Posts Tagged ‘action sports’
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
I can’t believe it’s already week three. I know this summer is going to fly by and it’s really bittersweet. I’m excited to see what else this internship at Bamboo has to offer, but it also means that I’ll be clinging on to the summer long after it’s over. My spring semester only ended last week so I didn’t have any time between finals ending and starting work at Bamboo to enjoy some time off, so getting out of the office to go down to San Diego for our first two skatepark visits was a nice compromise. I’ve never been that far south so it was great to see a cool new area of California. I will definitely be going back to SD soon to really check out the city.
Back in Oceanside, it’s hard to stay away from the beach when it’s always in sight. Hopefully I will get a longboard soon and finally learn to surf, but until then I’ve been enjoying the perfect California summer just laying out in the sun. The view certainly never gets old:
Tags: action sports, bamboo skateboards, bamboosk8, intern, internship, ocean beach, San Diego, skate bamboo, Summer
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Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
Yesterday, the sales skatepark team visited two parks in San Diego . Kelly was awesome and drove us around and arranged to bring some riders and a cameraman.
Three tips for our next visit:
1. Kids love stickers. The bigger stickers provide more value and make it easer to write the offer and promo code on the back.
2. Bring decks. We left ours in a last-minute vehicular change. You really want to show the kids the decks and graphics. Think tactile product engagement, Apple Store style.
3. Always carry a spare tire. We had a blowout on the I5 and thankfully Kelly had a fifth wheel in the trunk.
Tags: action sports, bamboo sk8, bamboo skateboards, intern, internship, marketing internship, memorial skate park, ocean beach skate park, San Diego, sustainable skateboards
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Thursday, May 16th, 2013
Call me crazy, but I love the feeling of leaving the warm, sandy beaches of Hawaii enroute to the hustle and bustle of LAX . I get a chance to catch up on some much needed ZzZzzZ’s and I walk off the plane feeling motivated!
I always like to start off with a breakfast of champions, courtesy of Sloopy’s. You’ve got to try the Mushroom Croustini if you’re ever in the area!
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it down to the office in Oceanside on this recent visit due to a flight delay. But luckily, my Dad sells his chips onboard Hawaiian Airlines and they partially pay us in miles, so I’ll be back soon!
Don’t forget to keep an eye out for some of his products in our Scavenger Hunts!
[hint hint: Go Follow us on Twitter: @SkateBamboo // Facebook & Instagram @Bamboo Skateboards]
Speaking of which, the main point of my blog this week was to send a big wave of Aloha to all of my teammates because they are all doing a tremendous job! Working with 10 other people is tough — not to mention we’re spread across a few different time zones! But no one can work alone. Even DMX has the roughriders. You can’t stop drop and open up shop without a team. [props if you can guess which movie that lines from]
On that note, I’ll leave you with some awesome tuneage that’s been getting me through this hectic workweek 
To A Friend (Adventure Club Remix)
Tags: action sports, Bamboo Buddy, bamboo skateboards, ecofriendly, Hawaii, intern, internship, Manhattan Beach, movie quotes, music, skate art, social media, sustainability through art, team power
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Sunday, May 12th, 2013
Hey I’m Marina. I was born in Jamaica and went to school in the Cayman Islands for ten years. When I was choosing where to go to university, I wanted to experience something completely different, but warm weather and the ocean were things I couldn’t leave behind. Growing up in the Caribbean, anything under 75 degrees is sweater weather, so anywhere with snow was out. I had never been to the west coast before, but LA seemed like it would have everything I was looking for. I moved three years ago to start at USC and could not be happier with the choice I made.
I’m studying marketing at USC and I’m looking forward to getting real word experience during this internship. Plus the Bamboo office is only a few blocks from the beach.. what could be better?!
Bamboo – Rootical Boom
Tags: #Bambooskateboards, action sports, Bamboo Buddy, bamboosk8, internship, longboarding, marketing, Summer
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Sunday, May 12th, 2013
Hi, I’m Mike. I’m the career changer in the group. Ten years ago I became a middle school teacher but then moved to the Caribbean to run a country’s sailing program. Been a great ride so far. I decided to spend 2013 taking a digital marketing program at college and spending the summer doing something different. So here I am.
Here’s my list of things I learnt during the first week:
1. Carry your photo identification AT ALL TIMES. Although I’m flattered at the age of 35 to be asked to prove I’m 21, every single bar and restaurant in Oceanside requires proof. Don’t forget it if you’re like me and enjoy an apres work beer.
