These Are Skate Buds, Not Heelys

The very first time I saw Heelys, in-person, I was working in a shoe store at the Mall of Louisiana, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  While working, there were some kids riding through the store in Heelys.  Heelys peaked my interest.  I thought it was a good product for that kid generation.  I was 22 or so years old.  I was in graduate school for Kinesiology at Louisiana State University (LSU).  I couldn’t have imaged actually putting Heelys on and riding through my college campus, not cool, not happening.  For those kids and if had been a kid again, I imagined having my own pair of Heelys.  That’s if my mom could have afforded them.  

At the time, Heelys were $100 plus.  For a shoe, skate shoe, I was not going to wear everyday, everywhere, I could see how some kids, parents or families were not able to afford, just out of necessity.   Nonetheless, I remember thinking to myself, great product, I can do that.  

Fast forward a year or so, I was on vacation, with a friend, and I saw these strap-on heel skates, Skate Buds.  This time there were adults skating around.  Instantly, I though to myself, I need some of those.  As I was thinking it, my friend said, “We need to get some of those.”  We approached the vendor selling, asked for their contact information.  

It’s one thing to have a good idea, it’s a completely different thing to follow that idea with action.  Because I had just graduated with my Master’s of Science degree in Kinesiology, I was looking for something to do.  I thought it would be a great idea for physical activity.  

After picking up my first shipment and trying the Skate Buds on for the first time, I realized how much fun they were, but also how difficult they would be to learn for an average kid.  As I learned, I realized how much fun a kid could have, once they learned how to ride.  

After some suggestions, from friends, I began to do some grassroots level research.  One of my friends, wouldn’t try Skate Buds for of fear of falling.  Another friend tried them on, and shortly after fell flat on his butt.  There are some inherent risks involved.  The last friend tried and within a short period of time, with some coaching, he could keep his balance without falling.  I had the most success.  We were all 21 years old and older, I summoned this Skate Buds product would not be the most popular idea for adults 21 and older.  Two of four adults was not bad.  I needed to do more research.

Shortly after the experiment with my friends, myself and 2 of the friends went to do a Skate Buds demonstration at elementary school in East Baton Rouge Parish School District.  It was an early morning demonstration.  There were two Skate Buds riders and one camera man.  The students went crazy, over 500 kids in the gym and by the time we left, they were screaming Skate Buds.  After the demonstration, I knew the elementary school ages was going to be a real target for marketing and making sales going forward. 

From that day in 2008, until today, I have been working, learning and growing opportunities to bring the Skate Buds brand and product to the market, in a fun, responsible way to help encourage youth ages 7-13 to increase their daily fun and physical activity.  

Though I still love the Heelys product, I believe Skate Buds has a different perspective to bring to the marketplace.  Though the physical motion is similar or the same, I think our perspective should be represented in the marketplace.  Most adults from the Millennium Generation recognize the name brand Heelys.  This Skate Buds brand is for the next generation of students, parents and families, schools and non-profit organizations.  The New Generation of Fun and Fitness.