THIS FOR EVERYONE IN THE AREA THAT SKATES THE ONES WHO LOVE IT, LIVE IT, AND BREATHE IT. IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED THE SCENE IN THE MEMPHIS AREA IS IN A SLUMP. THINGS ARE HARD RIGHT NOW FOR EVERYONE. ONE THING THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IS HOW VITAL HAVING A LOCAL SKATE SHOP IS TO THE SCENE. THE THREE SHOPS IN THE AREA ALL DO THINGS TO TRY AND VITALIZE THE SCENE. WHEN YOU BUY THINGS FROM ON LINE SHOPS LIKE CCS AND ACTIVE AND ALL THE OTHER ONES THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE SCENE HERE OR ANYWHERE ELSE. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT CCS ORGANIZED AN EVENT FOR THE SKATERS IN THIS AREA. TO ALL THESE ONLINE COMPANIES YOU ARE JUST ANOTHER NUMBER OR SALE. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU NEEDED A DECK AND WERE A COUPLE OF BUCKS SHORT AND CCS LET YOU SLIDE.


LOCAL SKATE SHOPS IN ANY AREA ARE VITAL TO THE SCENE, THEY TRY TO HELP ORGANIZE EVENTS TO GET EVERYONE TOGETHER TO HAVE A GOOD TIME AND LET CITYS SEE THAT SKATING IS VIABLE SPORT AND THERE IS A NEED FOR A PARK. ONLINE COMPANIES DON'T PUT ANYTHING BACK INTO THE LOCAL SCENE. TO KEEP A SCENE MOVING FORWARD IT NEEDS LOCAL CORE SHOPS THAT TRULY CARE ABOUT THE SCENE AND THE PEOPLE INVOLVED. WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT TIMES ARE TOUGH ON EVERYONE RIGHT NOW BUT OWNING A SKATE SHOP IS NEVER GOING TO MAKE ANY OF US RICH, WE DO IT BECAUSE WE LOVE IT. IF THE SKATE SHOPS IN AREAS START TO DISAPPEAR THE SCENE IS USUALLY NOT TO FAR BEHIND. ME ,JOSH, RON & ABE ALL HAVE SKATED ALL OF OUR LIVES AND LOVE IT FOR WHAT IT IS AND WE WANT TO SEE THE SCENE GROW FOR EVERYONE. BUT TO DO THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO KEEP IT ALIVE NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL OF A CONTRIBUTION. I'M NOT TRYING TO TELL ANYONE HOW TO SPEND THIER MONEY BUT THE NEXT TIME YOU ORDER SOMETHING ONLINE STOP AND ASK YOUR SELF WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT ONLINE SHOP PUT SOMETHING INTO THE SCENE AROUND HERE, OR HELPED YOU OUT WHEN YOU WERE A LITTLE SHORT ON FUNDS WHEN YOU NEEDED SOMETHING, OR SLIPPED A USED DECK TO USE UNTIL YOU COULD AFFORD A NEW ONE.


I'M JUST SAYING THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ON ALL OF OUR MINDS BUT JUST HAVE NEVER BEEN SAID. SO REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU SHOP AT YOUR LOCAL CORE SHOP YOU ARE PUTTING MONEY BACK INTO THE LOCAL SCENE. SO IF YOU FEEL LIKE COMMENTING ON ALL OF THIS PLEASE DO BE IT BAD OR GOOD.


SINCERELY,

BRAD SIZEMORE OWNER OF DESOTO SK8