By Markus
1. When did you start your business?
Boardstop officially started in April 2004. We have been involved in the wake scene for a long time with our wakeboard community sites wakeboarder.com, wakepics.com and wakeskating.com.
2. Do you consider the location of your shop a key factor to the business’s success?
Our physical location is a key factor in our local success. Since we are located in Central Texas Watersports, the Malibu Boats Dealership, we work with Malibu boat customers on a daily basis. We work with them to get the gear they need to enjoy time out on the water. We focus on what we know and love, watersports, and the boat dealership focuses on what they know and love, boats. A huge factor to our success is our online community of websites. Our network of sites allows us to reach outside our local area and become the ‘local shop’ of customers that are lacking a pro-shop in their area.
3. What product/boat is selling best these days? What products do you carry?
The best-selling products this season are Ronix wakeboards and Liquid Force wakeboards. On the Wakesurf side Inland Surfer and Shred Stixx are the top sellers. We carry Ronix, Liquid Force, Hyperlite, Byerly, CWB, Slingshot, Inland Surfer, and Shred Stixx.
4. Where do you see your shop in 5-10 years from now?
In 5-10 years we see Boardstop still doing what we do today. Providing great customer service and doing what we love to do. We are not the typical retail business that worries about numbers and margins. We want to continue to grow the sport we love, provide our customers with the best products in the industry, and continue to introduce new people to our sport. The best part is, we have fun while we do it.
5. Who is your average buyer?
Our average buyer is actually the 20-something year old college student all the way to the 40-something year old professional, all just wanting to spend time on the water.
6. What is the dumbest question a customer has ever asked?
I would have to say the dumbest question a customer has ever asked us is how they put their fishing poles on the wakeboard racks. J
7. What is the craziest return a customer has ever tried to make?
The craziest return we had was when a customer returned a wakeboard vest with the receipt from a company in another state. We contacted the customer and explained to him that he sent us a return from another company and told him we would send the vest to the original company he purchased it from. We called the company and told them the vest was on the way. The customer was really nice and offered to pay for the shipping, but we covered the shipping for him and gained a new customer in the process.
8. Does your store support any local athletes or have a team?
We do not have an official team but we do help a number of riders out with gear, entry fees, and travel funds. We work with a few local wakeboard schools to make sure they have the gear and contacts they need since they help grow our sport by teaching new riders each season. We support the local wakeboard events in and around Austin.
9. How many days a week do you ride now compared to before you owned a shop?
We try and get out 1-2 times a week, but during the peak summer months,we cannot get out at all. We wish we could put more hours on our Malibu MXZ but making sure our customers are taken care of is our number 1 priority.
10. Who is your favorite wakeboarder/wakeskater and why?
I have a number of favorite wakeboaders and wakeskaters. I have a list of old school favorites and a list of new young guns. My old school list includes Murray, Byerly, and Adkison. My new school list includes Harley and Bob. On the Wakeskate side Thomas Horrell is at the top of my list. Collin Gee and Brett Little also make my list.
11. Every store has to deal with shoplifting. What is your most memorable experience and what is your shoplifting policy?
Our shoplifting policy is “Don’t Let US Catch You”! The most memorable shoplifting experience was when we came into the shop one day and noticed all the ladies Reef sandals in size 7 were missing. Not just one pair of size 7’s, but all of them. Then later on in the day, the sales guy remembered a female customer trying on boardshorts the previous day and she had stripped down to her panties in the middle of the shop and he thought maybe he had been distracted and didn’t notice anyone walking off with all the sandals.
12. Tell us one of the craziest shop stories you can remember?
Last summer the local Sherriff came to the shop and told us we needed to evacuate because of a nearby fire. Texas had a number of fires last year so we didn’t think much of it and we all continued to work. I joked and said I’m really busy and if they want me to leave, they are going to have to come throw me out. Well… they came back an hour later….and threw me out. Apparently, the fire had spread and they were afraid the huge propane tanks that were in the area would explode. The next day, while driving to work, we saw the burn area and realized it was right up against our property line….we had no idea it was so close.
13. Does your store carry any products that make it unique to other wake shops in your area?
We don’t carry any products that make us unique, but we carry more of a variety and that makes us unique. We are one of the only dealers in town that carry as diverse of a product line in wake.
14. How significant is the benefit to you that your store could be featured in TransWorld WAKEBOARDING magazine?
Working with Transworld has always been great. Customers love to read the newest Transworld wake magazine and we love to give them a free copy. It is an honor to be featured and we thank you for the recognition.
Boardstop, Inc.
16628 N. IH-35,
Austin, TX 78728
(254) 289-3087 or
1-888-786-7411
boardstop.com
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