Australian entrepreneur Katie Beer takes Kippy Boards handcrafted skateboards global
IT was a theft that set young Aussie Katie “Kippy” Beer on a path to world domination.
IT was the theft of a treasured skateboard that set Katie “Kippy” Beer on a path to world domination.
With her two older brothers, she grew up skating on Queensland’s Gold Coast. “I had a real thing for the old-school, ‘70s-style cruiser boards,” recalls Katie, 23.
“My brother and I had one each but they got stolen — so I decided to make my own.”
In downtime from casual jobs in 2011, today’s Australian of the Day cut plywood into a classical, retro shape and diligently honed and finessed it: “I was just having fun and even joked to my friends, ‘Imagine if this could be my job one day!’”
Well, now it is. A cult following developed around Katie’s handcrafted, self-branded Kippy Skateboards. “Word of mouth,” she says of initial success. “The second board I made I gave to a friend for their 21st.”
Next she conquered Burleigh Heads markets, sold through some local stores but the wheels really started turning when she set up an online shopfront.
Today Kippy Skateboards cruise the streets of the world, from Burleigh to Norway and Brazil.
But Katie’s just getting started.
“This year I’m keen to expand our range, employ some people as we grow and I especially want to support girl skaters,” she says. “Boys get a lot of attention but girl skaters are awesome, too.” Indeed, Kippy’s proved that.
CommBank has partnered with News Corp Australia for their Australian of the Day initiative that celebrates everyday Australians who make a contribution to their communities and country. Be it someone with Kippy’s entrepreneurial flair; another campaigning for better meals in hospitals or an Afghani refugee who has opened her heart and kitchen to welcome others, you can read all their life-affirming stories ataustralianoftheday.com.au
Originally published as Australian entrepreneur Katie Beer takes Kippy Boards handcrafted skateboards global
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