Seattle gets its goods, as in sneakers, streetwear, and skate accessories, at GOODS, thanks to Scott Downing, 32, and his four other partners.

By Benjamin Meadows-Ingram "Everyone says a successful business is location, and for us, it's been huge. We're on Pike Street in Capitol Hill, which is a real progressive area with lots of foot traffic and cool things happening.

"More than anything, you should know your market, who you're going after, and who you're competing with. The key to running a boutique is buying the right things, but more importantly, the right amount. I see people go out and buy real big, but they don't know their consumer yet, so they just bought a ton of shit and then they're stuck with it.

"People think opening a skate shop or a sneaker boutique is fun, glamorous, you get mad free clothes, you're in all the parties and events, and you get all the chicks-and all of that comes with it-but there's a lot of sweat and blood that gets put into it."
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