BAYVIEW — Skateboarder Devin Jones has hit on a “wheelie” great idea by turning a school project into a money maker.
He opened a skate shop, Skate Invaderz, at the Bayview Cash Store.
Jones is the youngest local entrepreneur to date who’s moved into Goosefoot’s “Flash in a Pan” space in the Cash Store.
Jones is 16 and a student at South Whidbey High School, and the idea for the shop originated as a school project. The students were asked to choose an area of interest and then create a business plan that incorporated the activity.
“I decided to follow through with it,” he said.
Jones, a skater himself, saw the need for a skate shop on South Whidbey and pulled together a great plan that he launched at Bayview Corner. His shop will sell skateboards, hardware, fashion, shoes and candy.
“A lot of my friends skate. A lot of people are getting into it now,” he said.
Jones certainly has a target group that keeps growing. A 2002 report by American Sports Data found that there were 12.5 million skateboarders in the world. Eighty percent of skateboarders polled were under the age of 18, and 74 percent were male.
Skating gear has found its way into mainstream fashion and Jones will cater to the market beyond the world of extreme sports.
“People also like the clothes. There are brands like Elements and DC people like to wear,” he said.
Shoes are popular, too.
“The shoes are not only for skaters. I see football players who like to wear them,” Jones said. “People like the style.”
Skate Invaderz doesn’t stop with retail. Jones is planning a skate exhibition in May with local skaters and some from Seattle. Jones is also filming and producing a skate video with friends.
Skate Invaderz celebrates its grand opening today at the Bayview Cash Store. There will be snacks and shoppers may be lucky enough to find Easter eggs with store coupons hidden among the skater gear.
Skate Invaderz is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
Skate Invaderz will be at Bayview through the end of July.
