By Kristin
Go behind the scenes at MasterCraft Northwest/Seattle with general manager Darren Lamont.
MasterCraft Northwest/Seattle
2005 NW Poplar Way
Issaquah, WA 98027
(425) 391-9353
northwestwatersports.com
When did you start your business? We became the new MasterCraft dealer in June of 2008.
Do you consider the location of your shop a key factor to the business’s success? Of course, we are right next to Lake Sammamish, where wakeboarding really took off!! We have Ronix & Hyperlite right in our backyard, and we always get to see the new stuff a little early! They also use our MasterCraft boats for testing new products.
What product/boat is selling best these days? What products do you carry? Right now the new MasterCraft X25 is selling really well. It has just an amazing wakeboard and surf wake, it’s my personal favorite. We carry MasterCraft and Centurion boats along with Hyperlite, Ronix, Inland Surfer, O’Neill and more.
Where do you see your shop in 5-10 years from now? Hopefully bigger! Right now we are a little small but we are planning for a bigger shop and another location.
Who is your average buyer? Our average buyer is MasterCraft and Centurion owners looking to gear up or folks from our wakeboard school.
What is the dumbest question a customer has ever asked? We did a demo day on Lake Washington and someone asked if our tower speakers were “jet engines” we told them, “yes and they are super fast.”
What is the craziest return a customer has ever tried to make? Actually nothing too crazy yet, but do a follow up interview with us in 5 years.
Does your store support any local athletes or have a team? Yes we do. We support the Central Washington wakeboard Team. Eddie Roberts III is heading it up currently. They do a great job representing us and Eddie also helps us here at the shop with events.
How many days a week do you ride now compared to before you owned a shop? I probably ride about the same amount, just more during the fall and spring, less during summer.
Who is your favorite wakeboarder/wakeskater and why? Randall Harris, because he goes big!!
Every store has to deal with shoplifting. What is your most memorable experience and what is your shoplifting policy? No shoplifting, but we did have a few boats broken into in our parking lot.
Tell us one of the craziest shop stories you can remember? One year we had some serious rainfall and the parking lot flooded, so we grabbed a rope, the truck and a wakeskate. Good times and no injuries.
Does your store carry any products that make it unique to other wake shops in your area? Mastercraft and Centurion boats! No one else knows wake boats like us in our area, we all ride, and we all have a huge passion for our sport.
How significant is the benefit it to you that your store could be featured in TransWorld WAKEBOARDING magazine? Since we are a fairly new shop in the Seattle area it would be great to get the word out. Also, it would give us the chance to tell everyone that the Pro Wakeboard Tour is coming back to Seattle! Last time it was here was 1995! Anyone who purchases a new Mastercraft before the tour stop July 9th in Monroe, gets VIP passes and an exclusive clinic with the Mastercraft team!
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