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The LOVE Behind Mer-Sea

Mer-Sea is 4 1/2 now. Is that still considered a toddler? Or would you call her a preschooler now?

 

We have gotten through the sleepless nights (mostly, Melanie gets a good night sleep, on average, 3 out of 7 nights). 

 

We have gotten through the terrible twos. Oh my, Mer-Sea could throw quite the tantrum - wanting to do everything a big company could do and not used to being told NO.

  

Several cardboard boxes filled with glass bottles of drinks are arranged together. Each box has a handwritten name on the outside, such as 'Sun Kissed', 'Crisp Sails', and 'Warm Sands'. Pink post-it notes are stuck to the front of each box displaying specific details like 'SUN KISSSED 18' and 'CRISP SAILS 18'. Text: 'Back in the beginning, when we could track inventory on post-it notes!'

 

Now she is learning how to do things all by herself. Like tying her own shoes and getting her own snack...her moms don't have to do EVERYTHING for her.  Let's not kid ourselves, a 4 1/2 year-old isn't exactly self-sufficient. But, at least we aren't changing diapers anymore. 

 

Two blonde women smiling for a selfie on a sunny outdoor terrace with woven chairs and white tables in the background.  

Mer-Sea was born out of love and she is being raised with love. Yes, by Melanie and me, but there is a big extended family that is helping raise this company.

 

Let's start from the beginning...

 

Before we launched Mer-Sea, Melanie and I were stay-at-home moms. We did everything for our families. Luckily for us, our husbands were 100% supportive of our desire to start a business. And, when the business started growing fast and sometimes requiring 60-80 hours work weeks, they seamlessly picked up the slack. 

 

Two men smiling and holding glasses of beer in a dim restaurant setting. 

 

Our husbands have been our biggest cheerleaders, our IT support, our banking advisor, our insurance guy, and lunch-delivery-service on a Sunday afternoon. We married two of the best guys out there. Their support has allowed us to do what we love.

  

A man and a woman smiling for a portrait outdoors with green foliage in the background. A man and a woman are sitting at a table in an outdoor patio setting with lush greenery in the background. The woman is wearing a coral pink top with spaghetti straps and the man is wearing a light purple button-down shirt. On the table, there is a candle, a glass of wine, and a guest book that says 'Welcome' in gold letters.

 

Then, there are our children. I have to admit, not all of mine jumped onboard the Mer-Sea train right away. They are, admittedly, orphaned children in many ways, lol. My daughter (the youngest of four and only girl) was initially VERY DISPLEASED about the situation. She would lay on the guilt like a pro, saying things like "Well, when I am a mom, I am going to choose to stay home with my kids!" Aww, that's nice dear...

 

Four friends, including a woman in a coral pink sleeveless dress and three men in button-down shirts, are posing together against a red brick wall.

  A young man and a young woman smiling together outdoors in a garden setting.

 

They quickly had to learn how to be self-sufficient.  They also had to learn how to label product, make boxes, pick and pack orders, enter invoices, clean the warehouse and teach us social media. When we need help, they are our go-to labor pool, and sometimes have to give up a Saturday afternoon for Mer-Sea.

 

Of course, Mer-Sea is also being raised by the most amazing group of employees, that are more like second mothers (and father - sorry, Brett). 

 

Two women sitting at a table filled with many small clear and white bottles of hand sanitizer or lotion. The woman on the left is smiling broadly while holding a card, and the woman on the right is also smiling and wearing a black top.

 

Rachael, Maria and Dora make our products with great love and attention to detail.  

 

Two smiling women in a bright office space; one is wearing glasses and a white top with lace detailing, the other has blonde hair and wears an orange sweater. They are standing near a desk with a computer monitor and various papers. A man in a baseball cap and t-shirt stands smiling while holding an item of clothing inside what appears to be a garment manufacturing or printing workshop. The background shows sewing stations with various pieces of fabric, machinery, and supplies like rolls of thread.

 

If you forget to plug in your coupon code and call us, you might get to talk to Maggie or Jan. Alias, Felix and Shannon are carefully packing your orders.  

 

A smiling man in a black hoodie over a button-down shirt standing behind a desk with computer equipment and shipping boxes in a warehouse setting. A smiling woman with blonde hair wearing a long-sleeved blue tunic dress sitting at a desk in an office or studio setting. She is positioned behind a large coffee mug with 'mersea' branding.

 

Brett is running the warehouse. Sarah is the glue holding it all together, the ultimately CFO who will pack an order when needed too. 

 

A smiling woman with long dark hair wearing a grey knit sweater sits at a white table and writes on paper. A notebook and several pens are visible on the table. The text "mersea" is written in large script across the foreground of the image. A woman and a young girl sitting at a table in what appears to be an office or boutique space. The woman is wearing a black top with a patterned scarf and a grey skirt. There are various items on the table including a designer handbag, a brochure, and other accessories.

 

Our talented graphic artists, Sawn and Liz, make us look beautiful and Lindsay makes sure we look perfect at all of our trade shows. And there are new employees that have jumped in and have already made a big difference.

 

Many of these people have been with us from the beginning and helped us through those late night feedings and blow-out diaper changes. 

 

So, the next time you purchase a Mer-Sea gift, know that it was truly made with love. Obviously, plenty of love from Melanie and I. But we wanted to make sure that you knew that there are husbands, kids, friends, and incredible employees behind it. 

 

It takes a village :)

 

xoxo, Lina