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Sun Protection at Walt Disney World

Tomorrow, Coolibar will be heading off to sunny Florida to visit the great Pediatricians of America. So we invited guest Denise Preskitt, a seasoned Walt Disney World explorer and blogger at MouseSteps, to let us in on a few of her favorite attractions and why staying sun protected at the parks matters. So grab your mouse ears and get excited!

Keeping my skin safe in the sun has long been important to me, but it wasn’t always. On yearly family trips to Walt Disney World as a child, I didn’t know much about sun protection and ended up with blistering sunburns. In my 30’s, my dermatologist introduced me to sun protective clothing. I spend several days or more per week at Walt Disney World and neighboring parks. It’s very important to me that I wear my Coolibar shirts during daylight hours to prevent additional skin cancers (as I’ve had a pre-melanoma spot removed), and the clothes save me money on sunscreen! Almost everything I own works at night as well.

I started my website, MouseSteps, in 2007 to share my experiences at Florida’s theme parks. Here is a look at one day at Walt Disney World. No two days are the same!

This October, I won a tour of the Fantasyland castles at the Magic Kingdom with an imagineer (a person who devises and implements a new or highly imaginative concept or technology in Walt Disney theme parks). Upon arrival, we, along with other breakfast guests, headed to Cinderella’s Royal Table and The Crystal Palace. Cinderella’s Castle is already decorated in lights for Christmas, which begins at Walt Disney World in early November.

Be Our Guest Restaurant

Jeff, my husband, and I learned a fun details about Fantasyland during the tour – like that the castle walls start showing battle scars on the way to Be Our Guest Restaurant. Be Our Guest Restaurant is the most sought-after restaurant in the Magic Kingdom, both for lunch and dinner. Guests can purchase fun goodies from the movie, such as The Grey Stuff, during dinner.

After breakfast, our group then headed to the Cinderella Castle Suite. A 30,000 mosaic tile of Cinderella’s coach is part of the foyer floor, where Cinderella’s crown and glass slipper are also on display. Stained glass artwork shares the story of Cinderella. Each piece of furniture, and every mirror and decoration look like they were made just for the suite.

After our tour, we spent an hour taking photos inside the Magic Kingdom. The rides we enjoy most often at the Magic Kingdom are The Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Halloween decorations line Main Street, although it will be just a couple of weeks until Christmas shows up! There is a Christmas pumpkin displayed during Halloween that is one of my favorites.

Our day wasn’t quite finished, as we wanted to go to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. The Villas weren’t open yet, but will officially debut on October 23rd (in time for the AAP!). Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is Walt Disney World’s flagship resort, and this is the newest Disney Vacation Club offering.

Boat ride to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort (You can see it in the background)

On a final note, living in Florida, sun protection is extremely important, and I’m so glad I found Coolibar! It travels so well, whether it’s in my gym bag or luggage on vacation, Coolibar is lightweight and dries quickly. I hope you come to Florida soon (with your sun protection of course) and take advantage of all the fun Orlando has to offer.

Denise
MouseSteps

Denise at Discovery Cove
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Inside Coolibar

Coolibar Jobs: Copywriter/Content Developer

We’re hiring. Be part of an innovative apparel company that is so much more than just clothing. Our UPF 50+ products (hats, swimwear & clothing) improve the lives of our customers. Our environment is creative, casual and flexible and we’re looking for a full time, permanent Copywriter/Content Developer. Here’s what our employees say.

“Our clothing serves a real purpose, which is truly beneficial for anyone that wears it.”

“The people and management make you feel like you’re an important member of the Coolibar community and listen to your thoughts.”

“Great culture, very inclusive.”

Position Title:  Copywriter/Content Developer

About Coolibar: Coolibar is the most recommended and tested sun protective clothing company in the United States. We bring Australia’s world-leading approach to sun protection to the American market by developing and selling UPF50+ fabrics and apparel for active families using multi-channel strategies including direct-to consumer web and catalog sales. Highly customer focused, we pursue continual product innovation and uncompromised quality in a collaborative, creative and fast paced environment.

Principal Responsibilities: This is a full-time position that works across departments including Creative, Merchandising, and Marketing, interacting directly with senior executives as well as with functional teams.  Primary responsibilities include oversight and/or execution of all written content that puts forward the Coolibar brand across multiple marketing channels such as product descriptions, promotional copy, interactive and traditional media. The overall goal is to continue development of a clearly articulated brand voice that differentiates and inspires while engaging loyal Coolibar customers.

