By Hector Flores
They are often followed by strategic meetings over pizza to discuss the latest product ideas, marketing slogans and future goals for their newly formed company, Bull's-Eye Skateboards.
The company, founded in October 2004, boasts a Web site and an array of products ranging from T-shirts to stickers. According to Kees, the 11-year-old tycoons plan to launch a line of skateboards, in-line skates, videos and accessories such as sneakers, hats, clothing, wheels, bearings and trucks.
"We've been skateboarding since we were 6 years old," Kees said. "And we wanted to see how it would be to start our own company. We hope to be a big company some day, just like Birdhouse Element," which sells skateboards and accessories.
Schwartz explained the meaning behind their business's name and logo design, which is illustrated by a corkboard with a bull's head in the center. "We wanted to give a positive message, and the bull's head does that," he said. "To us, the bull's-eye picture and business name remind us how determined we were to reach our goal of starting our own business. And how excited we were when we did."
Schwartz added that their message of determination and goal fulfillment is something they want illustrated in all their products. That is why the bull's-eye logo and company name are prominently displayed on their stickers and on the front of every T-shirt.
The shirts also carry one of two different slogans on the back, which capture the extreme nature of skateboarding: "Got Deck?" and "Grind It Like You Hate it."
Weithorn explained that the slogans also express the passion skateboarders have for the sport. "'Grind It Like You Hate It' means grind the rail like you're going to rip it apart," he said. "It also means to try your hardest, push yourself and give it 110 percent."
Weithorn also said that skateboarding is a fun sport to get into. "It keeps you occupied, and when you're good enough, you can get sponsored by other companies, and eventually that is what we want to do -- sponsor other skaters."
Right now, the entrepreneurs are trying to sell their products at local skateboarding shops such as District Skate Shop in Massapequa, Village Street Wear in Utopia and Brandy's bicycle shop in Wantagh. "We just started selling stickers and T-shirts at the Skatepark Oil City shop in Oceanside," Weithorn said.
The young tycoons credit their parents with helping them get started. According to Kronstat, Schwartz came up with the concept for the logo, but the actual drawing was done by Kees's father, Alex Sr., who also designed the Web site.
"Between us, we had $150 to start the business," Kronstat said, "and our parents put in $300 each." According to Kees's mother, Denise, the boys started by buying 250 stickers, which were designed by Arrow Promotions, and 36 T-shirts. Weithorn's parents, Terry and Mitch, donated the company's business cards.
With money raised from the sale of stickers and T-shirts (stickers are $3 and T-shirts $20), the young entrepreneurs plan to reinvest in their business.
Kees said the idea for the venture came from an economics class that he and his friends took when they were Saw Mill Road fifth-graders. "The class taught us how to curb our wants and only buy what we need," he said. It also taught them how to handle a checkbook, what to invest in, how to support themselves and how to spend wisely.
Kees said, "Our fifth-grade teachers, [Connie] Goetz and [Stacy] Theodore, gave us the motivation to do this and gave us inspiration." Schwartz added that the teachers advised them to never give up, even if they couldn't sell one T-shirt.
Schwartz said that talking about their business venture is the best fun he has. "We just don't sit and play games," he said. "We don't even watch TV. This keeps us busy and keeps us closer friends."
Kronstat added, "We are going to try our hardest and sell everything we have. Hopefully, this will take us somewhere."
Weithorn's mother, Terry, doesn't mind investing in her son's business because she believes it's a worthwhile cause. "No matter what happens," she said, "the experience is worth the investment."
Kees's mother, Denise, said that her son's business started out as a small idea that soon blossomed. "We thought that the boys were just hanging out," she said. "But it turned out that they were actually talking about business. We are so proud of them."
For more information on Bull's-Eye Skateboards or to purchase a T-Shirt or sticker, visit www.bullseyeskateboards.com.
Comments about this story? HFlores@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
