Skateboarding Equipment Industry Overview

Upgrade your business with skateboarding equipment from the leading manufacturers

By Peter Heithoff, Writer Writers Research Group, Inc.

With skateboarding equipment, customers associate quality with brands they recognize. As a skateboard distributor or vendor, your business has a variety of equipment for skateboarding manufacturers from which to choose - whether appealing to the mainstream or underground skating crowd. Getting a good skateboarding equipment industry overview will help you reach your target consumer base.

The skateboard equipment industry covers a wide range of products. A top skateboard deck manufacturer differs from the skateboard wheel manufacturer leaders. Accessories such as skateboarding safety equipment, shoes and clothes are in their own categories, as well. Learn more about each of these categories to better serve your customers in the extreme sports equipment industry:

1. Skate decks are the backbone of all skateboarding equipment

2. Skateboard wheels go hand-in-hand with skate decks

3. Accessories such as safety equipment and shoes are necessary and practical for all skaters

Diversify your customer base by selling products from popular skate deck manufacturers

Provide your customers with a wide selection of equipment for skateboarding decks. Be sure the skate decks you sell are durable and light. Also, consider providing decks for longboards and mountain boards, two popular board sport alternatives in the extreme sports business. Longboards are speedier alternatives to skateboards and mountain boards have extra durable decks and wheels capable of handling downhill, off-road terrain.
Try: Element Skateboards is an industry leader in skate decks, selling products for beginners to experts. Longboard leader Dregs Skateboards sells a variety of models proven popular with its customer base, and visit MBS Mountainboards for off-road boarding decks.

Find a skateboard wheel manufacturer that best fits your customers' needs

Before choosing a skateboard wheel manufacturer, you must decide what types of wheels you want to offer your customers. Skateboard wheels have two primary properties: hardness and size. The hardness of a skateboard wheel determines its ability to travel on rough surfaces, and the size of a wheel affects its speed. Sell a variety of wheels to appeal to wide range of customers.
Try: Purchase skate and longboard wheels directly from the manufacturer. Yak Research sells wheels which are compatible with advanced skateboarding equipment, such as off-road skateboard wheels for mountain boards. Also check out Seismic Skate Systems.

Protect your customers with the proper skateboard safety equipment

Skateboard safety equipment is necessary for skaters of all calibers. From helmets to elbow pads, be sure to provide equipment for skaters of all skill levels, in all environments.
Try: Pro-Tec is a leading manufacturer of helmets and pads for beginners and pros. Find skateboarding equipment online for safety from the Draven Online Store.

Attract more shoppers to your store by selling popular skateboard equipment apparel

Tapping into the market of skating apparel could be a wise move for your business. With the rising popularity of the extreme sports business in the mainstream market, skaters and non-skaters alike don skating apparel, from shoes to shirts to sweatshirts with the company logo they seek. Selling skate apparel may even attract new customers into your shop who never before would have considered purchasing any advanced skateboarding equipment.
Try: DC Shoes and Vans are two skate shoe brands popular with both skaters and apparel enthusiasts.

Attract the mainstream market by selling items in your shop such as skateboard video games. The Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and the newer Skate series bring in crowds of young people interested in purchasing their own skateboard equipment, just like the pros.