Draft:Skater Shop Day


Skate Shop Day is an annual event founded in 2020 to recognise and celebrate the culture and impact of the independently owned skateboard store. Held on the third Saturday every February, the day brings together skaters and independent skate shops around the world. A number of limited edition items are produced each year specifically for Skate Shop Day, with a list of releases for each country,[1] and are only distributed to shops participating in the event. Now truly global, with events being held around the world, major skateboarding brands have shown their support for the event and many have contributed to the day by making limited edition products to be sold in skater owned stores.[2]

Background

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Skate Shop Day Was Founded in 2019

Founded in 2020 by Scotty Coats and Chris Nieratko,[3] Coats, who ventured into a music career within various record companies, and Nieratko, who opened NJ Skateshop, were inspired by Record Store Day to create a similar celebration for skateboarding.

The worlds most widely read skateboard periodical[4], Thrasher Magazine, was an early supporter of the Skate Shop day movement and first mentioned the event on its website in 2021.[5] The event has gained significant traction each year since its inception, with Red Bull saying in 2022 that it is "now truly global"[6].

Each year, Skater Owned Skate Shops (SOS) hold their own events for the day, to celebrate its place in its community. These activities include skate jams and limited edition product promotions, and the shops showcase their unique position within the community by offering expert advice. Although Skate Shop Day, the day, occurs once a year, Skate Shop Day, the organisation, provides promotions, marketing, and other opportunities for stores throughout the year, maintaining their website and social media presence for promoting independent skateboard stores.

Impact

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Support Your Local Skateshop art

Skate Shop Day was intentionally planned for February as this is the slowest retail month of the year. SSD aims to help skate shops bring in sales in an otherwise historically difficult month.

Skate stores support their local skate scenes by sponsoring local skaters and putting on free skateboard events.[7] There are 11.08 million active skateboarders in the world.[8]

Skate Shop Day exists to help skate shops promote the work that they do. In 2023, UK Skateboard Magazine 'The Skateboarders Companion' said Skate Shop Day aims to shine a light on bricks and mortar, skater owned stores around the world[9]

Skate Shop Day by Year

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2020

Skate Shop Day in 2020 was the inaugural edition of the now annual event.

In 2020, DLX Sketchy Appreciation Program chose Todd Francis as their signature artist for Skate Shop Day. Francis drew a graphic for 240 shops around the world.

2021

Skate Shop Day 2021 was celebrated on February 18. Skateshop Day, announced their first ever shoe collaboration with legendary brand, New Balance Numeric.

2022

Skate Shop Day 2022 saw increased participation with over 300 skate shops getting involved worldwide.

The event was supported by a number of new partners, including Russell Athletic who produced Franics' artwork for the SUPPORT t-shirts and crewnecks, Es Skateboarding (formerly part of Sole Technology) and Lakai Limited Footwear

Skate Shop Day began its support for SuperSkatePosse[10], an initiative that aims to make skateboarding more accessible to kids in underserved areas. As part of the initiative, skaters visit shops to give out skateboards, helmets, and shoes, and provide skate lessons.

2023

Skate Shop Day 2023 was again held on Saturday February 18

A number of limited edition decks were available, including the Krooked Beamer Deck, The Gonz Beamer Shape Deck, and the Ishod Twin Tail Cat Scratch Black Out Deck.

The Independent Truck Company got involved in Skate Shop Day for the first time as they re-released the Stage 4 Skateboard Truck, an updated version of the original 1986 design.

In the UK, 27 bricks and mortar skate shops collaborated to release a special SSD t-shirt designed by Mike Gigliotti.

2024 Celebrated in 2024 on February 17th, the 5th year of Skate Shop Day saw product released by Krooked, who created the SSD24 Colour My Friends Deck, a limited edition deck designed by Mark Gonzales, and There Skateboards, who bought out the Jerry Hsu Guest Pro Deck.

In the UK for 2024, Heroin Skateboard designer Fos produced the Egg Skate Shop Day T-shirts for nearly 40 UK skate shops.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Skate Shop Day.“Skate Shop Day Limited Edition Product”, DLXSF. Retrieved Mar 11, 2024.
  2. ^ Skate Shop Day.“Skate Shop Day Suppliers”, DLXSF. Retrieved Mar 11, 2024.
  3. ^ Skate Shop Day.“Skate Shop Day Founders”, Nieratko, Chris. Retrieved Mar 11, 2024.
  4. ^ Skate Shop Day.“Thrasher Readership Figures”, Northern Arizona University. Retrieved Mar 12, 2024.
  5. ^ Skate Shop Day.“Thrasher Magazine gets behind Skate Shop Day”, Thrasher Magazine. Retrieved Mar 11, 2024.
  6. ^ Welcome to the Shop Keepers Union!.“Red Bull”, Northern Arizona University. Retrieved Mar 12, 2024.
  7. ^ What Makes a Good Skate Shop? “Skate Shop Day”, Upton, Connor. Retrieved Mar 11, 2024.
  8. ^ Montgomery, Tiffany (May 12, 2009). "The state of the skateboarding industry". Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  9. ^ Skate Shop Day 2023, “Skate Shop Day”, Sharp, Leo. Retrieved Mar 11, 2024.
  10. ^ Super Skate Posse.“Super Skate Posse”, Red Bull. Retrieved Mar 12, 2024.
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Category:Unofficial observances Category:February observances Category:Recurring events established in 2019 Category:Holidays and observances by scheduling (nth weekday of the month)