Stewart Surfboards

When did you start your business?

1978

Do you consider the location of your shop a key factor to the business’s success?

Not the key, but there are the three L’s in business Loction Location Location, We have a destination surf shop you have to draw the people into the store.

Who is your average buyer?

We have broad range of customers from little kids to older people, surfing. We have the 4’6 Fartknocker for the grom’s first board to the Clydesdale made for the largest people on the planet and everything in between and we have stnadup paddle boards, we have even sold a few standup’s to customers that surf them.

If a total Barney walks in do you treat him with the same respect as a full on loc?

We are pride ourselves as the friendliest surf shop in southern california, think about the the day you bought your first board, why would you ruin that?

What is the dumbest question a customer has ever asked?

“How do you use Sex Wax? “Why does my board float crooked?" I told him to push it to the other side. "Why doesn't this wetsuit fit me right?" It’s on backwards. "Why is the board so slippery?" Because the wax goes on the deck. "Why does my board ride weird?" Because your fins are on backwards.

Do you have a mascot (ex. - An animal that roams freely throughout the building)?

We had “Elvis” a boston terrier that wore a security jacket but he retired, Now we have Tonto the indian the keep’s the peace.

What is the craziest return a customer has ever tried to make?

My favorite all time is this girl brought back a pair of uggboots that had gotten wet and and shrunk from a size 7 to a 2 and with the rocker of a “mctavish” she swore she didnt stick them in the microwave or dryer.

Does your store support any local surfers or have a surf team?

3 Time World Longboard Champion Colin McPhillips, Troy Mothershead, Steve Newton, Jeff Kramer, Maggie Dunn, Trisha Gill, Julie Whitegon, Aaron Jesse, and Kane Stewart.

Have you ever had any type of celeb roll in and make a purchase?

Flea, Eddie Vedder, Jimmy Buffett is a regular Bill shapes all his boards, Andrew Keegan, Russell Kunkle, Gary Busey bought a board, The Hansen brothers ummbopppppp!

Have you ever pulled a hot chick/guy solely due to the fact that you own/manage a surf shop?

No bill is married, but Bill’s son pulls Kane pulls that one.

How many days a week do you surf now compared to before you owned/managed a surf shop?

I surf anytime I want.

Who is your favorite surfer and why?

Kelly Slater, because he is the best surfer ever and a great ambassador for surfing.

Has a customer trying on clothes ever walked out completely naked?

No, but i do have respect for streakers. No but we had a guy that used to come in all the time a ex-pro baseball player that would wear transparent white tight ass shorts we nicknamed him “dodeman” eventually he was banned from the shop.

Has a person ever walked in totally blitzkrieged (really intoxicated) and tried to make a purchase? If so elaborate.

A guy came in the shop wearing a sarong started arguing with his girlfriend got in a fight hey had 20 boards stacked on top of there car they sped off. We found out that his next stop was surfer magazine he laid out all the boards in front of there office and got naked.

Every store has to deal with shoplifting. What is your most memorable experience and what is your shoplifting policy?

My policy is that we ALWAYS call the police, we have a highly sophisticated camera surveillance system and security team is on it.

And last but not least tell us one of the craziest shop stories you can remember?

A gentle man came in with his wife and family to purchase a new surfboard. His biggest concern was if he would be able to sit his choice, a 10' hydro hull. When we convinced him  there was no way for him to sit on the board on the shaping racks, he came up with a better idea, he would squat into a sitting position, and we would lift the board up to see how it would fit. By this time his bored young wife and family were sitting on the bench waiting, and he had created a small crowd. A goofy young employee and myself began to slowly lift the board up. As the gentleman proceeded to squat, he released quite the audible bronx cheer...you could have heard a pin drop, his wife put her face in her hands, the kids sat slackjawed, another customer cleared his throat. I was ready to let it go until the employee pointed at the customer, and said "Whoa, you just Farted" The whole place when up in hysterics, I had to drop my end and run to regain ny composure. All said and done, the customer felt alot better, and we sold him a perfect fitting Hydro Hull, while his horrified wife sat in the car.