My role is to turn great ideas into reality, developing practical and innovative solutions while ensuring they can be produced at a price that makes them affordable and accessible. It’s a challenging role, but that’s what makes it exciting.
What inspired you to start the business?
I’ve been in the e-bike business for over eight years. The idea behind our brand was to solve a problem many of our riders over the age of 55 faced.
Many riders had been looking for lighter e-bikes, but nobody in the market was producing them for that demographic. So, we designed a carbon-fibre e-bike that was lighter than most other e-bikes on the market.
But after solving that problem, one question kept coming up again and again: “Frank, you can design carbon-fibre e-bikes – so why can’t you design an e-bike rack for us where we don’t need to lift anything any more?”
Seven years later, I finally got on to the task of delivering something special.
Frank Witowski is an avid e-biker and understood the pain that came with lifting and transporting them, especially for older age groups.
How did you design the product?
We looked closely at all the options on the market and analysed what we needed to do differently. Over the past three decades, little has fundamentally changed in the way e-bikes are transported on vehicles.
Most developments have focused on securing the e-bike more effectively, improving straps, or changing how the bike is positioned on the rack. While these improvements are important, they don’t solve one of the biggest problems: the lifting.
Riders still have to lift their heavy e-bikes on to the rack or push it up a ramp, and afterwards they often have to lift the bike rack itself off the vehicle and carry it back into the garage.
Unlike traditional racks that require lifting bikes, our solution lets you load bikes at ground level, roll them to your vehicle and securely attach the rack to your towball – no lifting needed. It’s all about convenience and safety.
What has been the reaction to the product since its launch?
As a designer, you don’t always spot every detail that your customers will, so gathering as much real-world feedback as possible was important to us. We spoke with everyone who saw the rack, encouraged them to test it themselves, and asked for completely honest feedback.
We were encouraged by the response. People openly shared their opinions, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
Goover is a portable, accessible bike rack designed to load bikes at ground level, taking the strain of lifting away.
What plans do you have for the business?
Since the start of Goover, we have been in discussions with potential distribution partners in Germany, Australia and the United States.
Another major advantage for Goover is that we already have bases in Germany and the United States, giving us the infrastructure to supply our e-bike racks quickly and efficiently as we expand.
Our global promotional tour begins in Australia this October, where we will hold our first major meetings with potential distribution partners, followed by further meetings and promotional activities in key markets around the world.
Our ambitions are big, and we are ready to take Goover to the world.
What would be your advice to a budding entrepreneur wanting to start a business?
Find something you are truly passionate about, because building a successful business takes time, often years. Do your market research, make sure there is a genuine need for your idea, develop a clear plan, and stay focused on following it.
It is also important to have a supportive family behind you – people who stand beside you through the highs and lows, the wins and the losses. As an entrepreneur, you will experience plenty of both before you become successful.
Tom Raynel is a multimedia business journalist for the Herald, covering small business, retail and tourism.
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