Deon Knoetze had the design, Mark Geyer had the shop, and together the Salt Rock surfers started a coffee/surf/work/chat spot called Find the Stoke.
“I really started enjoying designing brands recently and I shared a few of my ideas on Facebook,” said Knoetze.
One day, a lady who manufactures clothing in Tongaat contacted Knoetze and offered her overruns to him.
“The quality is great, so I agreed and started printing a few shirts, which I gave to friends for birthdays and so on.”
It was only when Linc church offered Knoetze a stand at their pop-up shop in July, that he realised there is a business opportunity in his hobby.
“I did surprisingly well. Next, I got into the Litchi Orchard Market and after three or four weekends, I thought about opening a shop,” said Knoetze, who is the co-owner of the detergents manufacturing company, Zulchem.
His friend, Geyer already had the shop at the Salt Rock Shopping Centre.
“At first I wanted to take over his lease, but then a mate of mine suggested that we do a coffee / surfing combo shop. At the end of October, Mark and I shook hands.”
Together with Knoetze’s wife, Barbara, they revamped the shop and gave it a layed back, locally inspired, sleek look.
“All the photos on the walls are of Dolphin Coast surfers. The stock in the shop is mainly locally made.”
Find the Stoke opened on December 1.
He said the name is inspired by that feeling every surfer looks for and finds after a great wave.
“To be stoked is to be completely and intensely enthusiastic, exhilarated or excited about something. That is what the Oxford dictionary says and that is what surfers do.”
Knoetze said this store is not about making a quick buck.
“We want to be established, make great coffee and sell machine products at affordable prices.”
He said they have received amazing support from the community.
“People come in to chat, have a cup of coffee, work using our wifi and stock up on their surfing gear at the same time. So far the Find the Stoke journey has been stressful, but amazing.”
Find your stoke at shop eight, Salt Rock Shopping Centre in Basil Hulett Drive.
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