From a $4K Investment into a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

©iStock/Jonathan Ross

After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Cofounders Heather Aiu and Rachael Leinaʻala Soares launched Aloha Collection to produce Hawaii inspired waterproof bags with each contributing $2,000 of their own money.

The Kickstarter campaign helped them secure their first customers and distributors. Today, their company is a multimillion-dollar brand with retail stores in Hawaii, California, and at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Here’s how they turned that initial $4,000 investment into a business that lets them live a dream lifestyle. 

Prayers for the Lahaina, Hawaii Residents

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The recent Lahaina (Hawaii) fire caused about $3.2 billion in insured property losses, according to Karen Clark & Company, a prominent disaster and risk modeling company. 

It said more than 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed by flames, with about 3,000 damaged by fire, smoke or both.

We send hope and prayers to all the people in Hawaii who have been impacted by the tragic wildfires.

Hawaii State Trade Expansion Program Helps Small Businesses Export and Enter New Overseas Markets

©iStock/Michael Kulmar

The Hawaii State Trade Expansion Program (HiSTEP), recently announced, for the seventh year, more than $500,000 in federal grant funding from the US Small Business Administration to support global small businesses in exporting and entering new overseas markets.

“Local small businesses must be able to reach overseas markets and share their products if we are going to compete and thrive in today’s economy,” said [U.S.] Senator Hirono [of Hawaii]. “Hawaii made products are iconic and this funding will support continued efforts to diversify our local economy, create new jobs, and draw new visitors to our state.”

Details can be found here.

Live in Hawaii? How About Selling to the Rest of the World?

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The Hawaii State Trade and Export Promotion — Export Readiness Program is designed to help small businesses go global.  Hawaii recently received the largest export grant award in the nation!

“A lot of companies, they produce…for the local market,” said DBEDT [Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism] branch chief Mark Ritchie. “(They) think “Oh, could I actually start selling outside of Hawaii?” and that’s what the whole program is about.”

Read more:  Export program helps businesses understand international markets