(541)948-9613 hello@honeyandhare.com

Small-Business Spotlight: Aspect Boards & Brews

by | Jun 26, 2018 | Blog | 63 comments

Livin’ the Dream

You ever sit back at your desk and daydream about what it would be like to be your own boss? Answer to no one. Call the shots. Set your own schedule. It certainly has its allure, doesn’t it? The self-employed definitely enjoy a lot of admirable perks, but keeping a business afloat is a constant hustle that means long days, weekends at work, and navigating the lean times. So while it’s definitely a mixed bag, local entrepreneurs are still out blazing trails to carve out their piece of the pie. That’s why we’re excited to shine a spotlight on local business owners who are out there making big things happen in our little town.

We sat down with Katie Sayers, 18-year industry veteran and owner of Aspect Boards & Brews, to learn a little more about Bend’s dreamiest dream job of owning a board shop/ beer garden on the Westside. And if you’re wondering if you’ve got the chops to make it in the high-stakes game of sporting-goods retail, we’re happy to report that this little slice of heaven is currently for sale. Take a minute to check out what Katie has to say about her time at the helm, then check out her real estate listing here for more information.

A Quick Q + A with Katie

H + H: Tell us about your first industry job.

KS: I was 22, and I lived on the north shore of Kauai. I skated a lot when I lived there, so when my friend who managed the skate department of the local shop was leaving, she recommended me. I had no idea how to run a skate department just from skateboarding! But I learned how to order products, and sell products, and how to fold t-shirts, and then like 12 years later there I was, buying my own shop!

H + H: What was it like stepping into a leadership role back when you were so new to the industry?

KS: I was intimidated in my early positions, because learning how to skate and snowboard didn’t really train me to be a sales person. It just took some time for me to gain confidence in that realm. I took more quickly to the store management tasks, actually. Like ordering, product tracking, running reports, and trying to understand sales trends were actually more natural to me.

H + H: I know working in a seasonal retail industry has it’s serious highs and lows, but with 10+ years under your belt, you can’t deny that you’ve been successful. Can you talk a little about how you’ve navigated your business to keep it afloat through so many seasons? Maybe give hopeful entrepreneurs a bit of advice?

KS: I think that from the start I’ve just been really conservative in my ordering and what I commit to. We have grown some years and shrunk some years, and I’ve just tried to stay aware of what needs to happen based on that reality. It’s really difficult having to place our winter orders before the current winter has even played out, so it’s a gamble for sure. I’ve just tried not to lose everything in that gamble. So far it’s worked!

H + H: What is the advice you wish you’d gotten back when you first bought the business?

KS: I guess to be careful not to overextend yourself. And don’t be afraid to speak to people who have done the same things. Even your competitors can be some of your best allies.

What’s Your Favorite Local Business?

Got a favorite business you want to see highlighted on our blog? Let us know who you’d like to hear from, and we’ll try to set up a meeting.

Thanks for keeping up with Honey + Hare. We’ll be back soon to bring you more good news from the bright side. In the meantime, follow our blog!

63 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *