Local Entrepreneur Finds Success with his own Skateboard Line

Starting a business is a difficult task at any point in time. Unsurprisingly during a recession it can be much harder.  But Javier López, 28, owner of 3043 Board Shop and Sensitive Skateboards on Tweedy Boulevard, did just that.

At first the intent was not to create a company or earn money. In the beginning, López was just trying to find something that would make him happy after having gone through a tough experience.

“When you are in county jail for a month you start thinking,” said López, who served time in mid 2007 for selling marijuana. “I thought about my life and how some of my happiest memories were from skateboarding.”

Upon being released López started to skateboard more and more. He found it cathartic and it helped him think about his future.  

Skateboarding was becoming more than hobby.

In late 2007, López decided to  try and make some boards for friends and other local skaters. Soon after, this pro-bono passion project escalated.

“Kids started showing up at my parents place asking me for boards,” said López, who had spent almost all of the money that he had saved from a prior railroad job.

López made the decision to create Sensitive, his own skate line, as a result of the growing demand for his product.

The name was chosen by López out of desire to go against most traditional skateboarding related names. 

Such as Death Skateboards or Thrasher Magazine, to name a few.

“I started pushing [the boards] out of my car,” said López, who began with around 100 boards and the help of  a few friends. “I wasn’t doing so well because most stores are not interested in carrying a board that they don’t know.”

After a couple of years running the business from his car López got the money to open his own store, 3043 Board Shop, on October 2010.

“This was the only way I could get my board out,” affirmed López, who added that 60 percent of the boards in his shop are Sensitive.

Although things have always been tough, 2012 has been a good year.

“I am turning around more and more boards,” said López.

The number of Sensitive boards that he sold in 2012 have already increased by around 50 percent when compared to those of 2011.

López credits the quality of Sensitive boards for the survival and growth of his business.

Sensitive is made with top quality wood and by a U.S manufacturer, but is affordable.

According to López, a board from Sensitive will cost around $30, while more known brands will usually fetch for around $50.

“He has a better price then a lot of brands,” said Martha Carvajal, owner of Mainline Skate Shop in Huntington Park. One of the shops that has been willing to sell Sensitive boards at since they first began. “It is a very unique brand, and [López] is very creative.”

Sergio Vergara, 21, a skateboarder who has been using Sensitive boards as member of its competition team, credits the longevity of the boards and López’s willingness to customize them as his reasons for using them.

“We are asked to give our opinions,” said Vergara in reference to López’s readiness to meet the demands of skateboarders when crafting a board for them. “The boards are also very long lasting.”

López appears to be satisfied with his current progress,  and has big plans for the future.

For example, this past August was the official release of his Sensitive skateboard wheels. López is also planning to increase production of Sensitive related clothing, as well as that of skateboarding videos that feature the brand.

That being said, López admits that this will only happen if things continue to be on the rise.

“I am conservative, so I will do what I can afford,” concluded López.

Check out the photo gallery for some of latest designs from Sensitive. 

The 3043 Board Shop is located at 3043 Tweedy Boulevard. 

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