2. Watch dropbox. It’s got a mind of its own. Biggest source of stress so far. Let everyone know that you’re updating a file and don’t forget to change the filename date.
3. Ask questions. I had an amazing conversation with Wyatt about how the decks are made. It was super interesting and every intern should really learn about the products we sell.
4. The coconut milk soup at The Wok Inn on Mission Avenue downtown Oceanside is, ahem, to Thai for. Say hi to Lynn.
Have a good one.
Tags: action sports, bamboo sk8, bamboo skateboards, intern, internship, marketing internship, sustainable skateboards, the wok inn
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Friday, May 10th, 2013
This is just the beginning of an amazing experience, and I am beyond stoked to be a part of the class 16 group of interns…however; instead of being in California with most of my class, I am stuck in Ohio working remotely. My plans are still up in the air for now of when I will be moving out to California, but I am hoping it is as soon as possible. In the meantime, I am currently in my last quarter of school and will graduate from The Art Institute of Ohio-Cincinnati in June with a BA in fashion marketing and management. Wait, back up…fashion? Yes, I have always had a love for fashion, music, art, and culture, but I have also found my real niche in activewear and my calling in action sports. In high school I started wakeboarding and soon enough, snowboarding, which has lead me here as an intern with Bamboo Skateboards!
I found this internship on an up and coming action sports careers website called Super Rad. Three weeks before I became an intern for Bamboo, I was constantly staying up until 3a.m. researching job posts because 1. I am a very determined person, and 2. I want to be in the action sports industry…like, yesterday.
So anyways, I found Bamboo’s internship post and I was automatically pumped after researching and learning more about the company. This program is literally one-of-a-kind. The in-depth experience, the culture, and the knowledge that we are going to gain from this is unreal! I am looking forward to learning more about the industry so I can take as much as possible with me into the real world.
Today, we are slowly coming towards the end of the first week and it has been a crazy ride so far. There is so much information to take in and keep up with, but one thing is for sure. I have met (not technically ‘met’, but you know what I mean) so many awesome people and have learned some valuable life
lessons. I am so grateful to be a part of this experience and I am excited to see what is next for Bamboo Skateboards, our class, and to be able to look back and see how much I have grown as a person after this!
“Today is the start of a new adventure. New challenges to face, new memories to make, and new obstacles to overcome.” -Nishan Panwar
-Bri.
Check out this song that’s going to keep me motivated to move out West!
California
Late night wake sess.
Tags: action sports, Adventure, bamboo, bamboosk8, California, eco-friendly, experience, fashion, fun, green, intern, internship, Life, management, marketing, Obstacles, oceanside, Ohio, sales, skate, skateboarding, snowboarding, Summer, Wakeboarding, Week1
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Friday, May 10th, 2013
In the early 1800s Thomas Jefferson purchased new territory, referred to as the Louisiana Purchase, that would double the size of the United States. This westward expansion would fuel the growth of the “empire of liberty” that would eventually span from coast to coast on this majestic piece of earth. I just want to say thank you Tommy J for pulling the trigger on that one because if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be living the dream right now in beautiful SoCal. Like my boy TJ, I have also expanded westward. Of course we’re talking on a much smaller scale in terms of purchasing land, or in my case a month to month lease, but it is relatively similar in terms of distance. I come from a suburb right outside of DC called Vienna, Virginia and now reside in San Diego. One month ago, after landing the internship with Bamboo Skateboards, I decided to pull the trigger on moving out here to be as close to the scene as possible. By scene I mean the action sports scene. Vienna is nice town and DC can be great, but everyone would rather ride the metro (subway system) or a segway than any board with wheels attached to it. It’s a very different world, a world I would rather not live in for my passion lies outside of the district walls, away from government and IT (two of the most prominent professions in the area). My passion lies in this world, the world of skate, snow, surf, wake, etc. If the action sports scene was in DC, I would be the happiest man alive. The beaches, beautiful weather and people of SoCal are just icing on the cake for me.
Thomas Jefferson knew that westward expansion was key to the nation’s health. He knew that the move would strengthen our growth as a nation and our freedom. I knew this move would grow and stretch me unlike anything I have ever experienced before and it certainly has given me a broad new sense of freedom. I know this internship will do the same as it is a great step in the right direction for me. I am very lucky to be a part of it. Theres a lot of hard work ahead but the rewards and benefits are well worth it. I’m happy to be here, super stoked to be a part of Bamboo Skateboards and so far I’m thinking this move has been the best thing I have ever done for myself. You have to treat yourself every once in a while, buy yourself something to reward your hard work. It could be a shirt, perhaps a book to inspire you…I think I just bought the first piece to my new life. Happy Friday! Until next time.
