Joel Luyt has long been invested in the boarding sports B次元官网网址� the snow and skate variety.
But it wasnB次元官网网址檛 until last year, when he bought Sanction Boardshop from supplier Brad Richmond that he got a chance to mould his vision of a successful business involving his passion.
Luyt, 32, spent 13 years in Abbotsford before moving his family to the Island in 2012. In buying his own business B次元官网网址� the shop has locations on Herald Street downtown, and Langford B次元官网网址� he brought experience in both financial planning and youth services to the table, both valuable assets for his new choice of work.
Almost from the get-go, Luyt and his staff have worked to shed the traditional model of skateboard and snowboard shops: boards and trucks and black T-shirts only.
B次元官网网址淵ou cannot stay stagnant, you have to evolve and know what is trending,B次元官网网址� he says.
His expansive, high-ceilinged downtown shop is all about colour: the main floor is filled with clothing while the upper level features a wide enough selection of boards to appeal to pretty much any rider.
While he recognizes that certain customers will be stereotypical boarders and hipsters, he has also tried to appeal to B次元官网网址渢he average Joe Blow construction worker who just likes to snowboard.B次元官网网址�
To further broaden his customer base, Luyt distributed an eight-page mini-catalogue targeting parents shopping for their kids for Christmas. It was a big hit and brought new faces into the stores. B次元官网网址淭hat, in this industry, has not been done.B次元官网网址�
These days, he estimates the clientele is an equal mix of teenagers and young adults, and parents.
In a town where owner-operated board shops such as Sitka, HTO and Coastline have developed loyal followings, Sanction has grabbed a chunk of the market and flourished.
B次元官网网址淲e basically doubled what (the previous owner) did in sales in a year and a half,B次元官网网址� Luyt says.
The companyB次元官网网址檚 turnaround didnB次元官网网址檛 go unnoticed. Sanction Victoria was recently named Canadian region shop of the year at the 2012 TransWorld Business awards in Long Beach, Calif.
B次元官网网址�(Winning the award) feels incredible. I mean, weB次元官网网址檙e in Victoria, not downtown Vancouver or Whistler,B次元官网网址� Luyt says. B次元官网网址淭his speaks volumes about our staff and our building and how accessible we are.B次元官网网址�
The store on Jacklin Road will be expanding soon, moving two doors down to a space that will effectively double its selling space.
LuytB次元官网网址檚 longer-range plans include expanding to Nanaimo and perhaps the B.C. Interior.
B次元官网网址淚 definitely want to become the shop on the Island,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚 want to work on boosting the Sanction brand in future.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址� Sanction Boardworks, 506 Herald St. (250-590-2597), 112-2806 Jacklin Rd. (250-590-3626).
Businesses get behind charity efforts
Area merchants and their customers helped out in a big way over the holiday season, raising money for various causes and people in need. Among them, Country Grocer raised more than $10,000 for Help Fill a Dream through its sale of dream bouquets and other items. Long and McQuade Music customers in Victoria and Nanaimo donated $2,400 for the Nanaimo & District Hospital FoundationB次元官网网址檚 music therapy program.
Travel Talk road show comes to Victoria
Guided vacation company Trafalgar hosts a free information night on upcoming travel ideas and tours. It runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. tomorrow (Jan. 30) at St. AnnB次元官网网址檚 Academy, 835 Humboldt St. Attendees have a chance to win door prizes.
Victoria couple reveals their secret
Executive and corporate coaches Shawn and Keli Carpenter are the new representatives for LifeSuccess in Victoria. The couple are using the program Thinking Into Results, a coaching approach made popular by Bob Proctor, a primary figure in the personal development documentary, The Secret. For more information, contact Shawn at shawn.k.carpenter@gmail.com or 250-858-5003.
Breakfast and lunch served up at Uptown
New Uptown tenant Good Earth Coffeehouse (3450 Uptown Blvd.) offers up everything from latt茅s to mac and cheese, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients for breakfast and lunches. Proprietors Denise and Kingsley GrantB次元官网网址檚 66-seat caf茅 is the second Good Earth location in Victoria B次元官网网址� the other is at Royal Jubilee Hospital.
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