SK8 Skates, the iconic and long-standing core Winnipeg skate shop is closing up shop and taking things online. A pillar in the MB skate community, SK8 Skates has supported the growth and development of the sport in the prairies since the late 80s, originally opening their doors in 1987 - making it one of the longest standing skate shops in Canada. With an overall shift in the economy, a downturn in consumer spending and various other unpredictable factors that business owners now face in the wake of the pandemic, the transition from in-person to online is becoming something of a non-negotiable for small businesses, and skate shops are no exception. For our first instalment in the SHOP TALK series, we caught up with the team at SK8 Skates to talk about the Winnipeg skate scene, the SK8 legacy and what’s next for their shop.
CSB: What is the Sk8Skates origin story? How did it all start and what was the driving force behind the shop?
SK8 Skates: Sk8 Skates started in 1987 by Steve Harnish and Klaus Hoffman. From what I’ve been told the name came up by using the 2 first letters of their name, SK, and then they had 8 team riders when they started the shop. So that’s where the 8 comes from. Which led them to call the shop Sk8 Skates.
CSB: Can you tell us a bit about the Winnipeg skate scene? What's your favourite thing about it?
SK8 Skates: The Winnipeg skate scene is a tight scene. It’s small but it makes everyone know each other more. You always see the same faces at each event. My favourite thing would be all the new youth I’m seeing come up and their progression over the past year. Gives the team and I motivation to keep going hard to keep the hype alive for them.
CSB: It's no secret owning a small business is difficult, and skate shops come with their own set of challenges. What has the journey been like over the years?
SK8 Skates: The journey has definitely been pretty hectic for us taking over the shop right when Covid started in spring of 2020. Our first 2 years were great with a high demand for skateboards, with people staying at home. Things really slowed down in 2022, with the cost of wholesale goods going way up and the economy in general. It’s been hard to recover. A lot of people shop online now, which we get, you can usually find things cheaper at the big box stores online. It’s tough. We have decided to take a break from a storefront, get creative and figure out a way forward.
CSB: Why do you think skate shops are so integral to skate culture, especially in Canada?
SK8 Skates: Skate shops are so important to a skate scene because they’re the ones creating the culture of that scene. They’re the ones who make sure skaters have something to be a part of in their community and events to look forward to. Shops can help the skaters who deserve to be sponsored make connections to brands, distributors and people in the industry. Shops host all your classic skate events, whether local or outsider events. Most incoming events happen because they worked with the local shop to help organize. I could keep going but you get my point. Skate shops are the backbone to your skate community and if they fail, there will be a noticeable difference in the scene. Everything you see in your current skate scene wouldn’t have been there if it wasn’t for one of the local shops.
CSB: How does it feel coming into this new and different chapter for Sk8Skates, closing down your brick and mortar? What is the legacy you hope to leave behind?
SK8 Skates: It’s definitely weird not having a storefront to go to everyday. But we had to make a big change to ensure we can keep the Sk8 legacy surviving. We’re just in crazy times in the world right now and a lot of other retail shops (not just skate shops) are in the same position as us. So we at least don’t feel alone. I feel good about this move and thankful we’re still able to have an online store. The indoor skatepark here in Winnipeg, Pitikwe Skatpark, has been kind enough to let us rent pop up space at the skatepark 2 days of the week. That is definitely a big help, to at least let our customers have a chance to shop in person and have the skate shop experience they deserve! We feel confident this big change will create new ideas and some way to survive these crazy times. Sk8 is not going anywhere, in fact, we are about to drop a banger of a video by the end of the year. So be ready for that ;)
We are grateful for everything SK8 Skates has done for Canadian skateboarding in its nearly 40 years in business, and can’t wait to see what they get up to next. We’ve been lucky to work with their team for our Open contest series in summers past, and can wholeheartedly attest to their community impact. With the holidays rolling around the corner, it's important for us as consumers in the skate community to support small, local skate shops. Doing so not only helps those who have dedicated their lives to the culture, but also ensures that the community in your town continues to thrive.
Want to support SK8 Skates? You can shop their online store at www.sk8skates.com
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