We need some solidarity here people! Get out there and support your local shop.
OK, this is really starting to piss me off. Large retail companies are carrying skateboards, wheels, shoes and other stuff that they have no business carrying. Places like DICKS and Pac*Sun are stealing the food off of your local skateshop's table. Footlocker has bought CCS mailorder outright and plans to carry skate shoes. Their goal is to become the largest "Action Sports" retailer in the world. This will SHUT DOWN your local skateshop(you know, that place where you like to hang, that place that will order you that set of Spitfires you wanted when they were out of stock, that place that let you slide a little bit when you really needed that new deck, yeah that place.)
That dude sweeping floors at DICKS has no idea what kind of board you need. All they know is that you have money and they want it. You wouldn't get sushi at McDonald's, Why buy a board from DICKS?
With the US economy like it is, your skateshop is having a tough time already. Now with big box retailers muscling in they face real trouble. Large retail companies carry so much stuff and do such a huge volume of sales that they can sell boards under cost and still make money in other areas. Wal*Mart does the same thing. They will offer a new release DVD below cost because they know it will get people into the store and while they are there they will likely buy some other stuff to cover the loss on the movie. This is the same thing DICKS, Pac*Sun, or Footlocker is banking on. Just like cheese in a rat trap. If they keep making money off us then pretty soon skateboarding will be reduced to one giant Mountain Dew commercial. It will be like little league. Do you really want to see Playschool's "My First Skateboard and Flatbar Set"tm. ?
We can help out the core shops. Only buy your skate gear from your local core shop. When the accountants at Footlocker see that their "action sports" brands aren't selling, they'll drop them and stop competing with your local skateshop. We have a voice in this. We can let them know we don't need big time retail in skateboarding.
Don't let these big box retailers take over our passion. This is our art, our love, our life. I'm not gonna let the corporate fat-cats in their fancy suits come in and take our skateboarding industry away from us. I like my local shop. The scene here wouldn't exist if it weren't for them. I'm gonna do everything I can to insure that future rippers can know the close knit core scene too.
So let's hear it for your local shop. Give them a shout out here and help us spread the word.
Me: My local shop is Cheapskates in Memphis. Alive and kicking since 1985. Keeping it strong and always helping out. Big props also go out to Cordova Board Shop and Desoto Sk8. If you're ever in the Memphis area, drop in and check them out.
That dude sweeping floors at DICKS has no idea what kind of board you need. All they know is that you have money and they want it. You wouldn't get sushi at McDonald's, Why buy a board from DICKS?
With the US economy like it is, your skateshop is having a tough time already. Now with big box retailers muscling in they face real trouble. Large retail companies carry so much stuff and do such a huge volume of sales that they can sell boards under cost and still make money in other areas. Wal*Mart does the same thing. They will offer a new release DVD below cost because they know it will get people into the store and while they are there they will likely buy some other stuff to cover the loss on the movie. This is the same thing DICKS, Pac*Sun, or Footlocker is banking on. Just like cheese in a rat trap. If they keep making money off us then pretty soon skateboarding will be reduced to one giant Mountain Dew commercial. It will be like little league. Do you really want to see Playschool's "My First Skateboard and Flatbar Set"tm. ?
We can help out the core shops. Only buy your skate gear from your local core shop. When the accountants at Footlocker see that their "action sports" brands aren't selling, they'll drop them and stop competing with your local skateshop. We have a voice in this. We can let them know we don't need big time retail in skateboarding.
Don't let these big box retailers take over our passion. This is our art, our love, our life. I'm not gonna let the corporate fat-cats in their fancy suits come in and take our skateboarding industry away from us. I like my local shop. The scene here wouldn't exist if it weren't for them. I'm gonna do everything I can to insure that future rippers can know the close knit core scene too.
So let's hear it for your local shop. Give them a shout out here and help us spread the word.
Me: My local shop is Cheapskates in Memphis. Alive and kicking since 1985. Keeping it strong and always helping out. Big props also go out to Cordova Board Shop and Desoto Sk8. If you're ever in the Memphis area, drop in and check them out.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rajeev Williams on -
Gotta rep for the home team www.skateparkoftampa.com
But Out here in Dallas, Index Skate Supply definitely holds me down
www.indexskateboarding.com
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Permalink Reply by Gurley on -
posted elsewhere but this thing needs a bump.
Lifted from a myspace bulletin:
"ON NOVEMBER 15TH FROM 2-5PM IN FRONT OF CBS (Cordova Board Shop) ON 8130 MACON STATION THERE WILL SIT A HALFPIPE. FROM 2-5 WE WILL BE PUTTING ON THE BIGGEST SESSION IN HISTORY. THERE WILL ALSO BE A TON OF FREE FOOD AND DRINKS FROM "FRESH SLICES" AND IF YOUR OLDER YOU CAN BRING BEER OR LIQUOR. THERE WILL BE A STAGE WITH LIVE MUSIC AND A DJ.
I'LL POST A FLYER LATER
SPREAD THE WORD
REPOST OFTEN"
I swung by after work and saw the ramp. It's a sweet little 6' mini that looks like it'll be a blast to sesh. I hope to see all those who can to be there.
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Permalink Reply by Southside Skatepark on -
http://southsideskatepark.com/
no blank product what so ever, constantly passing on what it does to skateboarding to the kids I see riding it. in an effective, non-soapbox kind of way because you know that shit doesn't work with the kids. we even have a local shop slinging seasons decks for $19.99 with free grip, pretty sick huh? unfortunately all the soft goods brands still keep them open...regardless becuase all the brands are really whoring out pretty hard. you don't find a lot of brands still keeping it limited via distribution and only in small select shops, everything gets blown out or has another distribution tear that allows for similar product offerings that DO compete with the real thing down at the core shop. All a core shop can do is support the scene and let kids know that the money they speand in the shop comes back to them through events for the local scene, if you don't give back CONSTANTLY, you will not survive the change in the marketplace, look at how many doors have closed in the last 12 months. Hit those discounts if you can swing it, hard goods companies are stuggling and offering deals that almost get you to keystone markups, without ripping off the kids...just depends on how much hardgoods you burn through...motivate you staff to sell by recognizing them and making it quite literally a CRUSADE, to keep the doors open in a fight against the big box bullshit.
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Permalink Reply by Old Skull Skateboards on -
All I have to say to that is...amen...you speak the truth ! Support Your Local Skateshop !!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Ekonomix Clothing on -
What's up Old Skull. Jake Kyler told me we should check you guys out.
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Permalink Reply by Ekonomix Clothing on
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Amen. the core shops will always be where it is at. unfortunately it is all about the dollar, but we as the consumers truly do have the power. and it would also be nice to see companies getting involved and keeping it true, at least designating certain products to only the core shops.
If you are in Rochester, NY be sure to hit up Krudco. They hold it down. www.krudco.com
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Permalink Reply by Southside Skatepark on
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Yeah, Aaron from Krudco is a super good guy...
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Permalink Reply by Gurley on
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I just want to thank everyone who made it out to the CBS ramp jam yesterday. A huge group of skaters showed up despite the cold and damp conditions. Because so many tuned out, there's now a chance that the ramp can stay up at CBS for awhile.
Thanks again to everyone who showed up.
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