A new component of The Pulse celebrating the innovative, entrepreneurial spirit of the American business person.

Featured business: Clean & Green Couriers
Founders: Eric DeTorres, Patrick Lee

Murfreesboro Pulse: Why did you open your business?
Patrick: Both of us were riding bikes around town quite a bit. Eric was riding in Nashville for Green Fleet Messengers. He called me about doing it. I was an entrepreneur major and wanted to do it. It’s an emission-free way to deliver almost anything.
Eric: Anyone who drives in Murfreesboro knows the traffic is bad. Bikes can get through that traffic quicker than cars can.

MP: What businesses/people were an inspiration for you?
E: Green Fleet.They’ve offered a lot of moral support; they were willing to sit down with us from the very beginning and talk with us about how the first few months of their business went.
Around the Way Dog and JoZoara were very supportive.
P: The Chef Place has given us a lot of advice; Smoopy’s has been a huge help.
(The two also credit talking with other cyclists at the North American Handmade Bike Show in Austin, Texas, as being very informative and inspiring.)

MP: What challenges have you overcome in starting and growing your business?
P: Having zero experience.
The cold. Opening day there was 3 inches of snow on the ground and 16 degrees. We looked at each other and said ‘are we really doing this opening day today? Yes we are!’
We had never set up a business. We weren’t sure what hoops we would have to jump through, how to set money aside for taxes.
How to market ourselves.
Most bicycle couriers deal strictly with law firms. Here there’s not that huge of a market, so we have to look elsewhere for a lot of our runs. Also, a lot of the law offices have in-house corriers

MP: What’s your favorite part about your job?
E: Waking up in my office. There are so many reasons I like it. Being in business with (Patrick), riding my bike, doing something good for the community, getting some sun and exercise, making some money on the side, the potential to give my friends work.
P: No. 1 riding my bike. And also just talking to people. Meeting other business owners and employees. I’m always surprised how nice people can be. Having a job that directly impacts your community in a good way.

MP: What’s the most difficult aspect of running the business?
P: Having to deal with managemanet issues. Having to lay down the law and tell each other when we’re not pulling our weight.

MP: What advice do you have for people starting a small business?
E: Have confidence in yourself and confidence in your business . . . confidence in your idea and confidence you’re the one who can pull it off.
P: Don’t doubt your self. Talk to others, and actually listen.

MP: Who are some of your top clients?
P: Our friend Seth calls us all the time to just go pick up trash bags, or a drink or something. He has a car, but sometimes he’d rather pay us a few dollars to go get something for him.
We’ve had tons of fix a flats.
The Pulse, that’s big for us because that’s our first real repeating monthly job
(They go on to add that individuals make up a larger piece of their business plan than any one single law firm or restaurant.)
E: We’re trying not to lock ourselves into one business. It’s a service that any business or person in Murfreesboro can use.

MP: How are you getting the word out about your business?
E: Taking advantage of new media and free ways to promote ourselves.
P: Going out to a business and actually sitting down and talking to the owner. Utilizing a street team. If people like you and what you’re doing they’re going to talk about you. Using The Pulse.

Though many at first question the idea of bikes competing with cars, the Clean & Green founders have found that often within the city limits they can actually make better time on bicycles. They can take detours around traffic, travel off-road at times, park briefly on sidewalks and navigate through some tight spaces.

Clean & Green also offers mobile notary and fix-a-flat services, and one-hour guaranteed delivery fees start at $15. The business has a bicycle trailer that can handle delivery of fairly large and heavy items. The Pulse has entered into an agreement with Clean & Green to take over a delivery route, primarily in the downtown area. If you see the guys delivering the Pulse next edition, say “what’s up” and that you want a copy!

“I hate the dependency people have on cars, and I wish people would realize bikes are just as useful,” Eric says.

However, while they stay emission-free on deliveries within Rutherford County, Clean & Green does have access to a car (a Honda Civic), so they can offer clients a way to get packages to Nashville and other surrounding areas.

For more information, call (615) 624-8185 or visit cleanandgreencouriers.com