Man, have these past few weeks been busy! All of the interns are working so hard to get into events, launch new contests, get new customers, visit skateparks, and the list goes on forever. I can’t believe this is the end of week 12, and we are approaching the end of internship so soon. These next few weeks are going to be very challenging, as we all need to meet our sales, marketing, and PR goals by week 16. Yikes!
Something very exciting this week was our final exam! It was somewhat like the midterm, with a few extra curve balls. I’m not sure how I did yet, but I’m crossing my fingers for a good grade! For the future interns reading this, make sure you are always checking details! In the final, and everything else you do. Lead times are a real doozy. So make sure you start training your mind to think in weeks, not months.
Other crew news is that a few of our riders are competing in the Phoenix Am Competition this weekend. Keep checking our facebook and twitter for updates! http://phxam.com/
Coming into the final month, I am amazed with how much I have learned in 3 months. The internship experience has had its ups and downs, long hours have been put in, but I can really see this effort paying off. It pays off not only for what I learn as an individual, but also for the company. Facebook and Twitter followers are growing, sales are increasing, and BambooSK8 is being represented in more publications and websites. One of my commitments I can say that I am truly proud of, is expanding the exposure of the BambooSK8 brand through different online, sales outlets. A couple weeks ago, I coordinated a sale of long board completes to run with a member only action sports site for super discounted deals (www.thryll.com). Next week, beginning on 4/2, I will be running another event with KRUSH. KRUSH is a really cool website that exposes actions sports brands to a market that is in touch with that type of lifestyle. In addition to using this new audience for posting our products for sale, KRUSH also uses a customer feedback system. With this system, products are rated and reviewed to help identify trends and to help us make changes and improvements to the BambooSK8 brand. Be sure to check our Sneak Peek running through www.krush.com next week!
On March 31st, 2012 in Butler, WI at Cream City Skatepark will be Scion Ride the Beat Tour. This will be Milwaukee’s first Pro Skate Competition. Bam Magera (from Jacka$!) will be the celebrity host along with Greg Lutzka (Milwaukee native). BambooSK8 will be repping hard at the event! We are ready to go with stickers, costers, cameras, and decks in hand. The event will feature the following skaters: Tyler Henley, Shawn Turner, London Davis, Kurtis Colamonico, Nick Palmquist, Paul Hurtado and Aqil Brathwaite. Music for the event will include the following: Smash Boyz – Pre Competition, DJ Kid Cut Up – During Competition, and Shwayze – After Competition.
Follow us to get in on all the action! Click on links below!
Wow, its the end of week 12. We had a pretty gnarly final this week that I felt good about then realized I was one of the only people to get a different answer :/ I felt very productive this week, our hookit and twitter numbers went up more than any time this internship so far. I’m busting my ass for the remainder of this internship to bring the most results possible.
I’m excited about attending the EcoFest at CSU San Bernardino on April 6th representing BambooSk8 and getting some panda skateboarding footage this next week.
This program has been a fun ride, that I don’t want to end. It has pushed me to get out and skate more and talk more with the skate community. As well as getting me to push myself beyond what I believed I was capable of accomplishing. I got a concrete wave party to attend in the middle of April. Fun stuff. Let the good times roll.
BambooSk8 – where the grass is greener and you skate on it!!!
Well, It’s only Tuesday and this week is already one for the books! Today I finished the FINAL EXAM! Holy crap was that hard! I’m crossing my fingers and hoping that I did well. I can honestly say that I took bit sigh of relieve once I hit send on that email. Then quickly took some Excedrin!
Anyway, last week was intense. On top of studying for the final and getting all of that in line my team and I needed to really push to hit our goals. Currently, the marketing team is falling behind but I know that we have it in us to turn that around quickly. Actually, as of today we are starting a new sweepstakes on Facebook to see if we can get the Bamboosk8 fans to help us out. If our fans help us reach our goal of 4,430 likes by Monday April 2nd we will randomly select a fan to receive a free deck. So fingers crossed it works!
On top of all of that, this week has already been a blast! Both Geoff C and myself donned the panda suit and filmed some pretty epic skits for the social media sites. We also had an awesome photo shoot with some of the bamboo laying around the warehouse. I think we hit a comedic goals mine with these video’s. Now we just need to edit them so they can go live!
