Facts about Funky Beat

 Owned by brother and sister Dean & Melody Workman

Founded in 1989 as Rasta Ropes (a wholesale jewelry company)

Dean was 17 when he started Rasta Ropes

Jewelry was sold to friends at Kempsville High School and in Surf Shops from New York to FloridaMerchandise & Fixture Liquidations Sale In Progress....GET IN HERE for deals you have won't find anywhere!

Facts about Funky Beat

In 1991 changed name to Soul Mon (Reggae Clothing Co.)

Soul Mon was sold in over 26 countries and 31 states in the United States

1994 Dean and Melody opened Funky Beat at Fairfield Shopping Center

The name Funky Beat came from saying on Soul Mon t-shirt Dean designed in 1991- "Soul Mon is searching for da' funky beat, so righteous so sweet!"

Funky Beat's Da' Rat logo  was drawn by Dean in his 7th grade math class.  His surfing buddies called him Da' Rat.  He had the drawing airbrushed with the words Da' Rat on his first 5'3" custom surfboard.

Facts about Funky Beat

Funky Beat has sold over 100,000 stink bombs

Received phone calls from 6 principals and the VB fire marshal about them

Had 6 all night XMAS Eve Give-a-way contest

Gave-a-way as prizes: 6 colored real rats, the real Funky Beat Van, countless pro surfer surfboards

Won Best Surf Shop in Virginia Beach, but is located 30 minutes inland and does not carry surfboards in 2003

Facts about Funky Beat

Won Best Specialty Shop and Best Gift Shop in Virginia Beach in 2002

Was named 1 of the Top 10 Boutiques in the United States in 2007 by the Department of Trade Industry for South Africa and was sponsored to Represent the United States at Fashion Week in Johannesburg, South Africa

Attended over 300 fashion weeks, tradeshows, and gift markets in New York, Las Vegas, Florida and San Diego

Melody was the Celebrity judge for the Mr. Kempsville Pageant  3 years in a row

Dean was asked to be the key note speaker for the Fairfield Elementary  5th grade graduation

Employed over 100 people- mostly high school marketing students

Oldest employee was 83 year old bookkeeper

Funky Beat will close their original and final store by December 24th, 2008