Zen Seven Skateboards
“Personality goes a long way with everything ,” says Micah Weber when explaining his early successes as a small business owner. Still, the importance of talent and hard work doesn’t seem lost on him either.
In July the 29-year-old Tonawanda resident with a desk job at Ingram Micro decided to take his two talents, skateboarding and photography, and start his own business: Zen Seven Skateboarding.
“This year I really got back into skateboarding again,” Weber said. “So that’s when I decided to go for it. I started designing, started getting contacts, finding distributors and partnering with people that already do it.”
By using photographs he’d taken himself, Weber designed a pair of skateboards and started selling them locally. He says his photography has helped him quickly gain a following online and generate some interest in the boards he designs.
“I’ve had my photography website for the last five years,” he said. “A lot of that fanbase has transferred over because they see this new project that I’ve been doing, so it’s a really nice transition.”
Micah has used that online presense to his advantage early on. He set up a website, a Twitter account, Facebook page, and even an online store. Still, Weber says the most important part is meeting people face to face at local skateparks. “Social networking has done a lot of the business for me,” he said. “But I like actually going there and skating with people, people seeing the board, people seeing the shirt, and being able to talk.”
By talking with local skaters, Weber says he has been able to get people excited about the company and his designs. That communication has even resulted in a local skate shop, Phatman, carrying his boards. After meeting a friend of Phatman’s owner, Weber got the chance to pitch his idea to the store.
“I typed up a business proposal and I met with him,” Weber said of the meeting. “He liked everything he saw, saw a lot of potential in what it could be and it went from there.”
Weber currently has two designs for sale, with plans for a third design ready by the new year. His first design, a picture of an gas mask on a basketball court, came from a series of photos from his website. Micah says his second design, a Zen Seven logo money clip holding a hundred dollar bill, has been well received.
“People really love that design,” he says, noting that he thinks it will be more popular than the first. He sold out of his first design but is happier with how the second one turned out.
Weber says he was nervous about the quality of the boards and if people would like the ride, but the response has been good. Made by a company in Arizona, Weber said the boards are Canadian maple and the photos have translated well on the boards, which have attracted a lot of interest overseas.
“I guess boards overseas are really expensive, and I’m able to sell them at a cheap price,” he said, noting that he recently shipped boards to Ireland and Switzerland. People have purchased boards not only to ride, but to display at home or even in the office.
Still, Weber’s work is meant for the kids who have been so enthusiastic about his work. He said an order of Zen Seven tee shirts sold out in just over a day, and he’s even sponsored one rider, Shayne Witmer.
“He’s the type of kid that other kids will stop and watch,” he says of Witmer. “So I just throw him free boards and people see what he’s riding, then they buy them. It’s continuous.”
Weber says he is extremely happy with the growth he’s seen over the last few months, but he’s only looking up.
“People really dig the idea so I just want it to grow,” he said of the future. “Locally it’s starting, but I don’t want to stop there.”
I believe the success of Zen 7 is a true testament to Micah’s talent, charisma, and drive. I am so proud of him and wish him even more success in the future and can’t wait to see where this takes him!
I have known Micah for many years, He is as talented as it gets for a photographer and has a very creative mind. He now has the outlets for these talents and the sky is the limit. Dream BIG DO BIG.
Not only is Micah talented and on his way to great success, he is also generous. He recently donated some items to a charitable function in his community. His donations helped us raise money and helped make our fundraiser one of the biggest and most successful to date. Thank you Micah!!
Micah is VERY talented and does great work! He is definitly going to GO BIG with Zen Seven!! Shayne Witmer is also a very talented skateboarder!
Have known Micah since college and followed him develop his photography skills and website. What a great next step to combine two passions into his next business adventure. Great article, and wishing you continued success!
I’ve been following the Zen Seven production since it began, and also Micah’s photography for the last year or so. I’m always amazed at the talent there. I’m excited to see what will be next!
Congrats Micah!! Loved the article above. It’s great to see your business grow. Looking forward to seeing more! Best, natalie.
Micah is a very talented all around generous and compassionate person. I know he has worked hard for where he is right now, and I only see great success for him in the future. People like Micah give me the drive to do great things with myself and accomplish the dreams I have for myself, honestly.
Micah’s talent and drive keeps growing and growing for as long as I’ve known him, year after year. I’m so extremely proud and encourage him to just keep rising! I’ve always known there were great things for Micah and his future! Congrats!!!
Its always good to see someone young taking their passion and making it into something bigger. The talent is obvious in all photos and it will only grow from here. Plus he has a great person on his side riding and advertising Zen Seven! Shayne is an amazing skateboarder and also very respected!! Good Luck and Hopefully More Great Sucess in the Future!!
Micah is a natural creative mind. His designs and photography are one of a kind. The sky is the limit for this budding artist and business owner! Keep it up Micah!
Micah is a true testament to the done by a skater for a skater kinda business owner. He isn’t out there just making a product so run a business but to promote the love of skateboarding as a whole threw his art designs as well as listening to other skaters and supplying them with what they ask for. Zen 7 will be competing with the big boys in no time
This is a great article. It really won’t be long before either his photography or ZenSeven takes off. Keep it going Micah!
All I can say of this talented individual is ANOTHER job well done! Keep up the great work!