How did you get into skateboarding/skateboard making?
I grew up a surfer. As life went on and I got further away from the ocean and different places that I’ve lived, I really started getting more into cruising. And more than anything my favorite thing about skateboarding is that it’s a blank canvas. Not only is the riding aspect a supplemental thing for surfing but it was a really good creative outlet for doing design work.
How did you come up with your company name? Why did you decide to use your name rather than something else?
So, this is actually a funny story. My company used to be called Kodiak Boards and I got a new partner probably about a year into the business so I could fund some other shit. Anyways, he recommended a name change and I was like “no fucking way. I’m not changing the name. I love the name.”
Then he took me up to Ohio for this big branding meeting from the people who did all his design work for his other companies. I’m like “there’s no name you could come up with that could make me want to change this.” Then they just put this big projector on the wall and this new logo that said: “Bear Walker” popped up and I’m like “Ok, Holy shit this is awesome. Let’s go with that.” Growing up all my friends called me Bear, it’s a nickname, so I had never used “Bear Walker” together and it just clicked and made so much sense.
Is it hard to build a team and what does it take to be a part of your team?
That’s definitely been the hardest part of all of this. For the last 6-7 years, it’s just been me. I’m really particular and I have a really dead set idea of what a board should look like. So to trust someone else to do it is extremely hard. Also finding someone with the work ethic and personality to put up with my demands, I suppose. And also, the skill to match what I do in different aspects. Whether it’s the woodworking or the painting. It’s taken me a couple of years to put together a decent team.
What’s your opinion of all these small brands being introduced to the world that nobody has ever heard of?
I think it’s great. I feel like we’re in an age where more people are taking risks and following their passions more than ever before and trying to make something out of something they like to do. It is a big risk and it’s a lot of a big burden to take on. I’m all about smaller brands trying to make a name for themselves and making a competitive market.
What makes your company different from other brands out there?
First of all, the build process. Just by looking at our boards, you can tell they’re different from anything else. The carved-out designs, just the general style of them, the functionality in itself is different. The interest and care we take with our following and our customers. Taking their input and what they want to see and actually using that. Putting a lot of stock in that instead of just using it to get interaction.
Do you or do you have someone come up with the graphic designs for your company?
So, I do almost all art. I am by no means a portrait artist so I actually commission one of my friends who is a local comic book artist to do a lot of the portraits for me. Her name is Amanda Rachels but as far as the general aesthetic and layout and majority of designs, I do that. But I commission someone for the more detailed stuff.
Do you think it’s hard being from Alabama to get your brand out there compared to some brands from California?
Oh, 100%. It took a crazy amount of work to get my name out there at all. I think a testament to that is I have a worldwide recognition right now and barely anyone locally knows who I am. It’s like I’ve almost had to create a skate culture here. As opposed to people from California who are a part of it already.
Let’s say I’m a shop owner and you want me to carry your brand, how do you sell your brand to stores?
I don’t. We’re very limited and do collectors’ editions. I tried the shop route and got turned away early on and that kind of inspired me to create the business structure we have now where you can only get my stuff at bearwalker.com or the storefronts that we’re creating.
What is your day like?
They’re usually pretty long. I start the morning going over the production schedule with the crew. We get them set and I usually do a good bit of woodworking and all that the first half of the day. The second half of the day is design work, meetings, and calls. In the last part, the last portion of the day is when everyone else has clocked out and gone home. That’s when I usually do paperwork or concepts or just general brainstorming.
Is there anything you want to say to someone that wants to start their own brand?
Decide early on if it’s something you really, really want to do. Like, a lot of people think they have a great product or a great idea. They hear everyone talk about how they struggled for years and think it won’t be them. I guarantee you it will take you years to accomplish what you’re trying to do. So, just be prepared from the beginning and come to terms with it will take you years to build anything… and embrace it. The struggle and the hustle are really one of the best parts of it.