Specific Duties:

  • Develop, write and keep current all catalog and website product and promotional copy.
  • Contribute to development of, and adhere to, brand style guidelines that reflect creative direction.
  • Create and execute social media strategies, newsletters, physician letters and collateral materials through effective information gathering and copywriting.
  • Research and curate relevant content for the weekly Coolibar Blog.
  • Maintain an open dialog on all social sites including Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Pinterest and Instagram.
  • Follow marketing and sun protection industry news.
  • Build positive relationships with customers, wellness warriors, sponsored athletes, physicians and organizations to generate social content.
  • Provide additional support for tradeshows and events (travel may be required).
  • Act as a team player: complete miscellaneous and administrative assignments such as web site maintenance, merchandising updates and executive support as needed.

Skills, Education and Experience:

  • Four year college degree in journalism, communications, marketing or related field required or equivalent experience/education.
  • 3+ years of copywriting experience with diverse portfolio.
  • Knowledge of Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook required.
  • Working comprehension of HTML required.
  • Basic Adobe Photoshop and experience with WordPress experience a plus, but not required.
  • Experience with CW Serenade or FRY commerce platform a plus, but not required.
  • Exceptional interpersonal, communication, time management and organizational skills.
  • Strong team player with the ability to lead and/or motivate others.
  • Friendly, self-motivated, goal-oriented, professional and creative.
  • Ability to coordinate multiple projects concurrently, manage levels of priority, meet deadlines.
  • Flexibility in hours and schedule, including occasional weekends and some travel.

Qualified candidates, please submit your resume to jobs@coolibar.com.

 

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Inside Coolibar Sun Protection Clothing

Fit to Wear Coolibar

Lupus Foundation of Minnesota Ambassador Chris Cronick spends a lot of time outdoors, teaching spin classes at the gym and traveling around the community to raise awareness for lupus along with her husband Patrick. Coolibar provided them with a few items to test during their busy month. Chris shares their thoughts on fit and function.

Coolibar is an awesome sun protective clothing line for those with lupus (like me) because we need UV protection, yet want fashion and comfort. My husband Patrick and I had the opportunity to try some fantastic items throughout the past couple of months.

I don’t know about you, but when I shop, I’m always curious to know the size and measurements of the model so I can visualize how it may fit on me. I’ve included some pictures so you can see how Coolibar fits on real people. I’m 5’8” and about 130 pounds. I wear extra small and small sizes.

Chris (pictured middle) wearing the Coolibar Vera Resort T-Shirt

One of my favorite Coolibar items is the Vera Resort T-Shirt (size small). I love this shirt so much that I now have it in Fig and Turkish Blue! It didn’t cling around my waist and was longer for my arms, providing great coverage. It’s the softest (almost silky) long sleeved shirt I have ever owned. I’m all about layering, especially living in Minnesota. This shirt can be worn alone or perfectly layered underneath a short-sleeved t-shirt, under a button-down shirt, a light jacket or vest. In fact, I thought it would make a great Christmas gift so I’m getting a couple more for my family!

I sported the Vera Resort T-Shirt, along with the Fitness Jacket in White/Iron at the most recent Twin Cities Lupus Walk for Hope event. There’s reflective piping which makes this the go-to jacket for walking the dog at night (picture upper left). There’s a zippered pocket perfectly situated on the front chest. I found this to be a nice, handy home for my cell phone. I also like the wrist cuffs which double as gloves. How ingenious is that? This lightweight, breathable jacket provides all the sun protection I’ve come to know with Coolibar with the same fitness savvy details you find in more expensive brands.

Chris and Patrick

_ I also wore the black ZnO Long Sleeve T-Shirt for the Lupus Walk for Hope in Duluth, MN. I like this T-shirt because it has a sturdier cotton/spandex construction perfect for a cooler yet sunny day. Again, the ZnO is another great layering staple. I needed to be comfortable for the two-plus hour ride to Duluth, so I wore the ZnO Long Sleeve T-shirt paired with the ZnO Beach Pants. I like to be comfortable when I travel but still feel put-together. As you can see, these beach pants are also great for doing the elliptical at the gym too! You can wear them for virtually anything. They really are an everyday pant, not just for the beach.

