At the age of 17, young entrepreneur Thomas Binggeli had his own bike store. Now the company Thömus Veloshop has won the Swiss Economic Award 2006, making the bike brand Thömus "Young Company of the Year 2006". "The value that this award will have for our company cannot be estimated at the moment. But our employees and I are delighted!" said 32-year-old Managing Director Thomas Binggeli on winning the Swiss Economic Award 2006 and thus the title of "Young Company of the Year". As a 17-year-old apprentice, Binggeli founded his first bike company on his parents' farm and is now one of the largest bike manufacturers in Switzerland: the Oberried-based company sells well over 3,000 bikes from its farm.