One of the great things about owning my own boutique marketing agency is being able to be very selective when it comes to taking on clients. I’ve always said it makes the life of a marketer a lot easier if the brand is a strong one known for either a quality product or service. A quality brand is one thing, but it’s rare that I get to work for a client that represents a personal life passion of mine, in addition to being a top-notch brand. Bunger Surf Shop is one current client of Boomer Productions that checks both those boxes, offering me the opportunity to help them establish a marketing presence with their website that truly represents who they are to so many surfers and beach enthusiasts on Long Island.
The Rich History of Bunger Surf Shop
Bunger Surf Shop has a rich history rooted in the passion and vision of Charlie Bunger Sr., who began shaping surfboards in 1961 out of his basement in Lindenhurst, Long Island. What started as a hobby quickly grew into a thriving business as word spread about his craftsmanship, and within a year, Charlie expanded into a larger space, producing 1,500 boards a season. Today, the shop is lovingly run by his family—Charlie Jr., Theresa, and Tommy—who honor Charlie’s legacy through their dedication to the local surf community. Bunger Surf Shop remains a community cornerstone, known for providing top-quality surf and beach gear while fostering a welcoming environment for both long-time patrons and newcomers.
The Bunger Surf Classic, a beloved annual contest, continues to bring the Long Island surf community together. The family’s passion for surfing extends to preserving its history through initiatives like the Long Island Surf Museum. More than just a surf shop, Bunger Surf Shop is a vibrant hub that celebrates the spirit of surfing and the joy it brings, remaining dedicated to sharing this culture with everyone who walks through their doors.
My Passion for Surfing
Long before I started Boomer Productions, about 24 years ago, I fell in love with surfing from my very first ride. Perhaps my sixteen-year-old self was meant to start surfing because on the first wave I paddled into, I managed to get to my feet and experience that intoxicating, weightless ride. It was at that moment I knew surfing would be a lifelong passion.
Over the years, I’ve found myself in the unique category of surfer traditionally labeled a “weekend warrior” (with exceptions), skilled enough on my feet, with minimal greenroom time but above-average style points on good waves. My ability to get into the waves I really want depends on how much I’ve been surfing, my “paddle shape,” and the degree of self-preservation I’m feeling at the moment. Overall, I appreciate the spiritual escape and creative expression surfing offers, along with the connection to nature and the physical challenge. Surfing represents a significant part of who I am, and I plan to keep riding for another 30 years, God willing.
Combining Work with Passion while Achieving the Client’s Business Goals
Naturally, getting the nod from Charlie Jr. & Theresa to help update the BungerSurf.com website, which hadn’t been updated for at least 15 years, was exciting. I had personally visited this website weekly since it was built to check the surf report, which remains the site’s most popular feature. Knowing thousands of people a month visit BungerSurf.com for Charlie’s daily surf reports, updating such a visible website was a big deal, especially because I knew my own surfing community would hopefully be using and enjoying it regularly.
Talking with Charlie and learning about the business goals, I determined these objectives for the new website project:
Modern & Accurate Representation of the Brand
Taking everything Bunger Surf is and packaging it to truly leverage its storied past was the name of the game. The Bunger Surf brand is rich with history, style, and vibe. It was important for the Boomer team to use the iconic logo, bold colors, and retro style and blue-collar values associated with the brand. We suggested extracting the classic surfer in the peeling wave from the double oval border logo to make a more visually effective standalone design. This surfer graphic, which stays visible as the site scrolls, reinforces Bunger Surf Shop’s iconic status on Long Island.
Intuitive E-Commerce Experience
Boomer Productions brought immediate value to the Bunger Surf website project with our expertise in building high-performing e-commerce websites. One of Boomer’s best web developers, DJ (featured on this website), has logged serious development hours delivering and maintaining e-commerce solutions. Our goal is always to convert site visitors quickly, and we achieve that by presenting product options clearly and ensuring a seamless checkout process. We build our sites on WordPress and WooCommerce for ultimate customization and reliability.
Advancing All Business Goals
Beyond moving Bunger-branded apparel, we needed to support Tommy’s custom surfboard design and shaping business. We created a dedicated custom surfboard page with a submission form where customers can share information and upload design ideas, such as photos and drawings. When submitted, these forms are automatically sent to Charlie and Tommy, enabling them to follow up efficiently.
Leveraging SEO to Make Waves Online
At Boomer Productions, we understand that a beautifully designed website is only impactful if it can be easily found by the right audience. That’s why we prioritize leveraging all SEO features when designing WordPress websites. For Bunger Surf Shop’s new website, www.bungersurf.com, we strategically optimized every page to maximize search visibility and connect with surfing enthusiasts on Long Island. Our keyword research identified terms like “Long Island surfing,” “surfboards in Babylon,” and “Gilgo Beach surf gear,” which we carefully integrated into site content, meta descriptions, headers, and alt tags. This SEO strategy ensures Bunger Surf Shop’s digital presence stands out, attracting both lifelong surfers and newcomers.
Contact Boomer to Catch a Ride Toward Commercial Success for Your Business
Working on the Bunger Surf Shop website was a passion project for Boomer Productions. Combining our love for surfing with our expertise in web design and marketing made for a rewarding experience, and we are thrilled to see Bunger Surf Shop’s legacy shine online. If your business or organization needs a modern, effective website that reflects your brand’s essence and reaches your target audience, Boomer Productions is here to make it happen. We’re ready to apply the same strategic creativity and SEO-driven results that have made our projects successful. Let’s connect and discuss how we can elevate your online presence—submit a contact form or give us a call today!