Mode-6 Skate Supply: The Skate Shop Alabama Needed

Discover how Mode-6 Skate Supply is rebuilding the Alabama skate scene with a focus on community and passion.

How a DIY Spirit Shaped Mode-6 Skate Supply

In a world where skate shops are often overshadowed by online giants and fleeting trends, Mode-6 Skate Supply, founded by Ryan Ramon, stands as a testament to passion, perseverance, and community. Located in Montgomery, Alabama, Mode-6 is more than just a store—it’s a revival of a once-thriving local scene. Ryan’s journey from running an auto repair shop to becoming a skate shop owner is one of determination and love for the sport. Mode-6 seeks to bridge the gap between the past and the present, giving skaters a place to find gear, connect, and grow the sport. In this interview, Ryan shares the origins of Mode-6, the challenges and triumphs of running a skate shop in Alabama, and what it means to keep the dream alive in a niche industry.

Mode-6 Origins

Can you share the story of how Mode-6 Skate Supply came to be? What inspired you to start your own skate shop?

We’d had skate shops in the area in the past. Deviance Skate Supply sold skateboard supplies but moved out to Wichita Falls, Texas (and helped me expand our shop into the skateboard world), and another was located inside the original Montgomery Skatepark. The skatepark offered a very limited number of skates around 2005 (+/-), but it didn’t last, and when the park was relocated, the shop was done away with entirely. Going back even a little further, 99-2001-ish, I can remember a smidge bit of skate supply at the old Ramp N Speed Skatepark in Birmingham, and once upon a time, roller hockey was a pretty big deal around here, and getting your hands on Mission Skates was right around the corner from home at the local rink, which is now an old folks honkey tonk. So, for me, I’d say it’s about reviving some of what’s missing from around here and, of course, helping my local guys get their hands on some products before making the purchases. Nothing is worse than ordering something, waiting 3-5 days, and realizing it’s not for you.

What role did your auto repair shop location play in getting Mode-6 started? Did it present any unique opportunities or challenges?

My automotive shop most definitely played a huge role. Most auto repair shops around here sell t-shirts and coffee cups; around Christmas time, some even sell generic 4-wheelers and go-karts. Not only did I have the extra space in my lobby, but I also researched and learned about doing retail sales in our state. So, I either opened a skate shop or got a pool table.

Were there any skate shops in Alabama when you started, or were you filling a gap in the local scene?

There’s always been a handful of skateboard skate shops in Alabama. Additionally, I think there have always been a few quad/roller skate supply spots hidden inside some of the rinks throughout Alabama. As far as I’m aware, I don’t know of anyone else around carrying inline skating gear; not aggressive, most definitely.

Were there any other shops, either local or elsewhere, that inspired you or influenced how you run Mode-6?

I mentioned them before and will never be afraid to admit it: Deviance Skate Supply. Deviance stickers were absolutely everywhere when I was a kid. There are actually a few still slapped-on stop signs around town. They were located in downtown Montgomery and sold skateboard stuff, but I just always thought it was the absolute coolest little shop.

What was the initial response from the local community when you first opened Mode-6? Did you find a lot of support, or was it more of an uphill battle?

I had the support of the majority of my local blading crew. One might’ve piled on some negativity after I’d been open for a bit, but that’s to be expected; I’ve been jealous before, but it isn’t so bad. I’m still pretty small time, but we’ll get there eventually. The local skateboarders have been incredibly supportive with the addition of skateboard supplies. That definitely helped draw in some of the much-needed dinero to help the skate shop pay its portion of the bills. I still have a ton of old guy regulars to the automotive shop that I’m pretty sure think I’ve just got a bunch of my own shit on display.

Inventory and Offerings

What kind of inventory do you carry at Mode-6? Do you focus mainly on aggressive skates, or do you also cater to big wheel and roller skating?

