Savage Surfboards
2725 Old Wrightsboro Road, Wilmington

 
No. of local employees: 3

Year founded: 1982

Top local officials: Shawn O’Donnell and Kenny Briel, co-owners

Company description: Savage Surfboards is a wholesale manufacturer of surfboards. The company has photographs and descriptions of its 2024 models on its website (savagesurfboards.com). One example is The Mush Burger, described as “a favorite of Savage Team Riders. A high-performance board designed for advanced-level surfers to excel in heavier East Coast conditions. Performance rocker with a single-to-double concave allows this board to excel in the pocket.” Another board, the Egg Beater, is described as “a great option for younger riders starting to advance their surfing or older guys looking to get more performance out of a bigger board.”

Products made locally: The company makes hand-built surfboards in Wilmington.

Product distribution: Savage Surfboards sells its products wholesale up and down the East Coast and locally at its factory showroom. The company also has an online sales presence.

What made the company decide to make its goods locally? O’Donnell and Briel: “We chose Wilmington as our hometown because it is centrally located on the East Coast and because it is a well-supported surfing community.”

What’s your target market? O’Donnell and Briel: “East Coast surf shops and East Coast surfers are the company’s primary target.”

What’s next? The company’s focus in the coming years “is to continue to be a leader in new raw materials and new technology and to continue to support the East Coast surfing community and surfing competition,” according to O’Donnell and Briel.

The Business Journal’s MADE feature spotlights products manufactured in the region, leading up to our annual MADE Awards. To be considered for the feature, contact [email protected].