Long -time manager and now partner, Nick Clifford, has bought into Zink Surf on Terralong Street, Kiama.

Nick, who was born and bred in Kiama, has been on staff for 12 years and manager for ten.

Co-owner Darren Longbottom said the time felt right to take on a business partner.

“We celebrate 20 years this year, so it’s been a long innings for retail, but fun at the same time. Nick matched my enthusiasm for surfing and business so it was a great fit,” Darren said.

“Nick is ambitious and wants to look after his family whilst working in the industry, plus he gets to surf more! They were the same things that drove me back when I was at his age.”

Nick has a commerce degree and has been surfing up and down the coast for most of his life. He coaches, and knows not only the latest wetsuits and boards but also the history of local and Australian surfing.

“Surfing has never been bigger and working with Daz (Darren), I’ve learnt a lot about the business side. There’s always new products coming on to the market and new ways to market them,” Nick said.

“Nick will be more of the face you see on the floor.” Darren said. “I look after the more macro-type details. I’m a bit weird as I like the administration side and forward planning.”

“We’ll keep trying to separate our locally driven store from the bigger national so-called “surf stores” (which they are not). We are an actual surf store, not those found in shopping centres. We’re both very much immersed in surfing and just want to share that with everyone that’s interested. Hopefully people value that,” Darren said.

Zink Surf store has a die-hard following with surfers up and down the coast, as it offers the best advice and products available in the surf space for the region.

Darren thanks everyone for their support for the last twenty years.

“We’ve employed all local crew and I’m proud to call all of them as friends. A lot of ups and downs like any other business but hopefully at the end of the day I’ve helped some young grommet, first time surfer or even the experienced with some products and tips,” Darren said.

“I’m not going anywhere so Nick and everyone else is still stuck with me.”

Research from the Australian National University found surfing injects $2.7 billion into the Australian economy each year, with surfing considered to be the country's second-most popular water-based sport after swimming.

Keep an eye out for Zink’s 20-year celebration at the end of the year.