Well now since our last blog posting a lot has transpired within skateboarding in general, from market shifts to actual full team mass exits! from a shop owners prespective that makes us rather unsettled on the Economy of NJ. Since our last poisting a huge amount of email has hit me from sales to just plain comments on the NJ skate scene. This morning the report or “big story” for Nj was that the state legislature plans to enact a law that all taxpayers must have health Insurance and report this annually? Now I trully understand children being covered 100% but adults being mandated to carry insurance? So if we are already not making rent, car payments, etc where will that cash come from? I’m sure no styate help will coming to us for it. Can you imagine the hookers in AC having to get healthcare insurance? Yeah right, oh but I’m sure they can afford it though. Recently skateboarding has seen its share of changes and even some mass exits. For instance:

*Kris Markovich and his entire team of skaters has left Crimson Skateboards in mass. (I got this from a great inside source), I’m sure he will resurface soon with another board line. He was starting to make some real sales over here at the shop, but that has alot to do with the economy.  As I hear it Crimnson will be a low cost high quality board company in the future?

* Now on to Adio footwear, As everyone knows Planet earth clothing is now closed and gone but with recent happenings Adio is now suspect to closure? Hawk, Margera, Hamilton, Torres among others have left the pro team and been offered contracts elsewhere, is that the demise of Adio???? I do know one thing, my lineup is on sale at $10 off every shoe till this gets resolved.

* Also developing is the story of the battle of the branding? For what seems to be ever, major brands held their names out of local “core” shops in favor of the mall style shops, (more cashflow, they are corporate owned) but now the trend seems to be on a downturn for Malls, the core shops are being opened almost daily due to slower retail figures making it a much closer race for the consumers buck. Shops like Zumiez, and mail order giants like C.C.S (california Cheap Skates) are seeing a decline just ;like all of us in sales partly due to the non-exclusivity of some products. This makes shops like mine that offers everything from lessons, parties, mini ramp sessions and the very same products the mall sells a chance to take over the retail sectors we live in. Let’s face it just cause malls are corporate and have gobs of cash to waste, do you really think they are a better choice than your local skate shop??? I would sure hope not, we are not kids, and we do what we sell! Skate / Surf / Bike. Next time you need gear you should roll into the local shops and help them take back skateboarding.

Expansion companies coming soon!!!!

Deathwish – Baker expansion

Slave – Zero expansion

these are only two look for more real soon!!!!

Till next post:

SHUT UP AND SKATE!