Shop News: Q&A With St. Petersburg’s The Finest

adamsullivan

• December 05 2008
• 490 views
• 8 comments

Tommie Zam opened up St. Petersburg’s The Finest three years ago, and created a customer base, a following, and a healthy scene. Together with John Montesi’s West Side and the Skatepark of Tampa, the scene is healthy, and constantly growing. The Finest focuses more on the smaller brands—the walls are lined with 5boro, Blueprint, Given, and Struggle. What’s interesting about this shop is that hardgoods are the  No. 1 category, and Zam is adamant about having a shop for skaters, rather than the kids who just want to look the part.

TW: When did you open your shop?
Zam: I opened The Finest Skateshop on July 11th 2005.

TW: What made you decide to open a shop in the first place?
Zam: When I moved to St. Petersburg, FL. the skate community was dead. I not only wanted a shop, but a skate community to go with it. I knew with the right shop, the culture would follow. Since I’ve been open, in the past 3 1/2 years, two skateparks have opened in close proximity to the shop. I’d like to think that the skate community has grown as well.

TW: How’s business?
Zam: It’s been a lot more up and down the last few months compared to last year, but we will survive.

TW: Have you noticed a change in the past few months?
Zam: Yeah, I have noticed a change in the past few months. With gas prices going up, voting in November, etc. things are getting a little better. I think people are realizing that they need to spend money to make things better.

TW: Which brands or products generally do well in the area?
Zam: It’s too diverse to pinpoint any one brand or product, but for me hardgoods are always number one, because we cater to the core skater.

TW: What are the other shops in your area? Do you have good working relationships?
Zam: Skatepark of Tampa is about an hour away. I have a great relationship with those guys.

TW: Do you put on events?
Zam: Yeah, I do put on events all the time. The hardest thing is trying to get autograph signings and demos in St. Petersburg, because companies won’t come to Florida, or they only go to certain places in Florida.

TW: Are there skateparks nearby? How have the skateparks helped with business?
Zam: These parks have absolutely helped with business. They are also very supportive of me and my events.

TW:Approximately how big is your core group of customers?
Zam: I’d have to say 90% of my business is based on a core group of customers, which is fine with me. I want kids to be repeat customers and continue to come back for their skateboarding needs, because they do actually skate and not because they like to wear the clothes. Mall kids are not part of the culture I support.

TW: Do you sell stuff online or do mail order?
Zam: No, we don’t sell online. There’s too much competition out there in that market.
Maybe in the future…

The Finest Skate Shop is located at 6574 Central Ave in St. Petersburg, Florida, and online at thefinestskateshop.com. Holler at them: (727) 343-4124.