March 14, 2017

Meet Mike Kourklian of Ark Smoke Shop in Granada Hills

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Kourklian.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Mike. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It’s a bit difficult to talk about in detail, however it began four & a half years ago. They say doing business with family is crazy, indeed it was. Words can’t describe that difficult period.

After the first two years of many management issues and constant setbacks my father decided to sell, I (Mike) his son had been here from the beginning and invested a lot of time into the business, I couldn’t just see it thrown away… I had a greater vision for the future.

By the time it was all said and done my father had liquidated all but the fixtures and the show cases. I knew I had to hurry so I asked my older brother Manny to loan me the money needed to purchase the store which was basically next to nothing, it was as is just an empty store with furniture (my estimate less than $5000)

It’s been quite an undertaking since then, I struggled for the next two years with zero capitol for inventory and running on just hopes and vision. I also struggled with a few of my own demons along the way which added to the stress of building a business with no money… it was a dark and difficult time.

The story gets better don’t worry! After some time I began getting calls from individuals who wanted to work with me regardless of my situation (I suppose they saw something in me) they were willing to overlook the fact that I had no money to pay up front. I had to build slowly piece by piece.

One by one I met more and more of these awesome people that enabled me to build my store into what it is today & I can say I am debt FREE. It’s very liberating but the struggle isn’t over believe it or not I have much more to come.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
So many struggles, personal and then some. I would say top of the list was my addiction and struggles with alcohol. Some of the others were administrative issues getting ownership paper work in order and so on. I had issues with paying bills on time, paying rent on time. To this day I struggle with bills because it’s very expensive to maintain such overhead.

I had issues with capital as I mentioned in my story. No capital meant no inventory just an empty store. It was very difficult to take the daily insults from customers because the fact was the place was empty not much to browse they weren’t wrong but it did impact my view on the situation some days.

Time is a big factor, 10 am to midnight requires some much time invested that it virtually grounds you permanently. For a short period I had to take a break from my band Harmonious Fits because the store required so much of my creative attention. Even to this day I have to close up shop and go play gigs at some of our frequented venues such as (Howl at the Moon – City Walk) (The Trip – Santa Monica)

Closing means turning my customers away which always upsets me, I’ve worked so hard for both the shop and the band… I struggle daily wondering how to make this work, I want to do both things I love. I love building businesses and I love playing drums for Harmonious Fits.

I’m sure there more I have failed to remember.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Ark Smoke Shop – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Ark Smoke Shop in essence was going to be just another smoke shop in the north valley. Over time my vision matured along with my inventory and the creative applications of aesthetics and organization improved as well.

Now it’s a place you can come to discover new toys, devices, artistic creations & Nu-tropics for alternative healing.

My store is thriving because I stay true to one simple universal fact – People before Profits – this has served me well. I spend time with my customers I get to know individuals and create long lasting relationships which is the foundation to any great brand.

I take great pride in knowing that when people search abroad on google they find The Ark a shop with integrity a shop that cares about its customers, a shop that educates its customers.

I find that my customers value the knowledge I share with them most of all whether it’s about products in store or just in general.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Currently I’ve got great plans coming down the pipe line, one is relating to the new marijuana laws and my possible participation, the next is removing the wall in my store and expanding the retail space, as of now I am only utilizing 50% of my retail space and eventually open more locations perhaps franchise them we’ll see.

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