Chris wearing ZnO Beach Pants on elliptical

My husband Patrick does not have lupus but has very fair skin and burns easily. I encouraged him to try Coolibar as well, so he wore a few pieces to each walk. To give you an idea of his stature, he is 6’1”, about 220 pounds and mostly wears extra-large. He is tall with broad shoulders and long arms. He finds Coolibar fits his frame perfectly with a little extra “give” where he needs it. He really liked the Men’s Fitness Jacket in Limelight/Iron and the XL fit him great. The sporty colors combined with the functionality and design of the jacket made it perfect for layering up or down. There is a zippered pocket on the sleeve that conveniently held his cell phone and zippered pockets on the front that held our car keys and some money. Lightweight, breathable 3D dri SUNTECT® fabric makes this jacket sun-protective and the surface grid wicks moisture for quick-dry performance. He wears this to the gym all of the time.

I welcome any comments or questions you may have about the items I mentioned. I also want to extend my gratitude to the wonderful people of Coolibar and the Lupus Foundation of Minnesota who opened my eyes to sun protection clothing. I wish you all the very best of health!

LFM Ambassador Chris Cronick received free sun protective product for the purpose of this review.

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Inside Coolibar Sun Protection Clothing

Coolibar Clothing versus Regular Clothing

One of the most common questions our customer service team receives is, “What is the difference between Coolibar clothing and regular clothing?” Here’s our answer:

Regular light-weight clothing provides little protection.
Most light-weight clothing provides less sun protection than SPF 30 sunscreen. In fact, the Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) cites a study conducted in Australia that claims a white cotton T-shirt has a UPF rating of 5, allowing 1/5th of the sun’s UVR to pass through, and even more when wet.

Even if you don’t burn through your clothes, UV passes through.
The SCF states UVA (aging) rays account for up to 95 percent of the UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface. Even though UVA rays are less intense than UVB (burning) rays, they are 30 to 50 times more prevalent. They are present with relatively equal intensity during all daylight hours throughout the year, and can penetrate clouds and glass.

UVA rays are longer wavelength than UVB rays, which allows them to pass through windows and clouds.
(Image from the Skin Cancer Foundation)

Coolibar Clothing is UPF 50+, which blocks 98% of UVA and UVB rays.
Coolibar SUNTECT® fabrics are engineered and repeatedly tested to provide effective, long-lasting protection from UVA and UVB rays. All Coolibar clothing is rated UPF 50+ from the first to the last day worn. We manufacture several types of fabrics for different activities including swimming, fitness, travel and leisure.

Sun protection is embedded in the fabric.
The sun protection comes from a combination of factors including: zinc oxide or titanium dioxide sunscreen ingredients permanently embedded in the fibers and/or a tight weave construction.

Skin coverage matters.
Coolibar clothes are strategically designed to cover up more skin than regular summer clothing, so you need less sunscreen for complete protection.

Technical properties provide additional comfort.
All Coolibar clothes are lightweight, breathable, quick-drying and easy to care for.

If you have any additional questions, please call our team of sun protection experts at 1.800.926.6509 or visit www.coolibar.com

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Inside Coolibar Sun Protection Clothing What's Hot

Five ways to add sun protection with a scarf

I love scarves. They are the most versatile styling tool available (in my opinion), taking drab outfits from blah to voilà in a matter of seconds. Now that it’s fall, I try to incorporate a scarf into my look daily for both fashion and function. The Coolibar Aire Scarf is one of my favorite accessories as it does double-duty, providing some flair and UPF 50+ sun protection.

Here’s how I use my Coolibar Aire Scarf:

The Coolibar Aire Scarf saved my skin in the car, while practicing outdoor yoga, touring towns during travel, cruising on the boat and sitting on the outdoor patio.

 

Cover forehead and ears
Fold it in half the long way three times. Tie over once in back.

Cover the neck
Pull scarf tight at opposite ends. Place it in the middle back of the neck so you have equal amount of fabric on each side. Wrap it around the neck in opposite directions, slightly overlapping, until you have about 8 inches left on each side in front. Tie over once or twice (depending on your preference) and adjust so tie is off to the side.

Cover shoulders
Simply drape over the shoulders and tie once in front, looping one side of the excess fabric inside and over from the bottom.

Cover delicate chest area
Hang around neck, with equal amounts of fabric dangling in front on each side. Take one side and wrap it in a complete circle around the other until you create a loop. Pull the same side you used to create the loop, through the top of the loop. This will make a knot that will allow the fabric to drape nicely.