Till next time folks!
-JB
PS-Here are some of the shots we took with the Panda Suit.
We reached the end of month 3 in this hard but amazing internship. What can I say…every day I’m learning something new! If it has to do with going to skate shops and get them on-board with our awesome decks, like I did this week or if it has to do with making sure our riders on Hook it are doing their part and respecting their contract’s duties, it’s all happening here at Bamboosk8.
Personally, this last two weeks I’ve visited a shop on the Gold Coast and they’re so happy, maybe we’re starting a distribution in Australia. They love our decks and my sales rep abilities made it all possible (aahahahh, I’m a genius!!!). At the Hook it team, we’ve been working on competitions and bringing more people active to interact with us with emails, comments ect. The latest competition we’ve created is bringing a lot of action to the website and our brand, it’s called the Bamboosk8 Treasure Hunt and kids have to find clues hidden in other sites of ours and the first to find the clues win a prize.
The crew residing in Cali was fortunate enough to participate at the Clash at Clairemont, but were unlucky with the weather since it rained all day and no demos went on, but Bamboosk8 stayed there to the end supporting all the kids and fanatics around.
Time is flying by now and if everything goes according to plan in 4 weeks’ time we all graduate from the internship with enough points to move forward with our careers. This week also we have our final exam, daunting but very important to teach us about lead times and shipping costs together with understanding how a business stays profitable over the course of a year. Last time I did well, but this week I really want to go the extra mile and get maximum points.
We have been also interviewed on all the questions we are given during the internship, to see our changes to responses and to see if we are learning to use the STAR format. A very useful way to be prepared and kick it at future interviews. We’ll have another one in the coming weeks as a final one before the end of the internship, but this one was good because I gathered a lot of feedback on what to improve.
Well, I guess that’s enough of me for this time, let’s go out there to shred in Bamboosk8 fashion!
I would first like to point out that there has been sightings….( Cue scary music) Sightings of a big blurry monster roaming the countryside…wait…wrong animal…my bad. But really, BambooSK8 has a panda suit that I feel I am destined to wear! Although, I may have to thumb wrestle Jessi to wear it, I’m going to wear it!
The internship is coming to a close faster and faster. Its bittersweet because I truly dig the PR and event coordinating that I have been doing. The BambooSK8 family and my fellow interns are awesome! Enough with the emo stuff….
So here’s whats going on next…We will be hosting a charity event to an incredible organization called Grind for Life. Its an organization that provides financial assistance to cancer patients and families as the travel for miles to get to treatment centers and hospital. This hits close to home because my beautiful mom is a cancer survivor. We’re having it a Hensley’s in Carlsbad and you are all invited!!! There will be a silent auction, food, awesome bands (The Short Eyes, Barbarian Overlords, and The Warned) and possible panda sightings!!!
Alissa ( another intern) and I will be repping BambooSK8 at the Ride the Beat Tour on March 31st! If you’re in the Milwaukee area, we’d love to meet you. We’ll have some boards with us so if you want one or 17, we have them!!
So what been up with me in the Midwest?? 84 degree temp that’s whats up!! Finally we have nicer weather than my Cali counterparts!! Eat your heart out!! I, also, decided to visit a ton of movie locations in Chicago. I love John Hughes so I went to the “Home Alone” house, Cameron’s house from Ferris Bueller and the football field from the Breakfast Club. I got to cross some stuff off my bucket list…It was the stuff dreams are made of…
It’s easy to think “oh yeah I have to be efficient, no problem.” Although, when you are hit with a bunch of tasks to tackle, it’s not always as easy as it seems.
Red peppers in my self sustaining vegetable garden in South Cali
Luckily, we have a sweet system set up to monitor our efficiency and help us manage our workload. The timesheet has been a challenge to stick to and it has been difficult to figure out how to make improvements but it has been a big help.
Super Sweet 100 Cherry Tomatoes
We had an awesome time at Clash at Clairemont 6. Despite the bad weather, a ton of people came out to support Grind For Life.
The Clash
This program has been a blast and a big challenge for me to learn how to bring results and develop professionally. I look forward to every second of the rest of it.
