starting skateboard/snowboard company

**InsayneSkate** · 02-19-2009 09:12 PM

Hello my name is jake.. I am 13 and i am starting a skateboard/snowboard business.. I need some advice on.. how to make my apparel and where to get it done.. i was also wondering if you had any price range on how much it could cost.. Another thing I was wondering was where to create my logo... I also need some sponsors.. so if some one could help me out it would be great thanks!!!

**SIMPLEROBB** · 02-19-2009 10:27 PM

Hey Jake, would you consider outsourcing? Also, when you get started, we'll purchase some products from you for The Urban Blvd.

**SCJeff** · 02-20-2009 03:10 PM

you could always download Photoshop for creating a logo, as for apparel, there are also tons of sites like this where you can draw or give them an idea of what you want and they'll do the shirts for you, that goes for shoes, jeans, beenies, w/e.

**InsayneSkate** · 02-20-2009 05:25 PM

Yes, I am interested in Simple Rob!!.. but I have a few questions.. How much would it cost.. and I was wondering how you would get the word out about Insayne skateboarding/snowboarding.. would you advertise on tv.. in magazines.. I'm just not sure how you work or what you do.. but I am interested so if you could get back to me that would be great .. Thank You!!

**InsayneSkate** · 02-20-2009 05:28 PM

I have a question for SCjeff.. how do I download photoshop?? and thanks for you help!!

**SIMPLEROBB** · 02-21-2009 03:53 AM

Originally Posted by InsayneSkate

I have a question for SCjeff.. how do I download photoshop?? and thanks for you help!!

What kind of logo you had in mind? shoot us an email, and we'll draft up something.

**InsayneSkate** · 02-21-2009 08:12 AM

Okay Ill send you my drawing that I did.. and thank you very much!!

**myfayt** · 02-27-2009 09:46 AM

It's really hard to start a company at a young age without having a full time job. I skateboarded for 9 1/2 years and attempted my own company and tried to sell shirts and all. I invested $500 and that wasn't enough and it went sour. You need roughly $2,000 to be able to launch, and you will be in the red for the first year.

**Filip** · 03-27-2009 04:23 AM

Hi Jake!

If I were you, I wouldn't go for both the skateboard segment and the snowboard segment, at first. Specialize. And find you niche. I recommend to make skateboard products, because it's the cheapest thing to do. Developing snowboard clothing requires a lot of money! So, start out by selling t-shirts with your logo on it, or blank decks with your logo on it. Good luck!

**MTaylor** · 03-28-2009 05:34 AM

Hey man, I love your spirit!

One thing you should know is that there are only 3 types of businesses. Listed in order from lowest to highest start up cost, they are Service, Sales, and Manufacturing. You are talking about starting a sales based business which is going to require inventory costs that will take an unknown time to recuperate. It also sounds like you are interested in designing your own clothing beyond printing logos which is probably going to be out of your price range. Advertising can also become expensive because you have to establish a brand and visibility in order to make sales.

If you are interested in skateboarding and snowboarding, perhaps you should consider promoting and hosting events. It's much cheaper to advertise because it is more likely to spread through word of mouth plus you can fulfill a need within your community. Once you get people to your event, then you can sell them some simple t-shirts and hoodies before moving onto actual apparel design. Red Bull is probably the best example of a company that uses events to successfully market a product.

You should also read up on 'Tap Out' and how they got started. While they weren't involved in hosting events, they used events to sell their product. Now look at where they are.

More than anything, start small while thinking big. Recycle your profits into your business and grow a solid brand (research branding). Also, make sure you play up your age wherever you go. Your target market is probably going to be a little critical of you because you are so young, but you can get past that by convincing them you have a long term vision and big ambitions.

PS:
Keep your head up and know there will always be haters... They hate because you are doing what they never had the balls to try.

**MTaylor** · 03-28-2009 05:45 AM

Originally Posted by SCJeff

you could always download Photoshop for creating a logo, as for apparel, there are also tons of sites like this where you can draw or give them an idea of what you want and they'll do the shirts for you, that goes for shoes, jeans, beenies, w/e.

Photoshop is a bitmap program which doesn't work for scaling images. Logos need to be designed in a vector based graphics program like Adobe Illustrator in order to get a versatile product that can be used across multiple mediums.

**dheminger** · 03-28-2009 11:28 AM

Hey jake I have connections with some international manufacturer companies.. If your interested i can get in contact with them for custom product desgining..

**commit** · 04-02-2009 01:15 AM

Hi Jake,

Why do you want to start a clothing company at 13 years old? Do you want to do it for fun or really try to build a big company?

If your serious do you have a family member to help you out and guide you with some business advice?

I hope you the best of luck. Once you start getting things together (and before you spend money on product) get in contact with me. Make sure you choose the best name for the company and trademark it if you want to use it and protect it.

Find a t-shirt printer locally and ask them how you need to give them the artwork for them to print a design.

Spend time researching as you would a school project. I know a few large retailers in the business are closing stores right now. Many have lost credit lines with large brands and will need to replace them with smaller brands.

Good Luck Jake (Find someone to help you like a friend or family member!)

**sbutler31** · 04-07-2009 03:08 AM

If you still need a logo, I work for a small advertising company and I could get you a professional logo for somewhat cheap. You can PM me and I will send you our website to take a look at. I'm not sure what your budget is but email me, maybe we can do something for you.

Steve

**NickReffitt** · 04-08-2009 12:15 AM

Great sensible head for a thirteen year old, really impressive stuff. Best of luck to you, keep your expenses as low as you can, focus on a niche as already suggested, sell to friends/family and people you know in the skateboard/snowboard scene.

Seriously, best of luck. Glad to see someone supporting the skateboard scene