I primarily inventory aggressive skate supplies; I like the idea of carrying some of the products from smaller companies. A small guy supporting the small guys makes sense to me. I’ve carried a bit of big wheel stuff in the past and have a bit in stock still, not to say I won’t venture further in the future, but it’s just not a big scene here locally and, as a result, doesn’t seem to leave the shelf. Roller skates/quads I hung up on.

I heard you tried to stock roller skates, but there were some issues with people not buying what they had asked you to order. Can you tell us more about that experience?

Ha, I’d love to. It’s amazing how somebody can come to you and ask you to support their community, their scene, or whatever, and you do what you can to cater to that request. You sponsor their event, order exactly what they ask you to order, and offer to inventory items they prefer, but they wind up purchasing from elsewhere and returning none of that support you gave. On two occasions, I’ve had potential customers bring up Amazon pricing on their phone and ask me to beat the price, a price I had marked down to my cost in an effort to be rid of the products. One of which was from the group that asked me to sponsor their event, and the other was a quad skater at an Atlanta event. There’s more to the stories, but you see where it’s headed. Not once have I had an aggressive skater or skateboarder even frowny face our prices; they simply support me. Maybe I’m just bitter, but I think that’s exactly how you kill your scene. It certainly ruined any chance of me venturing down that path again.

How do you decide what products to carry, and how do you handle customer requests for specific gear?

I try my best to cater to requests. My local guys and I talk about new products all the time. If we all say, “That’s dope,” I do my best to try and make the dough to place an order. I selfishly try to inventory stuff from smaller companies as well; I’ve got a soft spot for them trying to do what we all wish we could. Honestly, the biggest issue I run into is getting ghosted. I’ve had several companies reach out to me about carrying their products, and I do my absolute best to try and do what I can because I appreciate the effort to help the industry grow. I’ve had a few non-mentionables that I’ve reached out to, but I received one or no response after I inquired about a minimum order, nothing but ghosts. I’d love to see inline skating as a whole revived to its former glory, especially aggressive, but if folks run around saying things like “he likes to be exclusive,” you can hang it up.

Do you have regular shop hours, or do you operate only by appointment?

Throughout the summer, I was open 8:30-7:00 Mon-Fri. I coach soccer, and the fall becomes incredibly busy, so we’re 8:30-5:00. I’d love to get to a point where I can afford a little help and trust somebody in the shop; we are just not there yet. If anyone ever wants to swing by after hours or on a weekend, I always try to make it work. I get several that shoot me a message on Instagram or Facebook inquiring about stopping by; I think so far I’ve managed to always sort it out. Hell, I had one guy meet my parents up there while I was out of town at a tournament; they sold all kinds of stuff.

What are some of the most popular items at your shop right now?

Matty Schrock’s Dream Urethane wheel immediately comes to mind. He’s somewhat of a local favorite, so the boys appreciated the hell out of those. Faction skates don’t last any time on the shelf; everyone loves them, and I can’t blame them. The new Cymatics wheels are definitely a hit, especially the 60/92; I don’t know if it’s how pretty they are or if they’re just that awesome, gorgeous swirls.

Do you plan to expand your inventory into more big wheels or recreational skates?

Yeah, I touched on this topic. Our own local, all of us love the guy, and he never gets enough mention. Marc Senn loves to sneak off on his own and venture through Montgomery on big wheels. He’s super particular as to what he’ll skate, but he’s got me just about convinced that I can generate some movement on big wheels locally, just gotta sneak some pictures of him skating around town, but doing that is like capturing a shot of bigfoot.

Do you sell online? How are your online sales compare to in-store sales?

Yes, mode6skatesupply.com

Most of our sales on the inline side of things are online orders, which I love seeing. I’d rather be packing up skate stuff, loading baggies with stickers, and taping up packages than trying to sort out body control module issues on somebody’s 2008 Buick Lucerne any day. I’ve been killing myself working on cars for 20+ years now and the love of it is dying. I’ve never sold a single skateboard item online, but I’m not one bit surprised; that industry is absolutely flooded with online skate shops. That said, I appreciate every sale we’ve ever made.

