Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachael Soares and Heather Aiu.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Rachael and Heather. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
We met on Craigslist. I needed a roommate and Heather had just moved to Encinitas from Kauai. I was a flight attendant at the time and Heather worked in mortgages at Wells Fargo. Interest rates went up overnight and Heather asked me to give her my 10 top business ideas. I was always up to something, from bringing back bikinis from Brazil to making bags out of used sails. One of the ideas I pitched to her was a super lightweight Tyvek bikini bag I made that I never left home without. That was the summer of 2013 and the rest is history.
2014- Did a Kickstarter video and raised $6147. Check it out:
2015- ALOHA Collection quickly grew in the Hawaii and Japanese market
2016- Quit our day jobs, got into 100 retailers in Hawaii, and a handful of international locations
2017- Grew to a team of 8. We have done collaborations with brands like Free People and the Four Seasons. Kate Hudson was photographed wearing one of our trucker hats. We will be in REI starting next Spring.
Made of 100% coated Tyvek®, ALOHA Collection is a line of splash-proof travel bags created by surfer/private flight attendant Rachael Leina’ala, and Kauai native Heather Aiu, to stow their damp stuff in-style while traveling from beach to bar, pool to plane, and boat to dock.
Founded in Cardiff-by-the-Sea California, ALOHA Collection was born out of a love of adventure, travel, and the ocean.
ALOHA Collection’s mission is to support active lifestyles and to spread ALOHA around the world. ALOHA Collection donates 5% of profits annually to a Hawaii conservation organization to help protect the natural beauty of Hawaii.
This California based brand with Hawaiian roots has grown into a global market with stockist including Hawaii, the Mainland, Guam, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Japan. Now you will most likely find Heather and Rachael working from taxis around the world, on the beaches of Hawaii, running through international airports, or cruising cafes in Europe looking for their latest inspiration. Join us on our next adventure @alohacollection.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Having flexible day jobs the first year helped. I only worked 12 days a month as a flight attendant, and Heather worked from home. This allowed us to run our business and still get a paycheck. We had no overhead. Every cent we made, we poured back into inventory.
Our biggest challenge was securing a reliable factory. Anything and everything can and will go wrong. Things that you would never think of, like a being delivered thousands of electric blue Coco Palm pouches that were supposed to be turquoise. I cried. Heather renamed the color shaved ice blue and sold them! She is focused and can sell anything. I’m the creative that obsesses over perfection.
Aloha Collection – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We make travel bags. They’re not your average bags though. As a flight attendant, I only had so much real estate in my carry-on suitcase. Everything I packed had to be multi-functional and lightweight. I surf and love the ocean, and always managed to have a wet bikini with me. I didn’t want to use a plastic bag to pack my wet bikini, so I made a bag out of coated Tyvek. Years later I pitched this idea to Heather when she asked me for my top 10 business ideas. It’s something people need and will use over and over again.
Made out of 100% coated Tyvek, our bags are simple, functional, and feel good.
More than that though, ALOHA Collection is a lifestyle. As a group of friends on the go, we fell in love with the world. Heather and I are both native Hawaiian. If we were going to put something out into the world, what would be better than to spread ALOHA? We are inclusive, not exclusive. We value family and friendships and kindness. Our mission is to support active lifestyles and spread ALOHA around the world.
Travel is our inspiration, the beach is our home.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Ultimate success would be to leave the world a better place than we found it. That’s a bit overwhelming to wrap my head around this morning but there are so many entrepreneurs and visionaries around us that are doing just that.
Personally, success is finding joy in the work you do.
Is our work fulfilling?
Is it exciting?
Are we inspired?
Are we inspiring others?
Are we making travel easier?
Are we giving back?
Do we have work/life balance?
Are we profiting? (hahaha… minor details)
Contact Info:
- Address: ALOHA Collection
2063 Edinburg Ave.
Cardiff, CA 92007 - Website: www.aloha-collection.com
- Email: aloha@aloha-collection.com
- Instagram: @alohacollection
- Facebook: @alohacollectionca
Image Credit:
Dan Dixon, Amberly Valentine, Greg Marino, Franz Schmutzer
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