A few days back long standing North Devon’s Tiki Surf, located in Braunton, was put up for sale. More than just a surf shop Tiki have become a UK watersports institution with the brand offering a broad range of equipment and services to local and farther flung riders. The business is one of the oldest of type in the country.
It was quite a surprise to see the iconic surfing brand on the market but it seems Tiki owners and co-founders Tim Heyland and Dave Aldrich-Smith are looking to retire.
In comments made to the North Devon Gazette ‘Tiki has continued to thrive during 2020 in spite of national lockdowns and travel bans. Tiki has reported a 40 per cent uplift in sales throughout the pandemic.’
The fear is Tiki may be taken on by corporates with no real vested interest in the sport(s), instead becoming another faceless surfing business with no real core management in touch with layman riders. This may prove unfounded if the right buyer’s found but you can’t help wondering.
Only time will tell. It’s certainly an interesting development and something NCW will be watching with interest. We wish the original owners well in their furture endeavours.