We were lucky to catch up with Kiara Hargrove recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kiara, thanks for joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

One risk I have taken was building my own skateboard brand and becoming a professional skateboarder. I have been skateboarding for 14 years, starting at the age of 10 on Thanksgiving Day of 2010. I launched my skateboard brand, 1004 Skateboards, during the pandemic in 2021. I took a risk to start this brand because I was supposed to be picked up by another soon-to-be skateboard brand, but due to financial reasons, this did not happen. I recall doing drawings and mockups of potential graphics for this brand that never came to fruition. After this door closed, I told myself I should start brainstorming brand names. I used that closed door to push myself to great heights. Through extensive research, mock-ups, and drawings, I came up with “1004 Skateboards.” The number 1004 stands for “Angel” in Korean, it is my birthday, October 4th, and I am often referred to as an “Angel” by others for my kindness. Moreover, numerous people noticed my constant usage of the 100 Points emoji on social media. This has turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. The 10 deck samples I purchased sold out in 1 week. I created a team with other skateboarders, and we are scaling our brand here in America and worldwide through eCommerce.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ve been skateboarding for 14 years, starting at age 10 when my family and I first moved to California. Known as the only female skateboarder from Victorville, CA, I’ve been a professional skateboarder for two years and am the CEO of 1004 Skateboards, a brand I founded in 2021. I sponsor five other skateboarders, and together we go on tour, host skateboarding events, compete in contests, and more. 1004 Skateboards is an American skateboard company producing skateboards and apparel. What sets me apart is that I am one of the few African American women paving the way in a male-dominated field. What I am most proud of is building a brand from the ground up. It is not easy being a leader who showcases skateboarding while managing five other individuals, marketing, and making investments. What I want others to know about my brand is that we are women-owned, skater-owned, and African American-owned. While we primarily offer skateboards and apparel, we are not limited to these products for our consumers.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I built my audience on social media by being myself and converting fans to shoppers. I would attend many skateboard events to compete in competitions or meet pros. In doing so, I didn’t realize that, while I admired other notable skateboarders, I was also building my own fanbase. The advice I would give to those starting to build their social media presence is to be true to yourself and look at what you plan to post from a consumer’s perspective. Ask yourself, “If I were the consumer, would I buy this product?” Do what works for you as well. For instance, when I batch content create for my brand, I aim to post at least once a week (sometimes twice a week, it varies). When it comes to SMS and email marketing, I prefer to post once a week indefinitely because I feel that I do not want to overwhelm our consumers, and I also believe that is enough for the particular space/industry I am in. Other brands, like Fashionova, for instance, send several marketing emails and SMS texts multiple times a day. Again, do what works for you and your brand, and be yourself.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I believe my uniqueness and excellence in a male-dominated extreme sport have built my reputation. There are still not many African American skateboarders, and I was known as the only female skateboarder out of Victorville, CA. I carry myself with class and maintain a high standard. Also, my tricks on the board speak for themselves. Many people saw my rise and appreciate it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://1004skateboards.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1004skateboards/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tenzerofourskate/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiaramhargrove1/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/1004skateboards
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@1004skateboards/