Greg
Tags: action sports, bamboo skateboards, DC, freedom, growth, internship, moving, socal, Thomas Jefferson, Westward expansion
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Thursday, May 9th, 2013
It’s amazing how things change especially once college is over. You graduate, receive that hard earned degree and enter into the world of competition and self actualization. It’s pretty exciting, but also scary not knowing what exactly comes next. Luckily for our generation, we can browse through the internet searching tirelessly for new jobs, internships, or figure out what’s next without having to leave the keyboard. With the huge inventory of jobs and opportunities that I saw, it was hard to be qualified or they weren’t up my alley, meaning they seemed to take advantage of free labor. Then one day something popped up about an internship for a skateboard company called Bamboo Skateboards. And get this, IT ACTUALLY HAD DETAILS AND PAST INTERN FEEDBACK! In that action sports industry it’s really hard to find quality entry level jobs or internships. Bamboo Skateboards rose way above many of the other internships in that it had passionate feedback. It’s only the first week, but I can already tell this internship will really prove to be a mentorship and facilitate personal growth with an emphasis in professional development. I’m so excited for this opportunity, and can’t wait to get to sunny San Diego!!
Tags: #Bambooskateboards, action sports, bamboo, bamboo skateboards, bamboosk8, intern, internship
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Monday, April 22nd, 2013
I cannot wait to see what happens after completing this internship. By remaining focusing on what is needed to accomplish today’s goals, I have a clear vision what will need to happen to achieve the employment desired in the action sports industry. It has been a constant feat to balance my current employment, this internship, and my social life all at once. Having completed this internship will allow me to focus purely on acquiring the employment opportunities I desire and less on balancing the many other requirements others have for me.
One thing will always remain certain in life, if you want something you have to go out and get it for yourself. This internship has taught me that you must be willing to make sacrifices, do whatever it takes to keep moving forward, and push until you reach your goals. It may seem hard at times to keep all this up month after month, week after week, day after day, but this is a proven the recipe for success. By staying driven day in and out, no matter the circumstances I remain in a commitment that many others have not been able to meet. It is a great lesson about running a prosperous business; no matter what the daily circumstances may be, it is important to stay focused on moving towards the goals.
As this journey comes towards an end, I have acquired some very useful information and lessons that will carry on with me in my new employment, new experiences, and new life challenges. Every tribulation that is faced today prepares me for the future, and how situations are handled today dictates how well I can control the outcome of future circumstances.
Tags: #Bambooskateboards, action sports, bamboo, bamboo skateboards, bamboosk8, commitments, eco-friendly, events, facebook, focused, goals, Hookit, intern, interns, internship, longboarding, longboards, marketing, public relations, San Diego, sk8, skate, skateboard, skateboarding, skateboards, sustainability, twitter
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Sunday, April 14th, 2013
This constant movement is nothing new to Bamboo Skateboards. Since its conception, this skateboard company has found a way to constantly be “buzzing”. Whether it’s in various social medias, written publications, radio waves, or television this has been a brand that is in constant motion. After thinking about it, it seems as though my busy life has not even held a candle to what this company and its employees have done. Consistent updating is what is needed when running a successful business, and many of these updates come in a very short period of time.
Recently, Bamboo skateboards warehouse was moved to another location in Oceanside. During this move, there were not much more than just a handful of people helping. It is absolutely amazing how in less than 2 weeks there was such a transformation for the company. It was humbling to find with a little bit of help, some great will power, determination and eagerness from a small pool of talented individuals, this transformation was nothing more than a healthy heartbeat for the company. there was not any one moment that I had heard comments of how this may affect the company or even the individuals lives in a negative way, but rather a feeling of fresh air. This change had happened to become something better, something that the company was ready for.
Because of demonstrations like this, it has become apparent to me that no matter how pre-determined or busy my life may seem, it absolutely needs to be open to changes. Just as the company had done with a little bit of help, some great will power, determination and eagerness to become something better, I will become something better. Thanks to Bamboos core capabilities to acclimate I have seen to become something better, you must be enthusiastic to change.
