Today we’d like to introduce you to Owyn Porter.
Hi Owyn, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The Happy Sea was created on a whim during my first year at Florida Atlantic University. Throughout my childhood, I dreamed of becoming a marine biologist to study orca whales, exactly what I was in school to do. During my spring semester, I called my mom Laurie Moffitt from my dorm room hysterical because I was failing math and chemistry (for the second time.) & I was completely lost, not knowing what to do next. After a few hours on the phone in a panic, completely unsure of what the future would hold for me without attaining a marine biology degree, I began to listen to what my mom had to say & realized that you didn’t have to become a marine biologist to help save the ocean and play your part in our world.
She is a graphic designer and guided me into studying design as well, where we came up with the idea of The Happy Sea. An American Made product line that would donate back to ocean conservation. It debuted in my mom’s shop Color it Green in Fernandina Beach, the first weekend of May in 2015, with a select line of greeting cards. It sold out within the weekend (to my surprise!), and then, we grew into more greeting cards, art prints, stickers & apparel! I worked on The Happy Sea through my years of school, not expecting all that much; it was more of a fun job that helped me have some spending money. Since then, The Happy Sea has expanded to shops all over the country and beyond. We are also able to donate to Orca Conservancy each month.
Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The Happy Sea has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding things I have ever done! Running a business requires your attention 24/7; everything is never completely done, and that is a tough thing to come to terms with sometimes. You have to juggle everything from managing inventory to responding to emails and posting on social media to fulfilling orders. I have my hand in every part of the brand, which can sometimes be so overwhelming. However, I would not trade any of it for the world. To anyone starting their journey, you can do it! Even when you feel like you can’t or have no idea what you’re doing, remember no one else knows exactly what they are doing 100% of the time. Be persistent, be optimistic (even when it is hard and you don’t feel like it), and don’t let anyone hold you back. Starting a business is hard, and nothing can fully prepare you for going into it, but when you do, throw yourself all in. I promise it will be so worth it!
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The Happy Sea is an American Made lifestyle brand that sells greeting cards, art prints, stickers, and apparel. Our products are produced as green as possible, 100% of the time, and we take great pride in that. Our apparel is hand screen-printed in Outer Banks, NC & all of our paper products are recycled and FSC certified, meaning that with every tree it takes to make our products, more are planted in their place, which is pretty cool! Each month through our sales, we can donate to Orca Conservancy, a total dream come true because that is why The Happy Sea was started.
I draw everything for The Happy Sea, where I find inspiration from the ocean, travel, and music. The eclectic combinations of colors and triangles hold a lot of meaning and are the key inspiration for my designs. The triangle pattern comes from two things. I grew up with 2 younger sisters, and it’s always been the 3 of us. Therefore you have the triangle. Triangles are also the sign of water in my astrological sign – cancer. They are created with a mosaic look inspired by a dear family friend, Ruth Ann Petree. She was an extremely influential human in my life and created incredible mosaic art, chipping the stones by hand and creating breathtaking works of art that I have always loved!
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I am the biggest believer in no risk, no reward (when thought out)! Starting The Happy Sea was a total leap of faith and a complete risk. I had to change my entire life from wanting to become a marine biologist to creating art for a living in the blink of an eye while in school. It has been the biggest blessing to create The Happy Sea, although it has come with major risks and uneasiness due to the everyday stress of running a business! I am all for living a life of adventure, fun, and happiness, and what’s life without a little risk?
Pricing:
- Our stickers range from $3.00-$4.00
- Cards are $4.00 each or a 6 pack for $20.00
- Art prints are 11×14 in size and $25.00 each
- Apparel ranges from tanks and tees at $26.00 up to hoodies at $60.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thehappysea.com
- Instagram: @thehappysea
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehappysea
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/thehappysea
