Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian McDonell.
Brian, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
melin was founded on the belief that life is most rewarding when we are doing what we love most. I was obsessed with well-made products and accessories as well as using them outdoors to their limits. I grew up a huge sneaker, bag, watch, wallet, shades and cap collector. At about 25 yrs old I noticed that every other category besides a ball cap had a nicer, more well-made version of that particular accessory and there was no way to buy myself a nicer ball cap because they didn’t exist. They were always treated as an afterthought extension of a brand-building best in class products in other categories.
In 2010 my partner Corey and I really dug in to be the first to bring this to market and vowed to make the best ball caps the world had ever seen. We wanted to build them for our favorite adventures and moments. For us that was a mix of travel, art, exploring the outdoors, snowboarding, wakeboarding and golfing. We wanted to build a company and culture inclusive of diversification, unique ideas and creativity. Personally, I have always wanted to surround myself with the highest caliber humans I could keep in my proximity to continually learn and improve…. so there it was…. Go time in 2013.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has been one of the most fun and challenging journeys ever! We are here creating a new premium ball cap category telling people, whom for their entire lives have never paid more than $30 for a ball cap, that now it’s acceptable to expect someone to pay upwards of $150 for a ball cap. You can probably picture the heads shaking, “nope”. We have encountered that head-scratching “no way” moment with nearly everyone we shared the vision with and it was a very close group of friends and a few very good people/investors who gave us wings to get this off the ground in 2013.
We launched the company after 3 years of sampling and resampling the best hats we could make with one final sample set and a 5-months tour in my uncle Tims RV traveling shop to shop across the entire USA. We knew every stop we would encounter resistance and would really have to lean in to our sales pitches and hope for some open-minded buyers…. there were some. We also knew we could just camp in front of their stores until they gave us a shot.
We have had our fair share of challenges from having super expensive premium materials seized at the ports internationally and held for ransom, we have had diamonds stolen (yes we do use diamonds in some select products), we have had jealous competitors and legal issues but authentically believing in what we are here to do, coupled with great people on our team and genuine desire to treat people well has prevailed and we are super pumped on our current position and momentum.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are a “people first” company where we view our team and customers as family. We have a no questions asked warranty/return policy and we are known for making the best ball caps in the game. I put that up against any brands products, anytime. I am most proud of the people we have on our team, the way we have always taken the high road and the reality that we believed “if you build it they will come”…. and they finally have!
What sets us apart from other headwear brands is that we actually do work tirelessly to improve and make our products “better”. Better materials, higher Quality control standards, enormous expectations and zero tolerance for shortcuts. These hats are pricey because they are worth it.
What were you like growing up?
I have always been the entertainer and have always found my best days are those spent on the lake or off road with friends and family. If I could own a whole block of homes and put everyone I love within walking distance I would. People are amazing…. (The good ones).
I am also super competitive and love adrenaline based activities so I try to say yes to as many opportunities as possible. I was a good soccer player, and a decent student but have always had businesses and been an entrepreneur. I even got in a bunch of trouble in college for a fake ID business I was allegedly at the root of. I have always enjoyed seeing other smile and still do. In fact, printed on the back of my business cards, it says “SPEND MORE TIME SMILING” in big block letters.
I am now married to my dream girl and have a 2 yr old son named Weston and am LOVING watching him experience life. I try to introduce him to everything I can and he seems to be enjoying skateboarding, our jeep project, baseball, basketball and soccer, so I am sure I will have my hands full.
Pricing:
- melin TECH (Trans Element Capable Headwear)- $59-$89 MSRP
- melin Limited (White Label) – $250-$280 MSRP
- melin Reserve (Limited to 30 units each piece) $900-$1,200 MSRP
Contact Info:
- Address: 10 Faraday Irvine CA 92618
- Website: www.melinbrand.com
- Phone: 949-334-0575
- Email: mcd@melinbrand.com
- Instagram: @melin
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelinBrand/
Image Credit:
Ryan Sheckler, Shane Bonifay
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