Tags: #Bambooskateboards, action sports, bamboo, Bamboo Buddy, bamboo skateboards, bamboobuddy, eco, facebook, interns, longboarding, mark olson, marketing, oceanside, office, public relations, San Diego, sk8, skate, skateboarding, skateboards, sustainability, twitter, warehouse
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Sunday, April 7th, 2013
With summer approaching quickly, more and more I find myself near the water and in less clothing. But before days are spent in board shorts and flip flops there are some much needed skateboard trips! Last weekend’s event stirred a new desire to be on the road scouting skate spots and parks. I was fortunate enough to find myself amongst some very inspiring talented skateboarders and enthusiastic spectators. Last Saturday the Carmel Valley skate park hosted the “I ride, I recycle” skateboard contest. Let me begin by stating there was much more to see than just a few power slides and wheelies. I was not only impressed by the caliber of riding, but the diversity of athletes. Not only were competitors of many ability levels, but they were of different sexes, age groups, and skateboarding styles. There was a little bit of everything at this event; it seemed as though even skateboarders that were not in the sanctioned competition were having fun skating in their own competitive contest. At any given time I would look around and see others not only having a great time, but having support from others doing it. It makes me remember weekends when mom would take me to the skate park. Ma didn’t know anything about skateboarding, so I never listened to her tips, you know stupid comments like “keep your head up, or “make sure to keep my feet above the metal thingy’s” it never failed that in less than 10 minutes an older skater would roll up and say “Keep your head up dude”, or “Yo bro, keep your feet over the trucks!”. Somehow it sunk more when he said it; he was a peer and was understanding. this skateboard event reminded me of All the things that I long for…skate trips to rad parks, skateboarding with a diverse group of athletes, the inspiration from complete strangers that know what they are talking about and a little bit of summer to top it off.
JEB
Tags: #Bambooskateboards, action sports, bamboo, Bamboo Buddy, bamboo skateboards, bamboobuddy, bamboosk8, carmel valley, contest, del mar, eco, eco-friendly, events, facebook, fun, green, Hookit, i recycle, i ride, intern, interns, internship, marketing, pr, public relations, sales, San Diego, sk8, skate, skateboard, skateboarding, skateboards, Sunny, sustainability
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Thursday, April 4th, 2013
Who is Bamboo Skateboards?
Bamboo Skateboards is an ecologically-based skateboard brand and manufacturer of high quality skateboards made from sustainable bamboo from managed forests.
- We are social entrepreneurs who believe that giving back to our communities is as equally important as profits.
- We service core shops, brands and individuals around the globe while providing a solidified partnership and unique experience with each.
- We have been a part of action sports and skateboarding our whole lives and now passionately hope to inspire others to take actionable steps towards our preserving our natural environment.
What is the success rate of your internship?
In almost every class out of 14 classes so far, at least 1 top candidate has gained employment directly in the action sports industry while others gained other non-endemic positions. A few of the companies include Fox Moto-X, Rock Star Energy, Haro Bicycles, Nixon, Dark Horse Distribution, Action Sports Group, as well as 4 prior interns having been employed by Bamboo Skateboards.
When does the internship start and end?
Internships are 16 weeks and class 16 will officially start on May, 6th 2013 and end August 26th, 2013. Class 17 will then start in September-December.
What is the time requirement per week?
A minimum of 20 hours are required per week. If you live local, we require one full 8-hour day in the Oceanside office but highly recommend at least two.
Is the internship available to those outside of California?
Yes. We have had international interns from Finland, France, Germany, Scotland and Australia, as well as interns from Florida, Wisconsin, New York, Michigan, Illinois, etc.
Can college credit be earned?
Yes, class credit can be earned for college.
Is this a paid internship?
No.
What are the details of the internship?
Internship is graded on 400 total points involving weekly duties such as managing your commitments/goals file, writing weekly blogs, updating your philosophy and charters, providing mentor feedback, intern matrix grading other interns, mid-term exam, final exam, communication with team, etc. The last month of internship is devoted to improving your resume, interviewing practice and other key actions to maximize your opportunities for job growth. The style of the internship is disciplined with a syllabus, “intern-bible”, and weekly files that are all accessed on Dropbox and Google Docs. This style of internship is based on an MBA, business school program and is unlike your traditional internship. People can actually fail out of the program for not meeting the minimum requirements.
What are the core responsibilities and requirements?