The Local Scene and Community

How would you describe the skate scene in Alabama, both for inline skating and roller skating? Has it grown or changed since you started Mode-6?

The Rejects era was the peak of blading in Alabama by far. I’d love to see it get to that point again, but it will take drawing in younger skaters and actually keeping them involved. We’ve managed to wrangle a few younger skaters and convinced them to keep after it. The boys up in Birmingham have quite a few younger skaters who come down and skate with us older guys occasionally. We love to see it. Ronnie Rask is the self-proclaimed blade whisperer; in all reality, he legitimately talks everyone through just about any trick, even if he can’t do it himself. I think skating with him is like going to see a palm reader to the younger guys. I don’t see quad skating much except at City Walk in Birmingham.

Where do most of your customers come from? Are they mainly locals, or do you see a lot of orders from out of state?

I’ve got my local Montgomery area guys, some really awesome support out of Birmingham and Huntsville, and some super supportive skaters out of the ATL area, but most purchases are scattered across the states. It’s pretty awesome; we don’t all sell a lot, but we’ve got regulars that I’ve never met before from states I’ve never been to. Got a little map by the counter in the shop that my wife marks them all with pins.

Are there any particular skate spots in Alabama that have become central to the local scene?

We’ve got some regular spots, but we generally start out skating what’s deemed “the slab.” It’s a DIY spot that we always intend to leave and venture elsewhere, but it’s such a comfy spot we sometimes get stuck there all day. We hit City Walk in the summer for the sake of shade, and it seems like a few of us almost always get hurt there. Park in Alabaster has a fantastic C-ledge we love to use regularly. There are a ton of awesome street spots throughout Birmingham. Realistically, if you ever wanted to learn all the most awesome Bama spots, you convince Marc to tag along and tour the Rejects spots; the guy knows every last one.

How often do you get out skating with your son? Do you find time to skate together despite running a business?

Both of my boys skate some; my oldest boy’s stepdad is actually one of my skating buddies, Palow Lemke. He and I have been friends since the early 2000s; he has always been a phenomenal skater and a damn teddy bear. My oldest showed more interest in skating and took to it naturally, but soccer has become a huge priority to him, and he’s got some pretty big things right around the corner next year. The younger of my boys might hit the driveway with me, but when it comes to skating elsewhere is more of a homebody. My daughters may show more interest one day. I don’t expect my kids to be me or do what I do. We tell them all the time to be themselves. I’d love it if they really wanted to skate, but you can’t force it.

What kind of events do you like to attend or organize to promote the local scene and Mode-6? Would you consider hosting more in the future?

Love CapCon, Richard Williams with Sk8tl invited us, and we had a blast; the guy seriously gives it his all. The J-Bah BBQ and Faction Tactics Premiere were an awesome couple of events this year packed into one day, and I loved that. They took a ride up to Tennessee to co-host their first inline meet-up with another skate shop, Cassette out of Chattanooga, which turned out to be an awesome couple of days meeting a ton of excellent skaters. I love the events; pretty much all of them we’ve played any part in or attended. It turns into a mini trip for my wife and me on most occasions to get a short but much-needed break from things around here. We do hope to host some sort of future event ourselves. Our local park is “eh”, if anything, so I think we’ll probably try to get up with Richard and see about some other possibilities.

Challenges and Insights

Has the shop evolved the way you expected since you started? What’s been the most surprising part of this journey?

Everyone has these super high hopes right out of the gates. I initially looked at the inline scene and said, “There’s definitely room, and there’s definitely a need,” with the expectation that I’d miraculously be able to take things in the auto shop a little easier. In reality, there are a few huge (in my eyes) online stores that get the majority of traffic. Until the entire scene grows and aggressive skating gains some more of its former popularity, I’m going to be hustling and posting what I can, when I can, to earn every sale I make.

What challenges have you faced while running Mode-6, and what have you learned from them?

