Touba London – Charles-Antoine of the Skateroom and Chi San Wa
The skateroom is a b corp, turning consumers into active contributors with its collection of decks. Uniting buyers, artists, galleries, museums, foundations, retailers and non-profits around the world, the skateroom has created a new economic model with its art for social impact projects. Our future depends on business ideas as such, to build, finance and implement systemic solutions to the world’s most pressing needs. Here, we speak to Charles-Antoine Bodson about the philosophy behind the skateroom, and the change that’s needed from for-profit companies to a more positive effect in the world.
Q. CAN YOU TELL ME THE JOURNEY YOU TOOK THAT LEAD YOU TO START THE SKATEROOM?
The idea actually started very organically. At the time, I had my art gallery here in Brussels and a private collection of skateboard decks. I had around 4000 decks in total and at some point, I met Oliver Percovich (the founder of the NGO, Skateistan) in Paris. He told me about his project and that he was looking for funding to build his second skate school. I then decided to sell a part of my deck collection in order to help him. I donated around $50,000 to Oliver and he was able to build his second skate park in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
A few months later, I had the opportunity to see the results and it just came together. It hit me from everywhere. I was like “Oh my god, this is what I want to do.” It was a magical experience. The way Skateistan was interacting with these children was just amazing. After I went to the opening, I decided that it makes no sense anymore to have an art gallery. I just wanted to do this.
Q. CAN YOU TELL ME THE JOURNEY YOU TOOK THAT LEAD YOU TO START THE SKATEROOM?
The idea actually started very organically. At the time, I had my art gallery here in Brussels and a private collection of skateboard decks. I had around 4000 decks in total and at some point, I met Oliver Percovich (the founder of the NGO, Skateistan) in Paris. He told me about his project and that he was looking for funding to build his second skate school. I then decided to sell a part of my deck collection in order to help him. I donated around $50,000 to Oliver and he was able to build his second skate park in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
A few months later, I had the opportunity to see the results and it just came together. It hit me from everywhere. I was like “Oh my god, this is what I want to do.” It was a magical experience. The way Skateistan was interacting with these children was just amazing. After I went to the opening, I decided that it makes no sense anymore to have an art gallery. I just wanted to do this.
Q. WHEN DID THESE IDEAS COME TO YOU, AND HOW HAS IT EVOLVED SINCE THE BEGINNING?
From 2011 until 2014, we operated as a for-profit organization with no social impact. It’s as of 2014 that we started operating as a for-profit organization with social engagement and impact being at the heart of our DNA. I remember the day I signed the agreement with Ai Weiwei, I decided to close my art gallery and only focus on The Skateroom. For many years it was very difficult to exist under those conditions. Launching a new activity is always difficult to begin with, but when you donate up to 20% of your sales it makes it even harder. Fortunately, my path crossed Nicolas Fautré’s – today The Skateroom’s COO – we complement one another. Nicolas helped me adjust our business model into one that is now sustainable and profitable at the same time. A model that allows us to keep supporting social skateboarding projects in need, whilst being profitable. To give you an idea, since 2014 The Skateroom raised over $645k to fund 33 social projects dedicated to empowering at-risk youth around the world. Since 2019, we have strongly shifted our approach to start operating as a social entrepreneurship project moving forward.
Q. HOW DO YOU APPROACH THE DESIGN PROCESS FOR EACH COLLABORATION?
As an art enthusiast, it is very important to keep evolving and to explore these very different worlds created by each artist. That’s why we work very closely with them to select the best artworks to feature, or sometimes, even produce an original work for the collaboration. Each one is very different from another, but every single collaboration is a privilege for us.
I also love collaborating with artists who really get the importance of what we’re doing and want to engage and interact with the kids. The impact of our project is what gives meaning to everything we do and brings it full circle. Roger Ballen, one example of many, really got that and was fully committed to the social aspect of our collaboration. A few months ago, he even returned to South Africa to give Skateistan students a photography workshop. What more could you possibly ask for?
Q. WHEN THINKING ABOUT BUSINESS FOR GOOD, WHO (APART FROM THE SKATEROOM) DO YOU THINK IS LEADING THE WAY?
There are many companies out there doing a lot of incredible things, and all in very different ways. It would not make a lot of sense to compare and say which is leading, however, there is definitely a big awakening among businesses to do better. Last year we became a certified B Corps, which is a certification provided to companies that seek not to be the best “in” the world, but the best FOR the world. Today, this network includes over 2800 very diverse companies united by the desire to do what’s right and sustainable for the planet.
Q. FROM WHERE DO YOU DRAW INSPIRATION?
As a team, we draw inspiration from the projects we support. Their work is so important in empowering those most vulnerable, and sadly, who are often most forgotten. Knowing we can help them do their jobs without having to worry about funding and focus mainly on empowering at-risk children who deserve a chance at a better life, that’s what gets us up and running in the morning.
Q. ARE THERE DAYS YOU DON’T FEEL INSPIRED, AND IF SO, HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THIS?
Who doesn’t have an off-day, where confronting any kind of situation just feels like it requires Herculean strength? We’re all human, after all, and these things are perfectly normal. At the end of the day though, it’s about realising how fortunate I am to be in my position, and that I have the ability to help those who may not be so lucky. Their problems don’t stop just because I am having a bad day, and for that same reason, I cannot stop either
Q. IF YOU COULD GIVE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO START A BUSINESS WITH POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL IMPACT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I believe the human conscience is evolving to a point where concepts such as engaged consumption and responsible product manufacturing will soon become a norm. Cities are large proponents to carry that awareness forward and forming a new mentality within the fabric of society. For-profit companies will have to adjust and drastically change their philosophies, even if it means lowering their margins, because that’s what their customers will be asking for.
We promote a different way of consuming. We promote a way of being a good company and by that, I mean the production, the way we travel, even the way we send out packages. I want to be engaged in everything and want to make the decisions that I’m most proud of. I’m not looking to become rich with this company; I want this company to be inspiring.
Q. ARE THERE ANY EXCITING PROJECTS OR COLLABORATIONS IN THE PIPELINE YOU CAN SHARE WITH US?
So far, there is one very exciting project in the works, and we are really looking forward to the reactions once things get confirmed. Until then, I am sadly not able to share a lot about it other than to say, it is very much about one of today’s biggest news topics.
Q. LASTLY, IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THE SKATEROOM, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING INSTEAD?
The Skateroom unites a wide range of people and somehow manages to bring these different parties together to rally behind our mission. The Skateroom is such a great project, but it is a great project because of everyone who takes part in it. I just came up with the idea. The artists, the retailers, and the customers make this possible, and I thank them for their participation and for being engaged with us. Basically, The Skateroom was both a choice and not a choice. I started it because I was fortunate to find my chosen path, and yet once I realised the positive impact of doing it, I did not have a choice but to continue. There was no turning back, and frankly, it’s hard for me to imagine doing anything else