Internship-in-training Responsibilities:
• Marketing – daily management of the FB, Twitter, HOOKIT, Instagram, YouTube accounts; analyze Google analytics; create contests
• Sales – visit skateshops; visit skateparks; manage alternative websites; find new sales leads and manage through salesforce.com; push online sales
• Public relations – updating database of contacts, writing press releases, finding positive publicity, pushing YouTube/Vimeo videos, handling event coordination
Internship-in-training Requirements:
• Applicants should be active participants with a thorough understanding of the skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding youth culture; prefer skateboarding-focused
• Applicants should be outgoing and personable with good social and conversational skills; communication that connects!
• Must be analytical, process driven, detail oriented and be trusted to get the job done
• Must be able to manage your time with outside life, work, etc.
• Must be a leader and a self-starter…but also maintain the ability to work independently
• Creative people with photography, video-editing skills are a bonus!!!
• Prefer college graduates, but others can receive college credit
Questions you will be asked:
1. What are you looking to get out of an internship in relation to your future goals?
2. What do you feel makes you a UNIQUE qualified candidate?
3. Why have you chosen Bamboo Skateboards specifically?
4. What days of the week are you available to come in and work a full day?
5. Are you financially stable to ensure that you can do an internship up to 4 months?
To apply, please submit your resume and answers to the five questions above to:
info@bamboosk8.com
Tags: action sports, internship, jobs, marketing, public relations, sales, skateboarding
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Thursday, March 28th, 2013
So this last weekend I got to represent Bamboo Skateboards at “Greenfest” which was presented by SDSU’s Associated Students and SDSU’s Enviro-Business Society. It was a weeklong schedule of events which encourage, celebrate, and advocate sustainability and diversity. The purpose of GreenFest was to engage the campus community through social and interactive programs in an effort to educate them on the important of living a sustainable lifestyle and to promote sustainable practices.
Engaging with the students and staff alike, it was evident that SDSU is a campus that is at the forefront of living sustainably. Every vendor that was present was making steps towards revealing ways to improve lifestyle while doing a part of preserving the future. It was not only a great event, but a great venue. For anyone that has not been to the SDSU campus I would recommend visiting for the simple fact of viewing great architecture in a stunning setting. Awesome art, design, and scenery coupled along with great weather and many like-minded students, sets the tone for becoming educated in both general studies and sustainability at a SDSU a synch. It is no wonder this is a preferred University amongst many students living in Southern California.
While working this event, I informed others about business practices that will not only generate business for Bamboo skateboards, but healthier consumer decisions on what products leave less of an impact on future generations. Overall, I would say that this was a great success for Bamboo Skateboards and other products/services that promote sustainability!
JEB
Tags: #Bambooskateboards, action sports, bamboo, Bamboo Buddy, bamboo skateboards, bamboobuddy, bamboosk8, eco, eco-friendly, events, facebook, fun, green, Hookit, intern, interns, internship, jeb, longboarding, longboards, marketing, pr, public relations, sales, San Diego, sdsu, sdsu greenfest, sk8, skate, skateboard, skateboarding, skateboards, sustainability
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Friday, March 15th, 2013
While it seems it’s been a lifetime, this internship has only been around 9 weeks since the commencement. What is most important for me is to understand I am past the halfway threshold. As we are coming towards the end of the internship, time will begin to slip through my hands and it will all be over before I know it. After taking the midterm, it seems as though all other work seems much simpler. It was not material that I have reviewed often, but it was very important information for anyone looking to understand and advance as a business owner.
Equidistant through the internship marks a good point to begin a new approach. From this point onward, I am dedicated to learn as much as possible from this internship using every aspect of running a action sports business. By asking many questions from all angles, this company will become more and more transparent in how it functions and operates. It is important to keep a focus on exactly what is expected from my position as an intern, but inquiring about other facets of the company can do nothing more than benefit myself, and ultimately the company in a healthier way.
I welcome the second half of this internship with open arms, and cannot wait for the opportunity to show what I have learned thus far about how to make a business thrive in such a saturated and difficult market. By using a very fine tuned set of tools, there is a way to compete with the ever evolving market of progressive brands out there. It is merely figuring out what tool is appropriate for the job at hand. This is my opportunity to show that my sets of tools are ready to be used! ]
Jeb
Tags: action sports, bamboo, Bamboo Buddy, bamboo skateboards, bamboobuddy, bamboosk8, events, facebook, instgram, intern, interns, internship, marketing, oceanside, pinterest, public relations, sales, San Diego, sk8, skate, skateboard, skateboarding, skateboards, sustainability, twitter
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Friday, March 8th, 2013
Have you even been stuck on rocky embankment, and the only way to get to safety was to climb through thorn bushes? Have you even been caught unexpectedly in a snowstorm without a jacket and had to walk 2 miles to warmth? There are times in life that you just have to sack up and provide results.