So, we have this thing called the MPS (Management Performance System) at BambooSK8. It allows us to set, measure, and track to goals both individually and as a team. This has been instrumental in helping my personal progress throughout the internship. For one, I never consistently set specific goals and frequently checked my progress toward them. With the current system we have in place, I am forced to stay on top of my goals. Every week, I am working toward a weekly goal that eventually cumulates in a monthly or semester period goal. Using this system, I am constantly aware of where I stand in relation to my goals. Additionally, when I begin to add numbers to this to track my success, I am able to see areas I can improve upon to better reach my goals. Overall, it has really helped to contribute to my success while in the internship program with BambooSK8.
Beyond the MPS, I am learning tons of information from the big bosses at BambooSK8. Through constant feedback and constructive criticism, I am gradually becoming stronger in areas such as attention to detail, focusing on effective communication, and how to lead a team. We can also learn about life at BambooSk8. Our CEO has a fresh, insightful outlook on life, which I am beginning to apply to my own.
Just a few more weeks until this wonderful experience comes to an end! It is so crazy how time flies when you’re having fun and working hard! I am part of the sales team and one of the things we are in charge of is visiting skate shops and getting new clients. Easier said than done. I have realized very quickly that getting sales isn’t as easy as I thought it would be. What works for some shops doesn’t work for others, and some people just don’t want to deal with you. The key is persistence and staying stoked on BambooSK8.
If any of you readers are considering this internship in the future, you need to be ready to work hard and learn. Our executive team is composed of some real action sports ballers! I have been working with Mark over the last month and he’s taught me a thing or two about being confident when visiting shops and also being confident in interviews. This internship is more than just gaining experience and also about growing as a business professional.
In other news, everyone is getting ready for the Clash at Clairemont event! I hear it’s going to be super awesome! Schwag, skating, pros… what more could you ask for! Unfortunately, I will hanging out in Colorado on my Spring Break! Not too unfortunate, but I would definitely rather be hanging out with the BambooSK8 crew at the Clash. It’s okay, maybe next year.
Until next time friends! The weather is getting super nice out here! Spring has arrived and skate season has started. Also, have you guys been playing Draw Something? It’s like the biggest thing since sliced bread. You should probably download it and start playing with your friends now!!!
Week 10 is filled with adventure for me this week! I will give you a break down of my week in this blog. Out-of-office intern Alissa became In-office intern extraordinaire! I am on my Spring Break and I got to travel around the sunny state of California.
Saturday 3/10/12: Traveled from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA and traveled to San Bernardino
Sunday 3/11/12: Caught some rays at the pool at California State San Bernardino
Monday 3/12/12: Walked around the campus and visited an awesome skateboard exhibit in a gallery
Tuesday 3/12/12: Traveled to Oceanside on the 4:48am MetroLink
Wednesday 3/13/12: Visited the BambooSK8 office!
Thursday 3/14/12: Went into the office again and met some more lovely interns!
Friday 3/15/12: I travel to San Diego and visited the San Diego Zoo.
Saturday 3/16/12: I will be traveling back to WI.
I had such a wonderful trip. I got to visit a friend, go to the BambooSK8 office, make some memories, and sit on the ocean. I really could not have asked for a better vacation. I know that this internship is helping me grow more as a person inside and out. These friendships I have made will last me a lifetime. Thank you to everyone in Oceanside, CA. I appreciate you all SO SO much!
St.Patrick’s day is coming this weekend and we got so many things happening at Bamboosk8.
The internship is going really well and we’re all putting in a lot of effort in making it as successful as the others. This weekend we have the Clash at Clairemont event where we’ll have a booth so don’t be shy and come say hi. You can meet most of the interns making the pilgrimage to Cali and you can try and buy our decks, new graphics and new apparel clothing!
We are striving to reach time efficiency by using our MPS system and the time-sheet to record how much time we spend on assignments and duties and how we perform compared to previous weeks. using a time-sheet is also really helpful to assign things to do to different days of the week so that we’re more efficient and we can have more time to put toward other commitments.
Learning first hand how the action sport business works I can say that it’s a 24/7 job. You never rest and everything is going on anytime, but when the results come in is very rewarding.
I hope to learn more during the next few weeks so that I can use the information and experience to find a job sooner than later.
