Hello everybody as you can see my nae is Timothy. I am a UK rider who did attend Crossed Fingers and I just thought I would put my views on the british scene out to the world, firstly I think it would be awesome if in the Uk there was a fingerboard shop much like the blackriver one in Berlin it could have parks and stuff like that. I am aware that BRR parks are very expensive but what if every committed UK fingerboarder donated a bit of money to go towards renting a Flatface Rendevous type place where we could build parks to sesh in it and sell products that we have made to anyone that wants them. We would have to pick a desination for this place the one place I suggest is London as you can get to it from everywhere in many different ways. Please comment if you have anything to say or think my Ideas coud potentially be a reality someday I know they are a bit far fetched but who knows?

Too be fair I'm happy with the way it is right now. So many events and meetups, the UK scene is only going to get bigger. As nice as it would be to have a store, we don't necessarily need one. As long as everyone's here, that's all we need!

A store wouldn't work in the uk... Not just yet .. there just isn't enough interest in the hobby to make a store profitable at the moment. Tho if you could get a skate shop owner or skate park owner to get a park in.. im sure that would bring in some extra business for them

Moved to fingerboard discussion.

But I doubt a fingerboard specific store would work, the market just isn't vast enough. Maybe a park in a skateshop would be rad, but not a fully dedicated store.

A store wouldn't work, especially in this economic climate. It'd be cool if some skate shops sold some fingerboard stuff or had parks in the stores but a dedicated store to fingerboarding just wouldn't make sense. Heck, I don't even think a bank would seriously consider any loan request for a fingerboard store.

I wish there was more stuff in Scotland. All the meet ups etc. seem to be England based.
But a shop would be amazing its just a shame it'll probably never happen.

a store could 'work' in the UK. sure....if somebody is prepared to pay for the rates and costs from their own pocket.

a fb store type shop is not going to make a profit though. in fact id be surprised if the one in Berlin makes profit.

the only way this could 'work' or happen in the UK (or anywhere else for that matter) is if someone had cash to spare and didn't mind doing it for the love of it. because its not going to turn over enough money to make all the overheads feasible IMO.

if i ever win some cash on the lottery id open one up.

realistically the store/shop would have to be something other than a fb shop. (to bring in extra income) if it was a cafe that sold snacks and drinks, and played live music, and there was an entrance fee, it could maybe make enough to pay the rates...but then again i cant see 'normal' people wanting to pop in for a coffee and unwind, when the tapping of fingerboarding really annoys anyone who doesn't appreciate it.

would be epic if it actually became a reality in the UK though...but the only way i can see it happening, is with someone with a love for it with large pockets.....and also the location would be key......London or Manchester ideally (if you want more than a couple people each day).

Tbh, id rather not pay towards a ramp in london, which is 140 miles away from me

Boffey wrote:

Tbh, id rather not pay towards a ramp in london, which is 140 miles away from me

That ^ why does it have to be in London if there is one?

although i don't think it will happen, its a good idea.


Ps: Danny change your avatar its illegal to use it in this country

it could be anywhere. (if its coming out of your pocket)

but London seems the most attractive to me....closely followed by Manchester. (if you actually want people through your doors each day).

its not going to happen though. pipe dreams.

i mean there are lots of events happening in the UK now anyways. the scene is really great at the moment. better than it has ever been....if that answers your question Timothy?

the only way to build parks inside a building and have them permanent, is if someone actually owns or rents the building Timothy....i dont think your pocket money for the next year will even scrape the surface of renting the premises.

nice thought though....in the meantime ill keep dreaming that someone will open up a opium den full of hookers just round the corner from my house....bespoke leather couches, draped red velvet curtains, warm thick shaggy rugs, shoes off at the door, ahhhhh i can feel the delights now........barefooted whilst enjoying the forbidden delights full of eastern promise.............but yeah got carried away their..........fb shop would be cool too

i would think you'd only make 60% of your money back if it were a standalone shope.. but i think a fantastic idea is to collaborate with either a skate shop owner, or maybe like blosom mentioned, a coffee shop or cafe. but again, the problem there is the noise.

Why not just do what everyone said and call some local skate shops and find out if any of them would be interested in hosting a community fingerboard shop? i'm sure some of you guys in the UK would be willing to donate a little bit of money to pay for having a park purchased, or even come together and make on yourselves! if you make one it shouldn't cost more than 150 euros or something like that... But that's just my 2 cents

Actually, it wouldn't be all that difficult. The start up costs would be a little higher, but not by that much. Base the business model around something everyday (we'll say a coffee shop because that's my personal expertise). Choose a place with a but more space than you need, preferably an upstairs, and limit the fingerboarding to that area except at certain times. Build up your business as a coffee shop (which in itself has a few tricks), and slowly introduce your customers to fingerboarding. Hell, build Crazyleg style pools for tables!

There are ways of doing it. I'd already be writing a business plan if I thought anyone would come all the way up to Newcastle to use it :p

the scene is growing and to lose money in a shop for someone would suck. lets enjoy the scene and let it grow in its own time. dont force it!!

If there was a park, it should be up north, it'd make sense as there's more riders up there

But I doubt this will happen anyway, there's not enough people in the scene, like there is in Germany.

You cant expect people to travel far to reglarly visit a shop too

the problem with fingerboard shops is that, fingerboarders are not densely populated enough.. and also, even if they were, they'd probably only visit the shop every couple months

Like blosom said its basically a thing where you would need deep pockets because its not about the money, it's about the love for it.