If you’re going to open a longboard and skateboard shop in Michigan right before winter, this was the year to do it. The online retailer
Action Board Sports opened its first physical location in
East Lansing’s Campus Town Mall.
“We specialize in longboards,” says Action Board Sports owner Jim MacGregor. “We have pretty much all the top brand of longboards, and we’re probably the largest in terms of longboard variety and inventory in Michigan.”
Longboards, MacGregor explains, are similar to skateboards, but are larger, more stable, and typically attract an older crowd. They are used by many college students for transportation around campus, which is why Downtown East Lansing became the home of the new, 770-square foot retail space.
“This weather kept us going this winter,” MacGregor says. “People were riding into the shop in January.”
MacGregor expects in-store sales to grow even more as the genuinely warm weather hits. He expects to hire two employees in the next few weeks to prepare for spring. He hopes to see the spring and summer sales in the new store match the level of sales he is used to seeing in his online store.
In addition to custom-built longboards and skateboards, Action Board Sports will soon expand its inventory into apparel.
“Along with the variety of brands, I have large selection of pricing,” says MacGregor. “A lot of college kids aren’t looking to spend a lot of money.”
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.