything a business, sports team or individual wants to create for employees, players or themselves.

“We also do in-house embroidery as well, and can provide silk screening and digital printing services,” explains Dean.

The apparel and embroidery offered upstairs is directly connected to the services offered downstairs at Impact Signs. Any design for promotional products or clothing, including high-visibility work shirts, can also be used on a sign.

In addition to providing signage maintenance and creating new signs for outside or indoor locations, customers’ ideas are developed and brought to life in the form of banners, posters, wraps, business cards and stickers, and vehicle decals.

“It’s a full-service sign shop,” says Dean, “from designing anything advertising related to manufacturing it here on site.”

Businesses of all sizes can benefit from the services available through consultation with promotional division manager Lisanne English upstairs at Taws, or by talking to staff members at Impact Signs, which also has an entry downstairs via Willingdon Avenue.

While brands, products and services have changed since 1971, serving the hockey community has been a constant for Taws. The business will continue stocking a full complement of hockey equipment, sticks and skates for all ages and levels. 

2020 marks the 50th year in business for Taws, which was started by Dean’s father, Read. The opening of Taws Bike Garage is just one of the celebrations being planned to coincide with the milestone.

“We’ll do a soft opening for the bike garage sometime before Christmas and then a grand opening for it in the spring when the season starts up,” says Dean. “We’re also making plans to mark our 50th year in business.”

Taws is open from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday to Saturday. For more information, call 604.485.2555 or go to tawsonline.com or tawsbikegarage.com.