I can’t believe it is already week 9! Time fly’s when your being eco-friendly I guess. So far I have learned great things from my internship here at BambooSk8. The Management Systems that the company has in place really helps with organization. We also are required to fill out weekly time sheets that show everything we do, and how long it takes us to do it. I think it would be quite a feet for there to be a disorganized intern in this program!!! However, all of these tools are essential for entering the work force.
This week we are gearing up for the Clash at Clairemont. This event takes place on St. Patricks day, and I am SO EXCITED for it! Geoff K bought a panda suit for the event, and I can’t wait to see who we get to wear it. Things are pretty busy in the office, there is a lot of planning that goes into these types of events. After all, we want to make it great for everyone!!!
Other than the Clash event, things are running business as usual. I have been working hard with my team to get our Facebook and Analytic numbers where they need to be. I have also been spending a lot of time on Hookit to try and help our numbers there. We have some really great contests running at the moment, and we have another St. Patty’s day one about to be announced as well. Tameka, Mark and myself have also been working very hard at planning the fundraiser for Grind for Life. So far it is lining up to be pretty awesome!! The venue, Hensley’s Flying Elephant, is awesome!!!! We also have some pretty incredible bands lined up to play. The main goal right now is to get donations from other companies. So Jackie created a flyer for us to send out, and let me tell you, that girl is a genius!!!
On top of all of this, Jamie and I are helping some students up at the Oasis Skate Factory in Toronto with their deck designs. I can’t believe how amazingly talented these kids are. Their project is to create a deck design for a Bamboo deck that sends the message of sustainability. These designs are so good, I wouldn’t have thought they came from kids at all! Jamie and I are beyond excited to see what their final designs look like! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK GUYS!!!!
Below is some of the amazing work that the kids at OSF are doing!
The internship at Bamboosk8 is moving along quickly I can’t believe that it is already week 10. There has been so much that I have learned and got to do since starting the internship. One of the side projects that I have been working on is to work with high school kids that live in Toronto, Canada. They are a part of a program called the Oasis Skate Factory (OSF). They are working really hard at designing a Bamboosk8 skateboard deck. The entire class is competing to see who has the best idea. The kids are trying to design decks that have something to do with sustainable energy, and being green. I have been emailing back and forth with them for a few weeks now, and giving them feedback on the designs they have come up with so far. They are so good, I was completely blown away when I started to open their files and see their designs. What amazing talent! All of the kids get to keep their decks at the end of the contest but the lucky winners get to have their decks displayed at the Bamboosk8 factory. I cannot wait to see what the finished products look like and who ends up with the winning deck!!!
Another fun and upcoming event that I will be assisting Bamboosk8 with is the Clash at Clairemont. This is a skateboarding event to crush cancer held at the YMVA in Mission Valley, San Diego. They will have some of the top skateboard riders including Andy Macdonald, Tony Hawk, Bucky Lasek, Pierre-Luc Gagnon (“PLG”), Simon Tabron, Mimi Knoop and many more! All of the proceeds from the event go back to the YMCA and the Grind for Life Foundation. It should be a great day and event, can’t wait!
This internship is incredibly fun yet challenging at the same time. We just got passed our midterm exam this week! Income statements, cash flows, gross profit margins! Sounds like Accounting101 right? I know this isn’t supposed to be school, but the concepts covered in this exam (which are continually built upon in everything we do is truly valuable to running a business) sure makes it seem like it!
Beyond all the hard work put into this internship, I have to say that working in the action sports industry is definitely as cool as I pictured it. The people are awesome, from the interns and mentors at BambooSK8, to all the shop owners and industry leaders I have met throughout this experience. People working in this industry work here for a reason, because they love what they do! The love for what they do is reflected in the amount of dedication and professionalism that each one of them puts into their work. Looking forward to the 2nd half!
Half way done!! Oh my, this week was absolutely insane. First, I am learning how to play the piano in school, and it is definitely my greatest challenge. Learning an instrument past 20 takes far more effort and commitment. It is really teaching me to be patient with myself and accept that I’m not the greatest at everything I do (haha ).
Another crazy part of the week was the midterm (yikes!!)!! I had been preparing for weeks and weeks, hours and hours for this thing, and you know what happened?? I messed up one thing and it screwed up all of my answers. Lesson learned, pay attention to details and make sure you use every resource you have when studying (as in ask your fellow interns for help in addition to the executive team). I didn’t do as well as I was hoping, but now that I know what to do next time and I should be able to rock the final!
