“I was located in Muindi Mbingu shopping centre 1st floor – you can’t miss it. Most of the time David Ranja was managing me; I was open from midday to about 6p.m. Now I am stand with shoes. Shuyin: I’ve met Ranja a few times. He seems to really like BATA shoes-the ones we used to play P.E with in primary remember them? In summary, he’s wise, productive and considerate. Here’s what he got to say about the Xone skateshop and himself.
Are you a skateboarder? Who’s your favorite Kenyan skater?
I’m not a skateboarder. I only know the team- Anointed remnants skateboarding (A.R). I know Leo Kilel and Kevin Maina; I’ve seen them skate frequently.
In your own words, what’s a skate shop?
It is shop with accessories and gear for skateboaders starting from skateboards, clothes, shoes, spare parts. There’s a handy man if necessary. It’s just like a bike shop, it has all these things.
Walk me through how you came up with the idea to start xone?
It was a partnership with someone from Czech Republic. He visited my cousin and became friends during his visit to Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania. Afterwards, he came over to my place. We both saw the opportunity on the other hand; I saw the opportunity to manage a skateshop. Incidentally, we became business partners. Then we came up with the idea of skateshop- where to locate it? Especially the operational costs; it is quite expensive to setup a shop in Nairobi-it will cost you not less than ksh.200, 000.
Who was your business partner? Do you still do business with him/her?
Kamille Volrick went silent. I think he’s tied up in Czech Republic. He had a few other businesses running in Czech and he even had a skateshop and sold it since the one in Kenya was doing better than the one in Czech Republic. The operational costs were 10x more than that of the one in Kenya. So the reasonable thing to do was to shut it down. In brief, I haven’t talked to him for a while thus I haven’t done any business with him.
Did you pay for shipping, how much?
Yes, we paid shipping and for local taxes: VAT, customs and transport from airport to the warehouse and so many other expenses. The cost of the product was even doubled before reaching the shop. Actually we used to sell things in the shop to recover the money we had lost and we didn’t breakeven.
Did you have a business permit for the business? How much were you charged?
At those times a local business permit was ksh. 7000. But since people didn’t understand our business plus it was a combination of two things skateboards and clothes. As a result, we were paying ksh.10, 000 due to the modification. With the advent of the county government we would pay 15,000-20,000/- if the shop was still operational now.
What were the challenges in running a skate shop?
- There was no understanding of a skateboard and how high it is supposed to be as a complete product.
- We used to get double taxes at the port. The board used come in spare parts to conserve space. In addition, there were charges on individual parts and the spare parts combined to make a complete skateboard.
- There was pressure from the skater’s part. There is a law by the county government that prohibits skateboarding in the Nairobi streets this inhibits business. In the end parents are afraid of buying the board due to fear.
- Few locations for skateboarders to skate reduces feasibility of a skateshop.
- Cost of running a business, marketing and starting a business.
- County government doesn’t understand our product and doesn’t want to understand the product.
- False prophecies made by fearful parents on they don’t want to see their child die upon embarking on this extreme sport.
How do you think we can curb these challenges?
This mostly applies to the skateboarding chairman since he has faced them first hand. I feel he would be better suited in approaching those challenges. When I came in that is when we got acquainted.
Conducting small campaigns and tours by skateboarders, to have support of the government, to have international competitors and support from the private industry is paramount to sponsor skateboarders to go for competitions out of the country. This would really help since it would be a career for someone. But the Chairman or the skaters may have better insights regarding this.
Why did you have to shut down Xone?
The operational cost was costly even if it was the cheapest shop we could get uptown. Also, the building was being bought out by BATA; it has been established there now. The city council, moreover, wanted to tear down the structure which includes various shops selling a variety of products so BATA shoes saw the opportunity. Furthermore, this was the best location for the shop.
Do you still have equipment?
I have 5 sets of screws- ‘Local skateboarding brand’ going for 500/- per set.
I have 8 sets of bearings-KG Bearings for 1000/- per set. *Unlimited*
I have 7 sets of wheels-Ambassadors (2 sets white, 2 sets black & blue), O.Js (Blue)-go for 5000/-
I have 4 crates of clothes- I’m debating on what I should do with them since they were difficult to sell. You’ll be surprised what you’ll get in those crates for instance, over 50 Xone T-shirts, over 20 jeans, other sorts of T-shirts and hoods.
Are you going to revive the shop anytime soon?
I might revive the shop to be in my house instead if everything goes well. However, the brands people crave such as the European and the American brands won’t be available. We opt to get cheaper ones as opposed to the brands mentioned. My aim will mostly will be to boost skateboarders as well as keep the industry alive.
What do you do these days?
I am an event organizer and a sound engineer. Currently, I have own events in partnership with my friends called ARISE. It targets the youth. So far we’ve done two gigs. They are usually out of Nairobi and involve local artists and other artists. We are hoping to have one in April.
Say Hi to David Ranja on Face book. Photo credit David Ranja, 2014
Xone poster: from facebook group xone shop chat
Interview conducted by Shuyin Ben.