There can be a great deal of money to be made from selling skateboards and the gear that goes along with the sport. If you're really into skateboarding opening your own skateboard shop can be a fun and rewarding experience in many ways. However, there is a lot to think about when you have decided that you want to go down this road, and open the shop of your dreams.
What do I need to open my own skateboard shop?
Like any other shop anyone chooses to open, a business license is a requirement. You will need to find a skateboard distribution company, these companies can be found in the phone book, or more easily on the Internet. It is likely when you are ordering equipment and gear that you will need a credit card. Find a small building with low rent to start off with, then as the business grows you can expand to a bigger building with more space. The shop should be in a good location, preferable close to a skatepark in order to get as much business as possible.
You will also need various display cases and slatted wooden walls to display the decks. Tools for fixing the skateboard, and a bearing press will also come in handy for quick repairs. The price of stock should be reasonably cheap to appeal to the beginner skateboarders who won't want to spend too much on a first time board. You should stock some more expensive boards too for the more experienced customers. A wide range of stock at various prices will ensure you sell to a wider group of customers. Just remember, whatever the price, quality counts, and you should have durable products in order to keep your customers happy.
How do I advertise my skateboard shop?
There are various ways to advertise your shop, you should have your own website, or at least write a blog on any skateboarding sites you can find. It's a good idea to get stickers made up, and flyer's can be sent around the area to advertise your shop. You can get t-shirts printed up too as a lot of skateboarders will wear them to the skatepark, promoting your shop to other skateboarders. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to get your business known, the more people you tell, the more the word will get around.
Shop opening day is a good day to gain customers, you do this by offering a free prize. Do a draw to win a skateboard, or other skateboarding gear at a certain time on the day you open the shop. You can also make it a big event by having a some free food and soft drinks. You can even think about having some well known skaters at your shop on the first day, they don't have to be known worldwide, but just well known in the local area.
Do I need any training?
It can be important to have a certain amount of training to enable you to sell your products. A business management course would be ideal to get you more informed about running your skateboarding business. Discussing ways of selling and the general running of a shop with an experienced shop owner would also be beneficial to you. Training is not necessary, but it can go a long way to having a successful business and career in the skateboarding industry.
How do I keep my customers coming back?
A good skateboarding shop has regular customers, there are ways you can keep your customers coming back for more. One way is to have scheduled skateboarding events once or twice a year. If your customers are willing to give you their e-mail address you can keep them informed on what new stock comes into your shop, and also about any skateboarding events you are organizing. You can even start up your own skateboarding team where you can all do the sport you love on a regular basis. This doesn't have to cost a fortune if you get some local businesses to sponsor the events.
Keep your shop clean and tidy at all times, with some rest areas, and a t.v to show skateboarding shows. A refreshment machine is a good idea too as skaters will want to talk to each other, and while discussions are going on they will most likely want to eat and drink too.
What else do I need to know about how to open my skateboard shop?
You will also need to hire staff who are knowledgeable about skateboarding. Customers need to be informed, and questions need to be answered by staff who know the sport and can be helpful to the customers. Busiest times are going to be the holidays and Saturdays, so be sure to have extra staff on at these times. Decks change all the time, and are constantly being updated, so don't over buy on these. You will need a large supply of hardware though as you won't want to be caught short on these items.
Customers need to be kept happy at all times, you should have a good attitude, great business sense, and be pleasant at all times in order to keep customers coming back for more. Opening a skateboard shop can be a lot of fun, but it also involves hard work and dedication for the shop to survive. Have fun with your skateboard shop, and continue to enjoy the sport.