For me, this week’s schedule felt like one of those moments. Having only a very limited number of hours in a day makes it difficult to find even time to sleep. While I used to plan out my days in hours, planning now comes in durations of minutes and seconds. Time management is possibly the most important thing that this internship has taught me. By sacking up and waking up every weekday at 5am and moving nonstop until approximately around 11pm.
At times similar to that of being caught in a snowstorm or stranded on a ledge embankment, autopilot takes over and you do what is only absolutely necessary at the time. While this is a skill I have recently acquired, it is one that should have been practiced many times before. One can say that my situation is much like being stuck on a ledge outcropping without a rope or in a snowstorm without a jacket. The morale of the story is to do whatever it takes to get through the situation and make sure to be better prepared next time.
Tags: #Bambooskateboards, action sports, bamboo, Bamboo Buddy, bamboo skateboards, bamboobuddy, bamboosk8, contest, eco-friendly, events, facebook, green, Hookit, intern, interns, internship, marketing, midterm, San Diego, sk8, skate, skateboarding, skateboards, sustainability, twitter
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Thursday, February 21st, 2013
Who doesn’t like great sandwiches, great weather, and free stuff with great people? That’s what last weekend’s Board and Brew grand opening consisted of. This was a great event with an incredible turnout, and if you missed it make sure to make your way down there for a California delight (unbelievable sandwich) People that have been brushing up on their golf putting skills had an opportunity to win free t-shirts care of Mammoth resorts. Arnette optics had enough free schwag to cover any white boy from a sunburn with a hat or beanie for the day. They also threw in some glasses at the end of the day with the raffle in full swing. Bamboo Skateboards hit the cement rollin with a few decks for guests to try out before making a purchase. The crowd also got the chance to dig into some grubbing submarines while wetting there whistles with some of the best suds this side of the Mississippi. Within a window of 5 hours, I personally put down 3 of those amazing sandwiches. This event catered to more than your average beach bum; at any given time there was mommy’s pushin strollers, granny’s pushin walkers and grommy’s pushin skateboards. Its events like this I have come to realize just how easy it is to connect with others. Pleasure can be as simple as sandwiches, music and laughs… Free stuff helps too.
Thanks to all involved for an amazing day, can’t wait for the grand re-opening! Till nexrt time….JEB
Tags: action sports, bamboo skateboards, Beer, Board and Brew, Carlsbad, eco-friendly, events, internship, sandwiches, sustainability, twitter
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Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013
Well our intern class officially graduated a few weeks ago but due to an overwhelming amount of applications I have been sending out it seems that I forgot to write a final blog.
The last 4 months have been such an amazing experience for me not just educationally but I came out of it with some amazing new friends and incredible memories. Whether in the office or out of the office Class 14 tore it up and enjoyed every moment we could. I know I personally learned a lot about time management, the intracies of business accounting (I know there is still a ton to learn but personally I will probably avoid the nitty gritty of it) and a ton of new tactics for social marketing. I must say though the biggest of them all is that I learned just how much I like about combining my love for creativity with my skills with lots and lots of data. Marketing, PR and Sales all utilize so many unique creative approaches that when we are in the trenches working through we forget that all these approaches have tons upon tons of data backing them up and if they don’t already we should start tracking it in order to show how effective our new idea truly was.
Other than knowledge learned and good times the internship did serve a nice little beating to my outside life. There were definitely days where I found myself working late into the night on a project for the company completely blowing through plans I had made with friends and on the flip side I had family events that came up last minute that I could not miss making it so that I missed an important company event. I realized quickly though that finding this balance between internship and life was never going to be perfect but thankfully I pulled from my experience of working a more than full time job to give me a good start and the rest I had to fake it until i made it work. Moving on though I feel like I was able to get a pretty good balance of life and work combined with an enourmoss amount of growth.
That all being said I am really going to miss all the days working in the intern cave, pounding our heads to try and figure out ways to complete our projects, followed by a must needed few drinks later that night as a group. Since I am still working on eCommerce and warehouse stuff for Bamboo I still get to see all of the staff so I don’t miss them quite yet but I know once I move on from Bamboo Skateboards I will miss this office a ton.
What is next you may ask and well its pretty simple, scour malakye.com for all companies’ postings, in fact resumes are already being sent to every company with an opening that I feel I could excel at. Fingers crossed that I make the cut and am able to show off my interviewing skills!!
