The early stage of a Surf Shop for under $10,000
First fixtures were a mirror and and open sign. Free from the landlord. Never be afraid to ask your Landlord for this type of thing. Many have it laying around and will be happy for you to have it to get you to sign. Always sign your contract with either a 30 day out if sales don’t hit certain figures within the first six months. Don’t ever sign a three year least until you know what your in for. Ask for a trial period and ask for build out ( this means free rent for awhile to pay for your cost to set up or even cash from the landlord).
Here are a couple of shots prior to inventory. I got two cases, store fixtures and some posters and display items for cases for $250.00 from a skate shop going out of business. There are usually areas of town that sell this stuff also. Ebay has many items cheap. I bought grid new which cost me about another $400. I like grid because it looks space age if done right and can be spaced to take up wall space.
By this time I have ordered product. Skateboards on the wall will go for about $35.00 each. Blanks can be had from majors for about $15.00 China $10.00( but they break easier) I used a longtime clothing manufacture that makes your own label. Each item cost about $8.50 and ordered about $1500.00 worth of my own label ( it’s alot believe me ) The two name brands I used were about another $3000.
I did this project a few years ago. This is about 1/3 full. Notice the T shirts and board shorts and the wall are face out. This covers wall and makes it look more full. Use bars in between grid to put board shorts in small numbers for looks. In the middle of the store use four ways or make your own for about $20.00 out of wood. Used Four ways will go for about $25.00. Use black. Black hangers can be ordered for super cheap by vendors selling used fixtures. You will not need more than 500 hangers in a small 900 square foot shop like this. Again ask the landlord. Many times they have tenants that leave and he ends up with the stuff. Spread out the skateboard trucks in the case carry only a few of about three brands and go fairly deep with the most popular ( destructo in my area ) Go with Spitfire skate wheels in small amounts but order by the case for blanks. Don’t worry about going direct to company at first. Just use a good distributor. Order a bit of each of the top decks ( zero, Zoo York, Black label, element, darkstar etc ) use blanks as your main skate deck. Work a deal with your local shaper for boards. Some of the young ones with talent need showrooms. They can come in and help you with customers. In the begining you will need to take more orders as board inventory can cost way too much.
More later.
