What began as bonding between two Australian siblings in childhood has now blossomed into a six-figure business idea.
Dan, 28, and Sarah O’Connell, 45, have at all times had a strong bond through their love of browsing. Sarah taught her younger brother to surf once they were growing up in Victoria.
This shared passion is where Dan talks about an idea for a joint business enterprise, boardsoxthe primary appeared about five years ago.
“We just thought there weren’t really exciting board covers available on the market, a lot of board covers are so boring,” he told news.com.au.
“We have had quite a few of those board covers they usually’re product of a soft polyester weave material and we would break them fairly quickly just from the character of using them, throwing them backwards or snagging on one other board or piece of automotive they usually’ll crack or fray.
“We thought there needed to be a higher solution, we wanted to seek out a higher quality cover that might have cool prints on it. In a way, that is where the concept got here from.”
![Dan, 28, and Sarah O'Connell, 45](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009452557.jpg?w=1024)
Seeing a possibility to fill a gap within the industry, Dan and Sarah got here up with the concept of making the surfboard covers out of canvas versus knitted polyester, which can also be a higher quality product that enables them to be printed in a number of patterns.
The corporate then teamed up with charities and artists to create specific projects where a portion of the proceeds from sales will go to donations.
“We form of began with that, and everybody loved it,” said Dan.
“But being a surfer, you go to the beach day-after-day and also you see a lot plastic being washed ashore that you simply just need to think there’s a higher solution.”
That is why Boardsox opted for an excellent more sustainable option by making their covers from recycled plastic bottles.
The covers are “the primary of their kind in Australia” and Dan says they’re still the identical quality and prints, but much more environmentally friendly.
![Dan OConnell](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009452558.jpg?w=1024)
![The O'Connell siblings](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009452555.jpg?w=1024)
“We’re just attempting to bridge that gap between individuals who throw away plastic and as an alternative individuals who use that plastic for good quality products,” he said.
The 28-year-old said the corporate was at all times in search of ways to be more sustainable.
He said that while much of the recycled plastic comes from China, where the manufacturer is positioned, changes to the covers and plenty of smaller items on the web site are handmade in Victoria.
There may be a small team that cuts and sews covers to size for various shapes of boards, after which the cut pieces are made into one other product, equivalent to a surfboard carrier, beach bag or changing mat.
The corporate continues to go from strength to strength, with products garnering a whole bunch of five-star reviews and customers loving the brand new recycled plastic covers.
As a surf company, the hotter months are the busiest, with Boardsox generating six-figure revenues in the course of the summer.
One among Dan and Sarah’s major dreams is for the corporate to turn out to be the biggest manufacturer of luggage for all types of sports, equivalent to browsing, snow, water and skateboarding.
“I feel the Boardsox name form of lends itself to a brand that covers many various categories of life adventures,” said Dan.
While the business is flourishing, Dan said it wasn’t at all times easy, noting that just getting into the browsing industry was difficult.
“A whole lot of big corporations have multiple stores and have already got existing deals with stores, so it’s hard to seek out your little footprint there,” he said.
“It’s about constructing relationships slowly. Just show up and be friendly and just cope with rejection well. “
![boardsox](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009452556.jpg?w=1024)
When asked if he had any advice for other young individuals who want to start out their very own business, he said the perfect advice he ever received was “just start”.
“Don’t attempt to make it too perfect, you will learn as you go,” he said.
“Many lessons take longer to learn than you’re thinking that, so the earlier you begin, the earlier you’ll be able to start learning.”
He encouraged others to search for various resources equivalent to books, podcasts or other business owners.
“I actually have some really good mentors that I turn to occasionally when I actually have a query I’m stuck on or need a second opinion,” said the 28-year-old.
“Individuals are really comfortable to assist if you have got the appropriate intentions and also you’re attempting to construct something, you are passionate and also you’re real.”