Hey everyone! I might be sharing a little too much here, but I hope you enjoy this insight into our journey of starting Downwinder Kiteboarding Co. For those of you interested in learning about our experience starting up a kiteboarding apparel brand, I think you’ll appreciate the transparency.
A Huge Thank You to Our Local Kiteboarding Community
First off, a massive shoutout to our local kiteboarding community at Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay! Your support has been incredible, and the response to our kiteboarding t-shirts and gear in person has been more than we ever imagined. We’ve received so much positive feedback, which fuels our excitement to keep designing and releasing more kiteboarding apparel. You all have shown us how much you love the gear, and it’s pushing us forward!
Why We Started: Spotting the Gap in Kiteboarding Apparel
Leading up to Christmas of 2023, Eryn and I looked for cool kiteboarding gear for each other but couldn’t find much out there. Everything seemed corny or didn’t showcase the sport well enough. We thought we could do better, so we jumped right into Downwinder Kiteboarding Co. with the mission to create high-quality apparel that people are proud to wear—apparel that truly represents kiteboarding. Our community deserves more than generic slogans that don’t resonate with the spirit of the sport. Cough cough, “Life begins at 15 kts” or “Eat kite sleep repeat,” cough cough!
Our Mentors and Partners
We wouldn’t have come this far without some key people. Shoutout to Shana and Mike Walsh at Otherside Boardsports! They were the first shop we approached and taught us so much about apparel wholesale and the kiteboarding market. We’ve also had tremendous help from Aaron at Elite Watersports. Not only did he get our gear into his shop, but he also let us host our launch party there! His knowledge of the kiteboarding market has been invaluable, and we hope to learn from his community impact.
Current Challenges with Visibility
When you search for “kiteboarding apparel” or “kiteboarding shirts,” you’ll find us around page 4 on Google. I personally never make it that deep, so that’s not ideal. To improve our visibility, I’ve started writing blogs for the website, like this one. It’s been a fun way to share our story and aims to improve our Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Competing with large mass production t-shirt companies that dominate the first few pages of Google is a challenge, but we’re committed to standing out by emphasizing quality and community connection.
Tapping into Influencers
I’ve reached out to several influencers with over 1,000 followers to help promote our apparel. While it can be tough to connect with those who are already partnered with larger brands, I’m focusing on building genuine relationships. I’ve been DMing a lot of people, and I realize we need to step up our own content game. Eryn and I plan to start recording more of our kiteboarding adventures, which will not only showcase our gear but also help us connect with our audience. We’d love to hear what content you want to see on our Instagram page! If you have anything you want us to repost, make sure to tag us or DM us your content.
Who We Are
If you want to get to know Eryn and me better, check out our "About Us" page! Stepping out of our comfort zones has been a big part of this adventure. Neither of us had much experience in marketing, graphic design, or running a clothing brand before this. Eryn comes from a real estate background and currently works at a custom home builder's design studio, while I’m in commercial construction. Taking on this venture has been a wild ride of learning and growth, and it’s sparked a lot of excitement! As you know, the wind doesn’t just blow on the weekends or after work, so finding a balance between our full-time jobs and this business has been a challenge. But it’s also given us a great reason to hit the water more often!
The Financial Reality
My wife and I have contributed just shy of $15k into starting Downwinder Kiteboarding Co. This includes initial sample apparel, graphic designer fees, actual inventory, miscellaneous equipment like shirt folders and storage containers, and software for websites and graphic design. While we’ve only made roughly 10% back after almost a year, we understand that many businesses take time to become profitable. We’re confident that as we continue to establish ourselves, our website will pick up in sales, and stores will become more willing to partner with us as we build our reputation.
The Advertising Struggle
I’ve spent $174.86 on advertising but haven’t made a single sale through ads. It stings. I was hoping for at least some return, but I realize advertising is a long game and takes lots of consistent funding. Part of me wonders if support from family and friends may have skewed the algorithm, leading ads to the wrong audience since they aren’t all kiters. If anyone has seen one of our ads pop up, I’d love to get a DM or message! It would help me know it’s reaching our target market—just don’t click on the ad because more clicks cost money (just kidding… kind of).
Looking Forward
I dream of Downwinder Kiteboarding Co. breaking even and becoming a profitable business that supports itself. I want to keep creating awesome kiteboarding shirts and apparel that people are excited to wear. The kiteboarding community has been incredibly welcoming, and I’ve met so many amazing people. My goal is to continue meeting more people, traveling, and maybe one day sponsoring events or athletes. This sport has given me so much, and I want to give back by helping it grow and supporting those who progress it.
Thank You for Joining Our Journey!
Thank you for reading about how we got to where we are today! If you have any suggestions for us or designs you’d like to see created, please reach out! We’re here for the kiteboarding community! :)