Ridemakerz
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| Type | Limited liability company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Irvine, California, USA |
| Key people | Larry Andreini, Chip Foose, Maxine Clark |
| Products | Toy Cars |
| Website | http://www.ridemakerz.com |
Ridemakerz (alternatively written "RIDEMAKERZ") is an American retailer of customizable toy cars. The business was started in 2007 by Larry Andreini, Chip Foose (of TLC Overhaulin'), and Maxine Clark (of Build-A-Bear Workshop).
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[edit] History
The first location opened June 1, 2007 in Myrtle Beach, SC at Broadway at the Beach.[1] Since then, twelve locations had opened in ten other states.[2] In late 2009 Ridemakerz began closing most of their stores. By the end of 2009, Ridemakerz will have closed nine of their twelve stores, the five remaining stores will be Myrtle Beach, SC. Glendale,AZ.and Branson, MO. Plus they will be selling their products in the newly repurchased and re-imagined Disney Stores.
The company currently holds licenses to make the Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Ram, Dodge Viper, Ford F-250 Super Chief, Ford Mustang, Mini Cooper,[3] and the Scion xB.[4]
In April 2008, Ridemakerz won "Best Attraction Retailing" for stores under 5,000 square feet (460 m2) in Chain Store Age Magazine's Retail Store of the Year awards[5]
[edit] Company information
Ridemakerz is a limited liability company. It was founded in 2007 in St. Louis, Missouri and moved to Rancho Santa Margarita, California in 2009. The main financier is investor Norman Pozez. Build-A-Bear owns about 25% of the company. In 2010 it is opening a warehouse and distribution center in Valencia, California (it currently uses the system of Build-A-Bear) and moving its headquarters to Irvine, California. There are approximately 250 employees nationwide and 16 employees at its headquarters.[6]
[edit] Process
While in the store, the customers (known as "customizers") come into the store and build "ridez" that can either be a freewheeling car or remote control car. It is estimated that over 649,000,000 different ride combinations are possible.[7]
[edit] Stations
The stores comprise seven stations, each with its own purpose.[8]
| Station | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Chooze | Customizer picks out body |
| Sonicize | Customizer picks out a sound chip for the "ride" to play |
| Mobilize[nb 1] | Customizer picks "wheelz" and "treadz" for the ride |
| Motorize[nb 1] | Customizer puts the "chassiz" in the ride and puts it all together |
| Customize/Accessorize | Customizer picks out and puts on things such as decals, side pipes, lights, etc... |
| Personalize | Customizer creates license tag and title for the ride |
| Cruize | Customizer pays for the ride |
[edit] The 5 "C'z"
The company believes in what they call the 5 "C'z of Ridemakerz".
| C | Description |
|---|---|
| Choice | The experience gives a chance for optimism and possibility. |
| Creativity | Encourage natural creativity. |
| Confidence | Customizers are given guidance and freedom to assure success. |
| Collaboration | The crew members work side-by-side with the customizer to build their ride. |
| Community | Ridemakerz is a company that works with the surround community and charities |
[edit] Stores
There are (at present) five locations. Each store's number is prefixed with "15" and the order of opening denotes the individual store number. The number 1513 was skipped.[9]
[edit] Current Locations
| Store Number | City | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1501 | Myrtle Beach, SC | Broadway at the Beach | First location, 6/1/07 |
| 1510 | Branson, MO | Branson Landing | |
| 1515 | Anaheim, CA | Downtown Disney | Westernmost store Opened 10/6/09. Relocated/Reopened June 16, 2010[10] |
| 1516 | Lake Buena Vista, FL | Downtown Disney | Opened March 25, 2010 Relocated August 31, 2011 |
[edit] Former Locations
| Store Number | City | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1502 | Bloomington, MN | Mall of America | Northernmost Store Closed 9/1/08[11] |
| 1503 | Indianapolis, IN | Castleton Square | Closed January 23, 2010 First store to close in 2010 |
| 1504 | Fredericksburg, VA | Spotsylvania Towne Centre | Closed September 25, 2010 |
| 1505 | White Marsh, MD | THE AVENUE at White Marsh | First location of 2008 First location where mobilize came before motorize Easternmost Store Closed September 12, 2009 |
| 1506 | Hagerstown, MD | The Shoppes at Hagerstown | Closed August 31, 2009 |
| 1507 | Schaumburg, IL | Woodfield Mall | Closed September 11, 2009 |
| 1508 | Auburn Hills, MI | Great Lakes Crossing | Opened the same day as 1509 Closed September 19, 2009, same day as 1509 |
| 1509 | Novi, MI | Twelve Oaks Mall | Opened the same day as 1508 Closed September 19, 2009, same day as 1508 |
| 1511 | Appleton, WI | Fox River | Closed August 31, 2009 |
| 1512 | Friendswood, TX | Baybrook Mall | Southernmost store Closed October 24, 2009 |
| 1514 | Glendale, AZ | Westgate City Center | Closed January, 23, 2012 |
| 1590 | Groveport, OH | RIDEMAKERZ Garage | Warehouse location Closed August 12, 2009 Replaced with a location in Garden Grove, California |
[edit] RZ Virtual World
December 2008- Ridemakerz launched their Ridemakerz Virtual World, which is similar to Build a Bear Workshops Build-A-Bearville, for closed beta testing.
March 2009- RZ Virtual World opened from its closed beta test.
September 2009- Ridemakerz stopped tech support for their virtual world.
[edit] Footnotes
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.ridemakerz.com/rz/Pages/RiderzEd/HistoryOfCars.aspx
- ^ http://www.ridemakerz.com/rz/Pages/AboutRz/ContactUs/findashop/default.aspx
- ^ http://www.motortrend.com/features/newswire/32961/index.html
- ^ http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=123294
- ^ "RIDEMAKERZ Wins "Retail Store of the Year"". Business Wire. April 24, 2008. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2008_April_24/ai_n25356006.
- ^ Cruz, Sherri (July 5, 2010). "Custom Toy Car Store Pulls in Big Backers". Orange County Business Journal 33 (37): 1, 8. http://www.ocbj.com/news/2010/jul/04/custom-toy-car-store-pulls-big-backers/.
- ^ http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070529005445&newsLang=en
- ^ http://www.ridemakerz.com/rz/pages/shop/LinearProcess/BuildRide.aspx?category=body&ProductSku=zone
- ^ http://www.ridemakerz.com/rz/pages/AboutRz/ContactUs/findashop/default.aspx
- ^ Ridemakerz Reopens at Downtown Disney in New-Expanded Location
- ^ http://www.ridemakerz.com/rz/pages/aboutrz/contactus/findashop/storedetail.aspx?WorkShopID=1502
