Bimini-me: Our Story & Mission
Please allow me to introduce ourselves.
My name is Lani Liuzza and my business partner’s name is Brynne Peck. She and I have been friends for about 10 years. We both have homes on Aquidneck Island and in Naples, FL. We share many of the same hobbies and interests including decorating and oil painting. It was November 2, 2017 at 2:22pm when we shook hands and decided to start a business together.
The idea of Bimini-me emerged at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show. We were enjoying ourselves tremendously minus feeling like we were melting under the sun. Doused in sunblock, donned in straw hats and wearing Florida heat-fending garments we were losing the battle with the sun and roasting ever so slowly. We escaped and took shelter under a tent and while enjoying beverages asked each other: “Why don’t they sell sailcloth parasols made with sunblock? Duh!?! Yeah. Even men would carry them!”. That’s when our eyes locked, and we realized we were onto something. In that moment we started sketching on cocktail napkins all the features that would be a perfect nautically themed and useful design as our modern expression of the age-old parasol. Bimini-me was born; a nautically inspired handheld sunshade made with UPF50 Sailcloth, accompanied with a hands-free backpack and sold in a beautiful keepsake box.
It took us about 1 & ½ years to develop our product.
We literally dove directly into this journey sans experience. It’s insane the amount of time and devotion a new company requires. Venturing from a simple idea into a material reality and riding the steep learning curve has been tremendously fun! It was kind of like playing the “imagine-if” game; Brynne and I chirping-out design and detail ideas only this “imaging-If” game became a legitimate female owned and operated LLC.Countless people have said this product is long overdue and such a clever idea the way we are approaching our audience. Friends, family and customers volunteer their suggestions and feel as if they’re adventuring along with us.
You can find us in stores and on our website.
You’ll also find us at boat shows, equestrian events, tennis matches and on the golf course. In such a short period of time since we’ve launched, the Boston Globe and Naples Daily have written articles about Bimini-me. Florida’s Flamingo Magazine featured us in an article and declared us as the next “It Accessory”. We’ve partnered with Sara Campbell in Newport and Naples and as well as with HelenJohn Swimwear. You’ll find us on Worth Avenue at Launchpad Collective and in the Palm Beach Hinckley Yachts office.
And our most exciting and fabulous partnership is with US Polo Association! It’s a match made in heaven. Their Gauntlet of Polo is by far the most refined and renowned Polo in the world! We’ll be a fixture all Spring on the Wellington Polo fields. We’ll be filming commercials and involved in promotional initiatives with US Polo. In addition to our original nautically themed sunshades we’ve ventured into other lifestyles; equestrian being one of them. US Polo recognized a parallel between our clientele and the dire need for sunshade in open venues like Polo.
Our “Lifestyle Approach” is a natural extension of hobbies enjoyed on Aquidneck Island and throughout Florida. Nautical being our original, Equestrian, Tennis, Golf and Auto are soon to be revealed… All of these activities are enjoyed under the sun. Our mission is to protect individuals from harmful rays and annoying sun glares as stylishly as possible!!!
Wish us luck!!!
Xoxo
Lani and Brynne