Cover legs fast
On vacation, or at the beach with bare legs? This scarf is even long enough to wear skirt style. Just wrap and tuck.

Enjoy!

-Amanda
Coolibar employee

Shop the Coolibar Aire Scarf.

Free shipping, no minimum on your next order at www.coolibar.com.
Offer expires September 30, 2013. Use code SEPT13. See website for promotion details.

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Events Inside Coolibar

Preventative Medicine and Sun Protection

Coolibar sun protection clothing is excited to attend the Osteopathic Medical Conference & Exposition in Las Vegas, Nevada, September 30 – October 2, 2013. After manufacturing UPF clothing for over 12 years, we’re looking forward to introducing our line of Coolibar sun protective clothing to Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) for the first time!

Good health stems from good, preventative living – the premise of Osteopathic medicine.  DOs concentrate on treating a person as a whole versus specific symptoms, viewing everything in and outside the body (including skin) as interconnected.

According to the American Osteopathic Association, DOs are the fastest growing and most active segment of healthcare professionals in the US. As complete physicians of medicine, DOs specialize in all the major specialties, including family practice and dermatology. While DOs help treat symptoms, they also teach patients how to prevent illness and injury by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. While there are currently over 52,000 DOs, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, it’s a relatively new practice being first introduced a little over 100 years ago.

Overall healthy living includes protecting skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays and avoiding tanning beds. UV rays are the number one cause of premature skin aging and skin cancer according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Overexposure to sun may also suppress the immune system, aggravate preexisting conditions and produce side-effects for those taking prescription drugs. Currently, dermatologists recommend sun protective clothing  as the first line of defense against UV rays, followed by sunscreen.

Getting outdoors—where healthy living happens—is a must! That’s why we’re eager to introduce our line of fashionable, active UPF 50+ sunwear to DOs!

Attending OMED? Stop by booth #142 to meet the sun protection experts at Coolibar. We’ll have a special treat waiting for you!

Visit us at the Coolibar booth!
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Events Wellness Warriors

Lupus Walk for Hope

Every fall, the Lupus Foundation of Minnesota hosts a Lupus Walk for Hope and 5K Run in various cities throughout Minnesota as an opportunity to raise public awareness and show support for those with lupus. Chris Cronick, 2013 LFM ambassador, had the opportunity to attend the first of three walks this past Saturday in Minneapolis, MN. Chris shares her heartfelt appreciation for the support and education stemming from the first community event highlighting lupus.

We just wrapped up the 16th annual Lupus Walk for Hope and 5K Run/Walk here in the Twin Cities last weekend. Since its inception in 1998, the Lupus Walk for Hope has generated over a half a million dollars that has gone directly to fund lupus research. The event was a huge success with record breaking attendance of over 1,000 runners and walkers. Many smiling faces, lots of camaraderie, positive energy flowed, and everyone donned purple for lupus awareness. A huge thank you goes out to everyone who participated. I was amazed at the love and support I felt that day. It’s definitely an experience I will never forget.

It was an absolutely perfect day. Festivities started at 9 a.m. with crispness in the air that reminded me fall is definitely here. It was about 50 degrees with a cool breeze and the sun brightly shinning. As you may have read in my last post about having lupus, as much as I love a beautiful day, the sun isn’t necessarily my BFF. We have a love/hate relationship.

Since being diagnosed with lupus, I need to strategize my game-plan for each day when it comes to sun exposure. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that attacks all sorts of organs in your body, including the largest organ, the skin. Aside from the sun causing a flare, approximately two-thirds of people with lupus will develop a type of skin disease called cutaneous lupus erythematous. Skin disease in lupus may cause rashes or sores (lesions), most of which will appear on sun-exposed areas such as the face, ears, neck, arms and legs. A high percentage of people find their disease is aggravated after being exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight or artificial light.

Thankfully, we can take preventative measures to stay sun safe outdoors:

• Seek shade, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Wear sun-protective clothing and broad-brimmed hats
• Use plenty of broad-spectrum sunscreen, with at least SPF 30

The walk was held at French Regional Park in Plymouth, MN. Luckily, a well-shaded pavilion area was nestled right in the middle of the park. The walking trails were also covered with beautiful, large trees, so my husband Patrick and I both were able to stay out of the sun for a large portion of the day. When we were in the sun, we used sunscreen and wore our Coolibar clothes.

