Blueprint Skateboards was created in 1995 by Faze 7 Distribution as the first British skateboard company set up to perpetuate British skateboarding. It was at a time in the industry when US skate companies dominated the market, and the idea of a British-based skateboard company with homegrown professionals was seemingly impossible. Many thought such a company would not succeed. But starting small with a simple and straightforward plan has seen Blueprint steadily grow to its current position in the forefront of European companies. Faze 7 Distribution had been distributing USA quality skateboard brands in the UK since 1985, including H Street, Blind, World Industries, Plan B and many other top USA skateboard companies. In 1995 Joe Burlo, CEO of Faze 7 felt that skateboarding was seeing a downturn in the UK and decided to set up a British skateboard company to help arrest the decline in British skating. This was not only to give British skaters an identity of their own but so skateboarding could flourish in the UK and safeguard its future. At this time, success in skateboarding was perceived as having to be a company wholly based in Southern California. It was thought to be highly improbable for a skateboard company to succeed if it was not based in California, and practically impossible if it was based outside the USA. So for a British born skateboarder, the only option was to move to the USA and attempt to make it as a professional over there. This was, and still is very hard and only a few British skaters have made it. We thought this was harsh for a British skateboarder, so Blueprint's intention was to create a company which would be on a level playing field with one based in the USA and give a home to some amazing talent which otherwise may have gone to waste.
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