Overall, the internship has been a blast. Everyone is super cool and very helpful. We have been busting our butts as a team to increase facebook likes and twitter followers, and it looks like our hard work is paying off! If you guys haven’t already, please follow us on twitter, and like us on facebook. We give you the DL on the latest cool news! Also, special shout out to Gabe, who has been doing an amazing job managing Hookit!
It snows, and then it’s warm. It snows, and then it’s warm. I wish Denver would make up its mind!! Cheers!
Style is a way for all of us to express ourselves. Fashion is ever so prevalent in our everyday lives. If you are a skater you know that you want function and style in your choices. Check out BambooSK8′s merch section on the website to get some cool swag! http://www.bamboosk8.com/store/index.php?cPath=21_23
Spring will be upon us soon. I have one more week and I will be offically on Spring break. Look out for a blog during week 10! During week 10 this Wisconsin dwelling girl will be an in the BambooSK8 office! I will be reporting about my Spring Break 2012: Operation Cali Fun Time. I am very excited to meet the people I have been working with for the past 2 months! I will be breaking out my best spring gear no matter what the temperature will be in Oceanside.
Make sure you are ready for Spring and Summer 2012! Get yourself some BambooSK8 Merch today!
*BambooSK8 does not carry any of these products. Is is an informative blog of current fashion trends.
At the halfway point in the internship, I feel like I have learned so much already and I am very excited about the next 2 months. At the beginning, I had a lot of room for personal and professional growth and I feel like every week I have experienced consistent improvement.
I don’t have only one good thing to say about only one intern because I feel very positively about the entire team. I feel like every single person has contributed a ton of valuable input to our team and I feel lucky to have had the chance to interact with them all.
Richmond Skate Plaza
So far the internship has been both fun and intense. It has pushed me to get out to new spots to skate and interact more with my fellow skateboard people. It has also pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me push myself to the limit. I have learned to take more ownership for my actions and to be more assertive.
One roadblock I’m facing is pushing myself more on sales. Also, 2 out of 3 of the marketing teams I’m on have not been reaching their goals so we really need to push to come up with great ideas and lead the team to success.
Best halloween costume ever!
The big bamboo bosses have been giving me great insight into how to best utilize various forms of online marketing and sales. We’ve also just received a great lesson on finance that opened my eyes to the world of ordering skateboards.
So far this program has been one of the best experiences in my life!
Hi all Bamboosk8rs fans and readers of other people’s blogs!!
We just had a week from hell with a financial exam and everything else going on. This internship is redefining the meaning of “busy”. I truly have admiration for Gavin and Jessi who always seem in control of what’s going on, but I guess being in the office helps a big time. All the interns though are putting so much effort to get everything going and results are coming in.
This week we’ve been working on Hook it, Facebook, Twitter, Movie Maker Xtranormal, an event in Cali, auctions in Last Click, work on Seshday, Survey monkey on different things and the exam on how to create Income Statements and Cash Flows.
We’re also running multiple events on all platforms. Check our websites for what we’re offering our followers and trusted customers,
Twitter: who tags the most @Bamboosk8
Facebook: Are you the chosen one? enter team video to win
Hook it: How green are you contest, posting pictures of how to be green recycling ect..
Bamboo we: Bamboo bonanza code to buy and then enter sweepstake
I mean what else can we do?
Wait and see our next blog to find out what’s coming at you.
We’re so proud of making so much difference already and another 2 months ahead of us!
WHOOOOOA….WERE HALFWAY THERE!!!…….(Sing it with me) WooooooOOHH…..LIVIN ON A PRAYER!!!
All I can say about this week is that it has been BANANAS! ( Is it bad that I hear Gwen Stefani in my head every time I spell that word?) We have all been in study mode getting ready to take the midterm which I must say was brutal!
Just a side note for the interns after us….STUDY STUDY STUDY and help each other out as much as you can! It taught me a lot cash flow statements, shipping, revenue and all things accounting. While I’ll be the first one to admit that I am sorta of a information junkie (or nerd whichever you prefer) who wants to learn everything, I’m glad I was introduced to it all and glad the midterm is OVER!! Whew!