Patrick and Chris

I took the layered approach and wore the women’s Fitness Jacket over the Vera Resort T-Shirt. He wore the men’s Fitness Jacket with his LFM running t-shirt and the men’s Fitness Pants. My team also sported purple feather boas and butterfly bandanas, Cronick’s Chronic Crue signature accessories. The clothes were absolutely perfect for the weather and occasion — light-weight, protective and comfortable. These items are our favorites.

I’ll be wearing Coolibar again as we have two more walks to complete: one in Rochester, MN, September 28th as well as Duluth, MN, October 5th. I’d love to see you there.

Chris Cronick – LFM Ambassador

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Inside Coolibar

Welcome Coolibar Design Director Olga Mashkova

Coolibar is pleased to introduce our new Design Director Olga Mashkova. Olga comes to Coolibar with almost a decade of experience in the fashion industry, designing everything from high fashion pieces to outdoor apparel. We look forward to introducing Olga’s UPF 50+ designs spring 2014. In the meantime, we wanted to find out more about her design inspiration and get a taste for what’s to come.

What inspired you to become a clothing and fashion designer?

OM: When I moved to the US I tried a lot of different careers trying to find what I wanted to do with my life. I came to a realization that I need to truly love my work. We spend so much of our lives working, and I knew I didn’t want to live weekend to weekend. Growing up in Russia all girls were taught how to sew and knit, and after receiving quite a few compliments on some outfits I created, I decided to pursue a Fashion Design career. I enrolled in school and loved it right away. The most inspiring thing about my job is that I love what I do every day. I have to be passionate about anything I do. Designing clothes, coming up with new ideas and creating things that make women happy and feel confident is truly exciting for me.

What helped prepare you for working in this industry?

OM: Great education. I graduated from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, and that was the best training I could have ever wished for.

Where do you get your design inspiration?

OM: All kinds of sources: fashion shows, magazines, vintage shopping, trend forecasting sites, paintings, art installations and mainly people watching. I always check out what women of all generations wear, it’s so fascinating to see how fashion changes, and even 3-4 years ago women wouldn’t wear certain clothes that they wear today. We could design whatever we want, but we need to think “Would she actually wear it? Would she find it flattering? What are her needs these days?” You have to stay tuned to the changes she’s going through in her life.

What are you most excited about now that you’ve started working at Coolibar?

OM: I’m most excited to be designing for such a great cause. Fashion can be vain and even cruel, and those are the sides of fashion I have struggled with. Since the beginning of my career I have always longed to combine my passions for design and doing something more meaningful. I am amazed by Coolibar’s concept of sun protective clothing, and I truly believe that we are helping people to live fuller lives. With our products they can enjoy being outdoors while also being safe from the sun. On top of that, we can make them feel fashionable and attractive. It’s the best of both worlds for me.

What trends do you see being big for 2014?

OM: For spring 2014 we are focusing on three major trends for ladies:
Underwater world: We’re seeing a lot of shades of blues and turquoise being used as key colors for spring—anything from light mint to periwinkle blues to deep cobalts—colors of the sea. A lot of prints are using watercolor washes, brush strokes that reflect movement of water, inks that bleed and fade, so the prints are very soft and feminine.

Black and white continues to be a big trend—very clean, bold lines that remind us of the 60’s designs. Geos are extremely important in this group.

Tribal and ikat patterns are gaining more importance: main shapes include diamonds and chevron patterns, ikats become intricate and highly decorative as well as very compact with hardly any ground color.

What are your hobbies outside of the office?

OM: My biggest passion outside work is animals. I am a huge supporter of animal rights and dedicate a lot of my time trying to save their innocent lives. Beyond that I love to run and do yoga. I am obsessed with healthy eating and always on the lookout for new recipes. Finally, I think travel is extremely important. My worldview and perspective on life has been shaped and enhanced with places and cultures I’ve explored around the world.

What is your favorite Coolibar innovation and why?

OM: The sun protective technology built into our fabrics, it literally saves lives.

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Events Inside Coolibar

Gansett Lifeguards Demonstrate Skill and SunAWAREness

Brian Guadagno, Narragansett Surf Rescue Senior Lifeguard Captain and founder of Raw Elements USA sunscreen, lives for days on the ocean. During his 17 years as an Ocean Rescue Lifeguard, he came to realize the damaging effects of environmental sun exposure and chemical sunscreens. Today, Guadagno continues to spend his days on the ocean in Rhode Island, protecting himself from the sun while encouraging his fellow rescue team and beach goers to stay SunAWARE as well.