As I close this post and say farewell I have to thank Mark, Jackie, Geoff, Wyatt and all the other Interns (Alex, Sean, Jonathan and Ashley) for making these last 4 months ones that I will never forget!
Tags: action sports, bamboo skateboards, bamboosk8, goodbye, intern, interns, internship, malakye, marketing, panda, San Diego, skateboarding, skateboards
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Sunday, November 25th, 2012
This internship continues to challenge me all the time. But, there are always some good things that come from pushing yourself. I am now starting to see some of my efforts in sales and PR come to life. The relationships and discussions are in their beginning phases, but I feel like something positive can really come from this. I have been talking with someone from Clutter Magazine, trying to get a PR piece together and get them some of our decks with Clutter graphics on them. I am working with someone who wants to film a video segment with Truth Hurts riders on Bamboo Skateboards. And, the legendary surf shaper, Greg Noll, has a shop in San Clemente that says they would be interested in getting some Greg Noll art on our boards and throw a promo party for the decks. Anyways, I’m just trying to make some stuff happen and it feels good to see some positive outcomes.
While all is moving forward in the PR and sales areas, my points are seriously hurting. I think the biggest challenge for me is just trying to juggle working at my restaurant job, this internship and all my own personal errands. I also find that the 20 hours minimum of straight tasks is a lot of work. Again, my points are my biggest roadblock right now, and as stated above I am really working on my sales and PR to try and bring my points back in the game. I just hope its not too late. That is another challenge, in most companies I believe there is a 90 period where new employees are expected to be training and learning about the company. With this program, you really need to get things rolling at a much more accelerated rate.
Tags: action sports, bamboo, bamboo skateboards, bamboosk8, chalenge, clutter, eco-friendly, facebook, fun, greg, intern, internship, magazine, noll, pr, press, skate, skateboarding, skateboards
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Wednesday, November 7th, 2012
Alright, here we are at week 10 and for some reason I am still churning my wheels just to keep up. I knew that this internship would be challenging, but I surely did not think it would be like this. Every little shortcoming is consistently addressed and it can start to feel a bit frustrating. But, I know that this experience will make me a much more efficient and detail-oriented professional as I continue to grow.
In my last blog I left off talking about how we were prepping for the Cardiff Surf Classic. Well we made it down there first thing in the morning, we got all set up and it was into the flow from there. We had a tarp wave shacking little groms from all over, we had a skate obstacle course with a drop in ramp and a sweet little lounge for attendees to relax and enjoy the cool breeze by the beach. As soon as that tarp wave got all set up, it was a non-stop ride all day. Kids just couldn’t get enough. Even the panda had to get in on the action. We also helped out with a board swap, which allowed attendees to bring their boards, and either try to straight swap them for another board, or sell them to any interested buyers.
Near the end of the event we hosted a raffle, which stoked out families with some fresh new gear, including shirts, grip tape, stickers and a deck. Overall, the event was a great success. Everyone was pumped just to be a part of such a forward thinking movement. My prediction is that the Cardiff Surf Classic will continue to grow and inspire the minds of people all over San Diego.
Just last Friday we were shooting a video for a fundraiser that we will be hosting. It was a really cool day, everyone had their interviews, some of the team riders were skating around the warehouse, and of course boo was causing a little mischief on scene. We can’t wait to see how this video turns out. So far it is looking pretty sick if I must say so myself.
Talk to you soon!
Tags: action sports, bamboo, bamboo skateboards, bamboobuddy, bamboosk8, Cardiff, challenge, classic, contest, facebook, footage, fun, fundraiser, High Ollie Contest, internship, interview, kickstarter, raffle, skate, skateboarding, Surf, tarp, video
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Thursday, October 25th, 2012
Hello world! It seems like every week is so packed with stuff to do it is insane. We just finished up our Midterm and I think we are all super stoked on how we did. It was a lot of prep work, but it all paid off. Last week we put in a bunch of hours trying to work as a team and come to consensus on our answers. Of course, we strayed a bit off track the first try, but we were able to stay focused and eventually came to consensus with our methods and our answers. I feel like this Midterm was set up really cool. It really helps you understand the financial and numbers side of the business. I’ve taken a couple accounting classes before, but they had little translation to this project. I like how there were two different factories with two different sets of variables that we had to calculate and compare. I felt like I was making real life business decisions and forecasts.
