bigwig interview
BIG WIG INTERVIEW
JOHNNY SCHILLEREFF - HEART SUPPLY CO
In one of the most refreshing Big Wig interviews to date, Element Founder Johnny Schillereff speaks to us about his new family-run venture, The Heart Supply Co. Read on for insight from one of the most influential businessmen to have ever worked in action sports. Interview by SOURCE Editor, Harry Mitchell Thompson. Please give us a brief history of your career in the skate industry. I grew up on the East Coast and New York, and got my first skateboard in my early youth, and found my calling. Escaping the disfunction of a turbulent childhood, I began to submerge myself in New York’s skateboarding culture, politically charged music and street art. In my early teens I got sponsored by Thunder, Spitfire, Vans and eventually wound up on New Deal where I rode out my skateboarding career. Inspired by this positive conscious movement and my East-Coast roots, I merged this unlikely marriage of the urban culture and the natural world - and thanks to my lifelong sponsors, colleagues and friends Paul Schmitt and Steve Douglas, I started Element in the early 90’s - which also led to us co-owning and co-founding 411 Video Productions, Destructo Trucks and Giant Skateboard Distribution. 40
So, after nearly 30 years since the inception of Element, I harnessed that unparalleled experience and created The Heart Supply with my wife and children, with the aim to take great care of our team riders and provide positive guidance both personally and professionally - and lead by example. And get as many skateboards under kids feet, as humanly possible.
In early 2001, I sold Element and became part of ‘GSM’ a publicly traded holding company and remained a key shareholder, the President and public figure for nearly two decades with great autonomy. Element went on to be sold in more than 100 countries with retail stores around the world. During this time we upstarted and built skate camps across the globe.