I got to spend a week at home in San Diego with my mom and family which was pretty awesome and I totally needed a break from the cold weather in Illinois. I, also, got the chance to stop by the BambooSK8 office in Oceanside and meet my Oside fam! Jessi ( who btw is the internet queen of the world and freaking hilarious) and Jamie (who is equally as funny and has been a huge help to me ) were there hanging out in the intern cave/dungeon/ coldest place on earth. It was really cool to get a chance to meet them outside of Skype calls. P.S. Geoff C is one of the busiest people ever and he has media gadgets galore. He keeps saying hes going to make a sweet “Rambo Media BELT” to accommodate for his “iArensal.” I was expecting to see if when I got there but sadly, there was no belt and I think I cried a little.
While I am on the topic, can I just say that ALISSA,GAVIN, GABE,DAVID, MICHELLE, JESSI and JAMIE are on top of their game! I am proud to be apart of a team that is so well rounded, creative and determined. Everyone brings something different to the table and I appreciate all of you! Keep up the good work guys!!
So whats next? Well, Ive been doing a ton of PR work…talking to event coordinators, booking bands for events, creating events for BambooSK8 and Bamboo Buddy to attend and getting our name into as many publications as I can. I must say I DIG it! I love everything about what I am doing right now! I’m looking to continue doing public relations within the action sports industry. (Wink Wink)
I am pretty stoked about what I have learned so far in this internship and how much it applies to every aspect of life. We are currently working out the details of hosting a fundraiser event that will be held during Earth Week! There’s talk of a Panda Suit….at some point during the night….I will probably be in it!!! LOL
Also, I will be attending my first event for BambooSK8 in Milwaukee at the end of March! Alissa and I will be ‘boo swaggin” it out at the Ride the Beat tour hosted by Bam Margera! If your in the area, we’d love to meet you!
Now that I’m back in cold Midwest, I guess I’ll bundle up…..IN MY ONEZIE PAJAMAS!!
This week we had are BIG midterm, man am I glad that is done with. I never realized how hard cash flow and income statements were to understand until I had to deal with this midterm. Now that it is done I can say that it was a great learning experience, and it was worth all of the time and effort I put into it. I now understand how and why a lot of things are done in a company. Thanks to Geoff C. for helping me with my excel sheet without him I would have been totally lost and probably ten times more stressed out. I also want to give a shout out to Tameka; you are doing an awesome job handling all of the PR stuff for Bamboosk8, keep up all your hard work!!! Now that the internship is half way over I can say that all of my stress and hard work is now beginning to pay off. I am learning lots especially how hard it is to get new customers and sell skate boards. That alone takes a lot of time and energy. Are sales team is doing a great job of accomplishing this keep up the great work guys. I have also learned how to use social media to its fullest potential. I don’t think I have ever been on Facebook as much as I have in the last few weeks. I have learned a bunch of different things you can do on Facebook such as the reveal tab which makes followers like us they can view are page. Thanks to Jessi we have some amazing flyers that have been getting posted on Facebook, Twitter and Hook it. Thanks Jess you do a great job at creating these. The experience so far has been great can’t wait to see what the next few week hold!!
THIS WEEK WAS INSANE!!!!!! I think I heard a collective sigh of relief from all the interns once the midterm was completed. I don’t know about anyone else, but I took a couple of shots of Jameson to take the edge off after that exam. It may have been very difficult, but the knowledge I gained from the experience was undeniable. I will carry this information with me throughout my career for sure.
Now, on to the good stuff. The marketing team and myself have really been working hard at reaching our numbers lately. We have lined up a lot of contests for Facebook, Hookit, and Twitter. All of this has been with the help of BambooSk8′s graphic guru Jackie! Without her, our contest flyers would look pretty busted. David has utilized a program that will automatically post to Twitter, so he is really moving on that end! I was able to get the new Facebook Reveal Tab added to Google Analytics so we are seriously moving on our goals!
On top of all the awesomeness that is just exuding from the interns, a few of us in office interns got to meet TAMEKA! She came into town and hung out with us in the cave. It was awesome to put a face to all those emails! The next intern scheduled to visit us Oside Riders is Alissa. She better get her game face on for beer pong!
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