Dustin Pulley opened Tint Tech, on Big Bend in Maplewood about four years ago. A year later he bought a small building across the street, at 2418 S. Big Bend, and moved there. Since then he’s put about $75,000 into renovations.
About a month ago Pulley expanded into a second business under the same roof — Sanc Shu Skateboards & Apparel. He said ‘Sanc Shu’ refers to a sanctuary. He said whenever anyone is doing what they love, like skateboarding, they’re in their own sanctuary.
Pulley said he started a clothing line in 2012 and it’s developed into this. He’s had online sales and hosted events and fundraisers. He said a lot of what he does is for charity.
“We are a for-profit company, but we don’t focus on profits,” he said. “We focus on giving the money away — helping out people.”
One recipient is a local hip-hop dance studio, Hip Hop Foundation Fanatics. Pulley said the owner, Nicholas Gates, is known worldwide as a hip-hop dancer, and is working on starting a non-profit to teach inner-city kids dance. “He’s been coming out of pocket because these kids don’t have money to get taught how to dance. He wants to make it official and get a bus,” Pulley said.
He also sells t-shirts for the Cottonbelt Mural, at 1400 N. First Street in St. Louis. It’s on a building 750′ long by 60′ tall, covering the top four floors. The mural is visible from the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge.
He also supports a group that teaches skateboarding to people with prosthetics or in wheel chairs, which is raising funds to build a skate park for the adaptive community. The adaptive community is anybody with a prosthetic.
“It’s off to a great start,” Pulley said. “The tinting industry keeps me so busy in the summer — and trying to juggle both, and not having enough capital to keep people hired. I’m my own bank.”
Tint Tech and Sanc Shu Skateboards (in the back) are open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Saturday at 2418 S. Big Bend.
I interpret “we dont focus on profits” as this guy probably loves skating, im sure it has shaped who he is, so he wants to spread that love around the community. Sounds good to me!! Basically i took it as this is a legit skate shop owned by someone who has skate knowledge vs. some rando businessman who opened up skate store to sell whats soo hot right now.
I hear what you are saying……there is a balance……”focusing only on profit” is of course not wise. Jake Burton had/has a passion for snowboarding and wanted/wants to spread the love too. I would say he has done an outstanding job of doing that, and b/c he has done it so well, profit, for him, his family, his employees has been a by-product of that passion.
I think it is a cool shop….drove by it the other day and the big door was open on the skateboard area…..felt like a little beach shop…..however, I assume/hope he knows that profit is not a four-letter word…..as a matter of fact it is a pretty cool concept that is fairly important in business, it does things like pay bills and create jobs.
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