Today we’d like to introduce you to Dustin Bryant.
Hi Dustin , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My wife and I are both retired Navy with a love for the outdoors. When we retired after 24 years of service in the Navy, we wanted to do something that encompassed what we love with the freedom to enjoy the very lifestyle that we started our business to serve others in. We started with detailing boats and RV’s and turned that into a brand named after our favorite place, Islamorada-‘IslaNirvana’. We launched merchandise including surf shirts, t-shirts, towels and custom made bikini’s. We mainly do restorations and high end detailing these days on that side of the business with a majority of our business being paint correction and ceramic coatings. We offer monthly, maintenance washes for our customers that opt for ceramic coating and buy the available plan. One of our favorite things is to give back to the community and we have partnered with a non-profit called “Manos de Fe”, based out of St. Augustine but physically located in Panama. We donate 10% of all services and merchandise sold to them. We also do one full detail with a ceramic coat for a first responder each year to show our appreciation for what they do for our community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has most certainly not been a smooth ride. There have been many challenges in both sides of the business. What most people don’t understand about trying to build a business and a brand is that you basically never stop working. If we are not physically working on a project, we are studying the trade, learning the hard way about taxes and book keeping, trying different products, designing products and researching equipment and ways to scale what we do. Other struggles include finding and keeping quality employees. Because this business is a unique niche, it is difficult to find someone that both wants to do it and is good at it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
‘Islanirvana’ is a Veteran owned and operated business rooted in Christianity. We specialize in full service Marine & RV detailing and merchandise. Islanirvana provides detailing services for all Marine and Recreational vehicles to include basic wash, quick wash and wax, oxidational removal, gelcoat repairs, wet sanding, mold removal/prevention and ceramic coatings.
We believe that our customers are more than a number. We realize that families living the life of recreation whether that be on the water or in the woods, desire what’s best for their investments. We take a more intimate approach to customer service and only take on what we can invest our team’s time and talents in order to produce the upmost quality results.
The owners of Islanirvana are both retired Navy with more than 24 years of service. After retirement, they wanted to not only live out the recreational lifestyle they always dreamed of spending days on the water and weekends at the springs, they wanted to ease the burden of those doing the same. We understand that sometimes the most daunting task is cleaning and upkeep of recreational vehicles. Islanirvana sought out to close the gap between the large Marinas and Detailing shops with little to no availability to those that sincerely take pride in their investments wanting quality work without the high overhead pricing.
We are a Christian owned business that takes pride in treating people right, open communication and upfront pricing. Islanirvana is a community-focused business proudly supporting our military and first responders by offering discounts on products and services to those currently serving and veterans. We are proud to partner with “Manos de Fe” in Panama contributing a percent of sales from merchandise and services in support of their mission to give a loving home, education, and show God’s love to victims of Sex Trafficking and abuse.
We are certified through Glidecoat, Xanigo Marine and have attended Spectrum Marine Detailing and Gel Correction course. We sincerely look forward to helping you and your family create unforgettable adventures, worry-free with your boats and RV’s.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
The advice we would offer is to ask… What I mean by that is when I first started the business and because of what we do, I was around a lot of wealthy business owners. At first, I was not inclined to ask about their business and wealth because I felt like I was not being professional by doing so. Then I realized that most, if not all are ok with giving advice, lessons learned and more than willing to hear you out about your dreams and aspirations for your business. Most of the families that we have had the pleasure of having a clients built their businesses from the ground up and respect the hustle. We have one family that we have as mentors that are always happy to look at business plans, give feedback and some are even willing to invest. None of this would have been the case had I not just asked about their story and how they became successful in their respective businesses and brands.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/islanirvana_llc?igsh=c3ZmMzdheTZxdXJw&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091736442842
