Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Sciarra.
Hi Chris, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Kona Surf Co. started in 1969 when Mike Sciarra returned from Oahu with a surfboard, an economics degree, and the idea of building a surf brand of his own. After learning more about surfboard shaping on the North Shore, he came home to Wildwood, New Jersey, and began making boards by hand. What started as a small operation grew into a local surf shop carrying boards, clothing, footwear, and the brands people were looking for.
Years later, Mike’s son Chris took over the surfboard and apparel side of the business and helped rebuild Kona for a new generation. Today, Kona is still based in Wildwood and remains family run. We shape surfboards for East Coast waves, make apparel rooted in our history, collaborate with other surf brands, and run two retail locations.
A lot has changed since 1969, but the main goal has stayed the same. Make good products at fair prices, take care of our customers, and stay connected to the surf community that helped build Kona
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been a smooth road. One of our biggest challenges has been creating a clear identity and offering products that feel different from everything else out there.
We spend countless hours developing better products for our customers and creating an environment that feels true to Kona. It takes a lot of time and work, but seeing customers appreciate the ideas, innovation, and effort we put into it makes it worth it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Kona Surf Surf Co. ?
Kona Surf Co. has been part of the Wildwood surf community since 1969. We’re more than just a surf shop. We design and develop our own surfboards, soft tops, and apparel while also carrying many of the brands we grew up surfing.
What sets us apart is that we’re always creating. Whether it’s developing new board shapes, building custom apparel, or collaborating with brands like Billabong, O’Neill, and others, we focus on making products that feel true to surfing and true to who we are.
We’re most proud of staying family owned and continuing to grow while holding onto the same values Kona was built on more than 55 years ago. Each product, event, and collaboration is another way for us to keep building Kona and give our customers something different.
At the end of the day, Kona is built by surfers for surfers. We’re always working to make our products, our shops, and the customer experience better than the year before.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk taking is hard because there is never a guarantee it will work out. Every year, we take a risk by developing new products and building inventory before the season begins.
We try to make those decisions using sales history, customer feedback, and a clear plan. That helps us take calculated risks instead of just guessing. Some work out better than others, but that is part of running and growing a business.
We look at it pretty simply. Give it our best each day, make the smartest decisions we can with the information we have, and take it one day at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.konasurfco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/konasurfcompany
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KonaSurfCo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KonaSurfCoWildwood
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kona-surf-company-wildwood