Just yesterday Mark, Thane and I went down to San Diego’s CW 6 for their San Diego Living segment. We joined a couple of other companies who will be attending the Cardiff Surf Classic this Saturday. Before we went on I asked the group if I could put on the Panda suit and get in their shot, and they were all about it! I was super stoked because I got to give the reporter a big panda hug. Then we did our segment, and Mark killed it. He pitched all of the cool stuff we have going on with iRide, Eqo Optics, the trophies and everything. Then, I asked the producer if we could get the Panda in the studio, and they were all about it! The woman reporter couldn’t stop laughing when as she posed like she was having a serious interview. It was great. Overall, the event was a tremendous success.
Now, we are getting all set up for our event at the Cardiff Surf Classic this Saturday. We have our kicker ramp all spray painted up, we have our obstacle course planned out, and Sean is finishing up spray painting the tarp wave that we are bringing down. It has been quite an eventful week and I look forward to the event this weekend!
Tags: action sports, bamboo, Bamboo Buddy, bamboo skateboards, bamboobuddy, Cardiff Surf Classic, eco-friendly, fun, halloween, living, malakye, marketing, midterm, news, public relations, pumpkins, race, sales, San Diego, showbiz, skate, skateboard, Surf, tarp
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Friday, April 27th, 2012
Today marks the end of our 16 week adventure. I can’t believe it’s already over! These last two weeks seem like such a blur. I don’t even know where to start or how to say goodbye.
First of all, working with Mark and Geoff has been great. They are both very intelligent men and I feel privileged to have been their grasshopper for the last four months. Geoff taught me many life lessons like don’t let life get stale, and nothing is going to come to you, you have to be the one to make things happen. Mark was a really good mentor and helped me out with a few different things like being more confident, helping others, and being innovative. I’m going to miss our weekly Skype meetings are getting know them!
Ahhh the interns. Though I didn’t meet you guys, you are special in different ways. The in office crew was super great in helping all of the out-of-staters with things. The out-of-staters all conquered the challenge of working remotely and not directly with our teams side by side. I’m still bummed I didn’t make it out to SD for the Grind for Life event yesterday, but I hope we can all meet somewhere one day and have a Vegas Bomb for ol’ time sake!
As one door closes, another one opens. I’m ending this internship with more knowledge and experience then when I came, and I will be taking it with me on my next journey to Oregon this summer. Action sports is the path I’ve chosen, and BambooSK8 has made me feel like it’s the right choice.
Well, so long for now. Good luck to everyone on their adventures after this! Also, good luck to the future intern classes! Don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you need help with anything!
-Michelle
Tags: action sports, bamboo, bamboosk8, Denver, internship, longboarding, skateboarding, UCD
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Monday, April 16th, 2012
This is so bittersweet…We are almost done with the internship! Seriously, at times I wanted to pull my hair out because this internship is not for the faint of heart. However, I am thankful for the staff at BambooSK8 for allowing me to be apart of the first out of state intern group. Alissa, David, Gabe, Michelle and I are pioneers…or guinea pigs Either way, this was an experience that has taught me so much about, time management, goal setting, negotiating and how great this company is. I have never been pushed so much in my life but I’m stoked to know how much I can do and that I can handle more.
I have had tons of help with coordinating my events, especially since I have been setting up events in California…. from Illinois!! Crazy right?!! I appreciate all those who got to the events and educated people about BambooSK8 and got phone numbers ( I wont say any names…DAVID!) and for those who kicked butt and got tons on donations for our intern fundraiser event on April 26th. I appreciate you guys!! This week, will be full of finalizing details for events, helping organize literature for the incoming cycle of interns and mock interviews with GK.
Almost done!!Woo!! Bring it on!!! Initiating game face sequence!!
<—– This is her game face
Catcha Later,
~T
T-minus 9 days until in back in Cali and 10 days until the intern event…You’re invited!!!!
april 26th flyer with bands <———— Click this!!!
Tags: action sports, bamboosk8, chicago, eco-friendly, ecofest, interns, internship, longboards, malakye, oceanside, public relations, sk8, skate, sustainability, tameka, the verve
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Saturday, March 31st, 2012
What’s up everybody!
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/
Cheers!
Tags: action sports, Denver, internship, longboard, longboarding, Phoenix Am, phxam.com, skateboard, skateboarding
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Friday, March 30th, 2012
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!
Tags: action sports, bamboosk8, facebook, internship, KRUSH, sales, THRYLL, twitter
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Thursday, March 15th, 2012
How are you little leprechauns????
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.
Thanks for reading
Gabe
Tags: action sports, bamboosk8, Clash at Clairemont, internship
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