We had the good fortune of connecting with Don DiCostanzo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Don, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
After working in corporate America I decided it was time for me to become an entrepreneur. I only wish I had done it sooner. Although I had the perfect combination of experience and wisdom that I learned from working for another company. I also did not want to work for “the man“ I wanted to be “the man“.

What should our readers know about your business?
The Pedego brand the store business model is unique in that it is not a franchise. We do not charge any fees or ongoing charges for anything related to the products and services we provide. Our only source of revenue is selling products to our dealers that they can resell and make a reasonable margin on. In the beginning we had multiple challenges in trying to find the right distribution model. It was definitely a trial and error model in order to achieve the success that we enjoyed today. This strategy was critical to developing the Pedego brand be known as it is today. In just 12 short years, we have developed the Pedego brand as “the” brand of electric bikes. Virtually every category gets a ubiquitous brand. In the world of coffee houses, it is clearly Starbucks. In the world about electric cars it is without a doubt Tesla. In the world of motorcycles, Harley Davidson is well known around the world. There are countless other examples of ubiquitous brands and it was our goal from the beginning to establish Pedego as the ubiquitous brand for electric bikes. We were very focused and very intentional about it. It was not just a business to sell electric bikes.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The best way to see orange county or in fact any city or metropolitan area, is on a Pedego. There are countless off-road paved bike paths all over the country and all over the world. Taking a guided tour on a Pedego is the best way to see for real and genuine parts of any community. You can enjoy the ride without worry about breaking a sweat. If you want to get some exercise, it is your personal selection on how much energy you choose to put into the bike ride. We have various models free to select from including a tandem if you want to ride along with somebody else on the same bike. It’s also fun!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to recognize and show my appreciation for the 150 Pedego brand stores scattered around the world. It is my personal pleasure to assist them in being successful entrepreneurs.

Website: https://www.pedegoelectricbikes.com/
Instagram: @pedego
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldjdicostanzo/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PedegoElectricBikes/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PedegoElectricBikes

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.