202 | The Fun in Entrepreneurship | with Jennifer Hinton and Thayer Sylvester

As a company born at the beach and endlessly inspired by the outdoors, taking care of the planet is close to our heart. 

85% of our styles are made of sustainable materials and 100% of our swim is made from recycled plastic bottles. 

Each swimsuit keeps 5 plastic bottles out of a landfill and we've pioneered the use of sustainable materials through the creation of our Coconut Balsa™and FlyWeight™ fabrics. 

It all began on a surf trip to San Pancho, Mexico for two friends, Jennifer Hinton and Thayer Sylvester. 

As we lounged in a hammock waiting for the waves to roll back in, we lamented how hard it was to find boardshorts that could keep up with us – real women with real bodies and a real passion for adventure. 

And just like that, Carve Designs was born. Carve Designs styles represent our spirit: fun-loving, hardworking, confident, and inclined to get where we want to go. 

Carve Designs began as a surf apparel company selling rash guards and board shorts in 2003, and has grown into a complete beach lifestyle brand, offering surf, swim, and lifestyle clothing. 

We are dedicated to providing effortless feminine clothing that actually fit real women while keeping us connected to the calm content feeling that inspires us at the beach. 

The women of Carve Designs are determined to push the boundaries of everyday apparel and prove that functionality can be fashionable and well-fitting. 

The clothes are designed to be as inspirational and versatile as the women who wear them. 

We continue to stay true to the vision we created over 18 years ago, providing stylish apparel targeted to women actively engaged in the outdoor world.

In This Conversation We Discuss: 

[00:00] Intro[01:41] Where the idea of Carve Designs came from[02:28] How long from idea to sample[03:54] Launching with the wholesale model in mind[04:39] When did Carve Designs go D2C[05:45] Getting the first sales online[06:05] The future for Carve Designs[06:56] Carve Designs’ marketing strategy[09:24] The resurgence of traditional marketing[10:27] Marketing vs advertising[10:52] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[11:12] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[12:00] Sponsor: Wayflyer wayflyer.com/ecomm/honest[13:13] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.com/honestecommerce[13:43] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[14:31] The smaller the funnel, the easier to track[15:21] Mistakes are essential for learning[15:48] Invest in IP rights before starting your business[16:13] Start your business with a team[17:28] Is entrepreneurship fun?[19:46] Where to find Carve Designs

Resources:

Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeWomen's sustainable swimsuits and clothing carvedesigns.comConnect with Jen linkedin.com/in/jen-hinton-2735b513aConnect with Thayer linkedin.com/in/thayer-sylvester-436296Scale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaFunding a better way wayflyer.com/ecomm/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.com/honest

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!