Elizabeth Lee
San Francisco, CA (USA)
Role(s):
Founder/Owner/Principal
Purple Skunk
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Startup
Location:
San Francisco
Industry:
Retail/Clothing
Year Founded:
1993
Number Employees:
1-10 people
Business Stage:
Growth (not profitable)
Entity Type:
Sole Proprietorship
Description:
I opened a neighborhood skate shop in 1993 at the age of 40. It served two functions - brick and mortar retail and exports. The export business has gone belly up since the recession. In 2005 I was doing over a million dollars of exports which helped sustain the retail shop. My website was established in 2002 and thrived during the early years. Now that technology has gotten the best of me, I have fallen behind in development due to lack of funds to invest.
I was widowed in 1991. In my previous occupation I was a fashion/textile designer for 20 years. When I decided to open the skate shop with an ex-friend/partner, I named the shop Purple Skunk because my hair was purple and my nickname is Skunk (not because I stink, but because I was the anchor for our bowling team. I use to skunk the other teams).
I had no idea there are different grades of marijuana that are purple or called skunk weed. I don't smoke. I am indifferent about marijuana. This worked in my favor as a skate shop since it's part of the lifestyle. I trademarked the name with hopes that I may be able to sell it. I did 80 million as a clothing designer and my late husband and I use to own a 10 million dollar apparel business, but lost everything to our ex-Indian partners. I have learned not to get attached to a name (which I did then. I should have just sold it because it's me that can't be bought or sold). That's what I am hoping I can do with the Purple Skunk.
Now I'm 58 and would like to continue the legacy of this neighborhood skate shop for generations to come. I have worked hard to develop community awareness and established ourselves worldwide as the premier longboard shop. Yes, you can say I'm a little giant.
I have no retail business background. I did have skills in development and research for manufacturing textiles and apparel for importing. I do have "people skills" and enthusiasm for life. I do like to learn and grow. I hate failure. I bought my partner out in 2002 and have been able to sustain the shop up until 2009. The last 2 years have been a bit of a struggle. I had to learn everything by myself. In short, I made a few mistakes, but ultimately, I learned how to run a business. It's like paying for school.
Although I see myself as 58 young, I know that this is a young industry and that the face of the shop should be youthful. I am ready to semi-retire. I would like to find an investor to take over and I help until...
This is my first time reaching out for an angel. I know you are out there, but I don't know where you are. If you are reading my call for help, I hope you can lend a helping hand and save my little skate shop that we all love so much.