WHY I HAD TO CLOSE MY SKATESHOP AND MY THOUGHTS ON THE SKATEBOARD INDUSTRY.

About this video

• Video Title: WHY I HAD TO CLOSE MY SKATESHOP AND MY THOUGHTS ON THE SKATEBOARD INDUSTRY.
• Channel: 2FTSK8
• Speakers: None explicitly named.
• Duration: 00:22:17

Overview

The speaker explains the reasons behind closing their skate shop, "Two Feat Skate," which was primarily due to declining sales and financial unsustainability. They also discuss broader issues within the skateboard industry, including a perceived downward trend, a lack of retention for new skaters, and ineffective marketing and tutorial content. Additionally, the speaker touches on the deteriorating safety and political climate in Tacoma, Washington, as contributing factors to their decision.

Key takeaways

• Shop Closure: The skate shop closed shortly after Christmas last year due to insufficient sales, which had been declining for about two years. The speaker ran out of money and could no longer sustain the business.
• Financial and Personal Reasons: Keeping the shop open would have required laying off staff and the speaker working full-time, which conflicted with family responsibilities, particularly caring for young children.
• Deteriorating Neighborhood Safety: The speaker felt increasingly unsafe in their Tacoma, Washington neighborhood due to a rise in homelessness, drug use, and random violent crimes, making it an unsuitable environment for children.
• Skateboarding Industry Decline: The speaker believes the skateboarding industry has been trending downwards since the "20 hog days," with a lack of effective strategies to retain new skaters who often quit when learning becomes difficult.
• Ineffective Marketing and Tutorials: The speaker criticizes current skateboarding marketing and YouTube tutorials for being repetitive, not innovative, and focused on attracting initial purchases rather than fostering long-term engagement within the sport.