Today we’d like to introduce you to Slushcult Mini Mart. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Slushcult started ten years ago this month with very humble beginnings. What started out as an inside joke amongst friends became a hand made sticker. That sticker turn into hundreds and hundreds of stickers and a Instagram account. After making way too many stickers I decided to print our logo on some tees just to see what would happen, We did a “pop up shop” at a local store and all he shirts sold out. This is when I knew we had something special and wanted to turn it into a business.
It remained a side hustle/weekend hobby until 2016 when Zumiez approached us and wanted to carry the brand. That’s when the real business side started, I quit my full-time job and decided to take the risk and pursue Slushcult as my career. Since then we have done amazing events all over the untied states, been apart of all of the top trade shows like Agenda, Magic, Designer Con, Complex Con and more. We now sell our products with Zumiez, Tillys, Urban Outfitters and a small group of independent skate shops around the country and beyond the states.
In the late 2019, we opened up our own brick & mortar ship we call the “Slushcult Mini Mart” which had been a dream of mine ever since I was a child. It is a fun mix of clothing store, skate shop, corner mini-mart and toys r us. We carry a wide variety of products starting with our clothing, toys like Hotwheels, Techdecks, Duncan YoYo, Nerf as well as candy, snacks, drinks everything you need for a great time. In 2020 we vastly expanded our offerings to fingerboards, both creating our own products and also carrying brands from all around the world in that category. We host monthly free events where anyone can come text their skills on our miniature skate parks we have build and purchased.
The Slushcult Mini Mart was an expansion that we always wanted but thought wasn’t possible, now that we have it I can’t imagine our brand without it. In a world of digital everything, you can come to our shop and relive the nostalgia of the 90s, get some rad tricks on your fingerboard, buy some tees and have a blast doing it.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been tons of struggles along the way, owning a small business is a constant challenge of having too always be ahead of the game and also being able to adapt to surroundings.
2020 was a really harsh time for everyone, we had to close our brand new store only a few months after we opened. Luckily we were able to pivot and not only survive but thrive with online sales and reopening the shop under a pick up window style we called the “snack bar”. Basically we had the shop closed off but customers could still come shop from a pick up window and order goods off a menu we created mimicking a drive through restaurant.
I think being a small company really prepared us for things like this because we were already used to doing things very differently.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I grew up going to skate shops and later grew up and starting working for them. I have worked for small mom and pop style shops as well and big corporations like Zumiez and Vans shoes for a total over 15 years before going full time with Slushcult, this experience was vital to how I operate today.
I would say I’m most known and skilled when it comes to working with people. Creating a fun working environment and working hard to make sure things get done.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I have been very lucky to have some great relationships that have turned into long time friendships with peers and mentors in the streetwear/skateboarding industry. People like Benny Gold who has been my longest mentor and friend, Greg Mishka who has been a great mentor and supporter since early on. Friends like Bossdog, Learn to Forget, Never Made, Kingdom, Petty Snacks the list goes on an on of amazing friends who have helped me get to where I am today.
I also have to say special thanks to my girlfriend who has always supported me and the brand even when it was nothing. And my amazing group of personal friends who have done countless trade shows worked a lot of late nights with me fulfilling wholesale orders just because they believed in me and my business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.slushcult.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slushcult/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slushcult/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/slushcult
Image Credits
Shop Owner