“Summer 2013 was a huge success for Narragansett Surf Rescue,” said Guadagno. “Most importantly we have managed record numbers on our beach with great efficiency. To date we have logged over 200 rescues and assists of distressed swimmers and surfers.” The rescue team’s latest competition, the Waterman Eco-Challenge three mile ocean paddle, turned out to be a huge success thanks to some dedicated surfers, paddlers and great sun protection advocates. “Although the weather wasn’t the greatest, the event was awesome,” said Guadagno.

“I cannot begin to tell you how thrilled the entire 2013 Narragansett Surf Rescue team was to have their Coolibar hats this summer,” said Guadagno. “The crew wore them every day on the beach and throughout tournament competition. It was a great new look for our team and everyone took notice. Our Coolibar rash guards are an instrumental part of our gear as well, as you can see in the photos.”

Check out photos from the 2013 season and Coolibar testimonials from the team!

Coolibar extends a huge congratulations and two-thumbs up to the Narragansett Surf Rescue for a great season and a job well done on keeping our oceans safer to paddle in.

“I kayak 7 miles a day on the ocean for the past 3 years and I’ve never felt more protected from the sun as I did this year wearing my Coolibar hat. Simply awesome!” – Mike Florio, Narragansett Surf Rescue Lifeguard Captain

“The Coolibar hat this summer has been a lifesaver. Combining the hat with Raw Elements sunscreen has protected me from the sun’s harmful rays, which is a high priority for me and the whole Surf Rescue Team at Narragansett. Thank You Coolibar!” –Nicholas Batista, Narragansett Surf Rescue Lifeguard

“Our Coolibar hat and team rash guard were my everyday choices life-guarding this summer. Lightweight and quick drying, I always felt comfortable and totally protected under all conditions, especially during two immense heat waves. Thanks for your support of our team!” – Drew Schneider, Narragansett Surf Rescue PWC Team

About Raw Elements USA
Sunscreen gentle enough for use in infant care yet meets all the performance demands of the most extreme athletes. This is all delivered in an eco-safe, reef-safe, all natural formula. Raw Elements is the conscious consumer’s answer to safe, serious sun protection.

Shop Raw Elements Sunscreen

Like the UPF shirts and sun hat they’re wearing? Shop Coolibar.

Coolibar provided free swim shirts and hats for the Narragansett Surf Rescue.

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Inside Coolibar

John Barrow – Entrepreneur of the Year, Upper Midwest

Coolibar President and Founder, John Barrow, was honored to be selected as a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and was surprised when his name was called as the winner of the consumer products category.

John thanked the judges for recognizing him among such an esteemed group who are making tremendous changes to improve our world and acknowledged the work and dedication of his team at Coolibar.  John said, “I would like to say thank you to the people at Coolibar.  In truth they are actually a lot more talented than I am. The success of Coolibar, is really your success, and I will forever be in your debt for that.”

Hard work, dedication and collaboration were common themes throughout the evening as Midwest entrepreneurs accepted their awards.  We had a chance to catch up with Mr. Barrow, seeking advice for young entrepreneurs.

1) How hard is it for young entrepreneurs to make their mark in the fashion industry?

I would say it is probably easier than some industries and harder than others.  On the one hand, there are not large barriers to getting into the business in terms of capital or intellectual property.  On the other hand, obtaining access to distribution channels, or building your own, can be a challenge. On the positive side again, it’s a very large, global industry but on the other hand it’s quite price competitive.  So, I don’t think it’s easy but I certainly think it is possible for talented and hard working individuals to make their mark.

2) Normally, what challenges make young entrepreneurs give up?

The biggest issue is probably being able to generate sales of their products.  Another one is obtaining adequate financing for their business.  And finally, I think that the opposite side of the coin of being young is that young entrepreneurs typically don’t have extensive experience or management skills that would help them be more successful in building a business.

3) What is the eligibility criterion or qualification required to make it big in apparel and fashion industry for young entrepreneurs?

I would say the qualifications are parallels to those challenges I mentioned above.  I think young entrepreneurs need a strong vision of their product, they need a lot of energy to work long hours, they need selling/communication skills and enthusiasm to convince people of the attraction/benefit of their product/company, and they need some resilience in their personality to accept some setbacks but still bounce back and follow their vision.

Read the full press release for Mr. Barrow’s award. Watch Mr. Barrow’s acceptance speech below.

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