John “JD” Turner, Owner of Holistic Skateshop
Lives in Mohnton
What motivated you to start your business in Greater Reading? I wanted to make a difference in the lives of Greater Reading skateboarders and the action sports community.
How has the local community contributed to the success of your business? When Greater Reading residents come into the store to purchase apparel or footwear it helps sustain our business to give back to the local skateboard community through events, summer camps, donations and building new skateparks!
What’s been your biggest challenge as a business owner here, and how did you overcome it? The biggest challenge is bringing skateboarding brands and the culture that are more well known in larger cities to our smaller community. Skateboarding wasn’t the most popular activity when I started the business in 2012, but now it’s accepted and is growing at a rapid pace every year!
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs in the area? Never give up. My business went through so many ups and downs in the first five years and the skatepark project took 11 years to complete. If I can make it survive, so can other entrepreneurs.
What’s your go-to place or activity in Greater Reading when you need to unwind? Most people would assume skateboarding at the new park, but I really enjoy hiking in Nolde Forest or Neversink Mountain. They are both amazing parks for our residents.
