The name Karmaloop is synonymous with online street wear boutique. However, the company isn’t just another “online retailer” to brands such as Triumvir, Triple Five Soul or Fresh Jive. Their niche is to involve their target audience that wanted more out of their shopping experience. A “For the people, by the people” type of approach is how I perceive it. Anyone that has shopped on the site is familiar with the street rep program. Go out there and spread the word about Karmaloop, enabler of dope street wear. By doing so, your efforts equated to cash and discounts for you and yours.
Throughout the years, Karmaloop has undergone enhancements like the addition of a brick and mortar in Boston, various web channels i.e. KarmaloopTV, a products blog, and finally, Kazbah, a separate ecommerce channel for upcoming brands. I’ve been a fan of Karmaloop since day one thanks to fellow street rep and friend, Jason Foreman. Who would’ve thought one day, I’d get to interface with Greg Selkoe, the owner of Karmaloop and pick his brain. Let’s begin…
Besides the perks of being in the business and receiving free gear, what made you decide to start selling gear online? Especially with taking the risk and plunging into the whole underground smaller brands sector?
Greg Selkoe: I was working for the city government during the end of the initial dot com boom and was looking to do something new and fun where I would get to work for myself.
I didn’t know a ton about business, so it made sense to start something that I had solid knowledge of. For me, that was the clothing, and I had a great grasp of the culture that I wanted to market to. I learned the business along the way. Basically, that is how we have always grown, just doing things and winging it.