I can only begin to list the challenges. Right off the bat, my wife and everyone I’m surrounded by would say stress. That’s my biggest challenge. I’ve got a ton going on all the time, but I made that bed, so I’ve got to lay in it. Meeting my expectations is probably the number one cause. I’m my own killer. Even after the seizure issues (currently working on sorting out), I still expect myself to meet my own potentially unrealistic expectations. Beyond that, it’s the damn government, ha. Seriously, when you think you’ve done everything by the book and you’ve got it all down pat, that’s when they try to get you. You get something stupid in the mail, or somebody comes walking in that asks to see something you’ve never heard of, and there’s absolutely no information about it online, but it’s ok; it can all be resolved by giving them that damn dollar.

We met at the event in Atlanta where you had a booth. How did that event go for Mode-6, and would you consider participating in more events like that?

That was CapCon, and it was hands down my favorite and most successful event. I look forward to anything Richard puts together; he really puts his all into everything he does.

What’s your advice to someone interested in starting a skate shop in their own town, especially in a place where the scene might not be as big?

I should’ve put more time into getting to know the local scene before making some of the larger purchases; just because I love it doesn’t mean anyone else locally will love it. Ultimately, it takes their dollar to keep the doors open. We introduced the skateboard supply in an effort to keep our doors open, and I’ve never made a better decision.

How do you balance running Mode-6 with your auto repair shop? Do the two businesses ever overlap, or do you keep them separate?

The businesses absolutely overlap. I might be in the middle of repairing a harness when I hear someone at the door. I’ll quickly wash my hands, head up front, and soon find myself gripping a skateboard or helping someone get the right size for skates. Again, I’d love to see the skate side of the shop continue to grow. I want to take things a little slower on the automotive side so I can breathe and find the same love I once had for working on the cars in the shop.

The Future and Industry Outlook

How are things going for Mode-6 today, and what are your plans for the future of the shop?

Right now, I’m trying to find that balance. The automotive side of my shop pays me, pays my bills, and pays one employee. The skate shop has to borrow a little dough from my pocket every now and then; I’d love to find that sweet spot where it can always manage to pay its own bills. I’ve got it because I love it, but ultimately, I’ve got four kids that I’ve always got to consider. The shop is growing, and as long as that’s the case, the future looks good.

Are there any changes or improvements you’d like to see in the sport or industry, either locally or on a larger scale?

I think the majority of the issues within the sport are self-inflicted. Ancient drama rekindled brands and companies attempting to be exclusive in an industry that barely exists, obvious biases on social media in videos or posts made by influencers claiming to support the entire industry, not to mention those that just post hate. If you were on the outside looking in, would you want to be a part of that? No, and as a result, the industry and sport are at a standstill, chock-full of old people revisiting their glory days and a handful, at best, of younger skaters that are only going to learn how to hate one another based on the examples we’ve given, leaving it an industry to die all over again.

How do you think market saturation is affecting skate shops, especially smaller or independent ones like Mode-6?

I’m not mad at the larger shops for getting the majority of business; they’re not the primary issue for the smaller shops. They worked hard and earned it. The problem is the number of skaters, in my eyes. Once you’ve developed that comfort with an online business, breaking the habit and trusting anyone else is hard. There just aren’t that many new skaters quite yet, so those of us with smaller shops are going to be obligated to do some hustling and work for every customer we can find.

Have you noticed any shifts or trends in the demand for certain types of skates or gear since you began?

Carbon and/or softboot skates are only getting better. A few have tried them and turned back to their preferred plastic boot, but the majority have held on to those carbon soft boot skates and sworn by them.

Looking ahead, what’s your ultimate vision for Mode-6? Do you see it staying the same size, or are you planning to expand in some way?

I’d absolutely love to expand in time. There’s not a ton of local competition here, but there’s not a ton of clientele. We’ll just have to see how things go; some things last forever, and others just become a trend that a handful of us remember and wind up telling our kids about how awesome it was.

Links

– Check out the Mode-6 Skate Supply Website
– Follow Mode-6 Skate Supply on Instagram
– Follow Mode-6 Skate Supply on Facebook