Today we’d like to introduce you to Alenka Gomboc.
Hi Alenka, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to introduce yourself.
Hi all! I’m a graphic designer and creator of a sustainable towel brand called Gomboc Goods.
I love nature, bright and bold colors, good conversations, exploring new (sub)cultures and countries, fun people and beautiful design.
I always try to look for beauty in not necessarily beautiful things, as I think beauty lies in the story behind the person or object.
By starting Gomboc Goods my intention was to create a quality, multipurpose product that isn’t harming the environment and doesn’t contribute to the “disposable culture” which keeps making more and more waste.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The hardest part of the whole business is getting (the right) exposure. Social media has become complicated with its ever-changing algorithms, and I have been fairly naive, thinking social media advertising was simple. This was my biggest challenge, and I’m still working it out! (sigh). I tried hiring a few experts to help me in some areas of my business that are not my strong points, but even that has proven to be quite a task. There are a lot of offers on the market, but it’s not that easy (or it hasn’t been for me) to find the ones that make a difference. As a result, I’m currently, and since day one, doing it all myself, A to Z. yep, all by myself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your business. Gomboc Goods was born out of a passion for nice bright things and multi-functional, practical products.
Gomboc Goods is a sustainable yoga/beach/travel towel brand. I’m a graphic designer by trade, and this is my first venture into launching my product. I already have ideas to add more products, and they will most likely feature my designs. I’ve always loved bright and saturated colors. Most days, I wear colorful clothes, which gets me excited about life, so I decided to share this with the world by launching my brand feat. Fun, bold and punchy designs that bring a spark of joy.
I had an idea that I wanted to start my own business in September 2019, but it was vague. I knew I wanted to use my designs but had yet to decide what product I would create and had no clue about what the brand would be. It all started crystalizing during the pandemic when I, like the rest of the planet, had a lot of time on my hands. Instead of freaking out, I grabbed the “world on pause” opportunity and went into full-on development of what we now know as Gomboc Goods.
I was planning to launch my first collection doing pop-ups in LA; however, my plans got cut short when the new lockdowns started in So-Cal at the end of 2020. I then decided to “escape” to a surfer beach town in Mexico and launched my first collection a few months later. The response was great, much better than I ever imagined. The 200 pieces were soon sold out, which gave me enough confidence to continue towards the next step, ordering 5x the amount of towels and hiring 3pl company in the U.S. to deal with my orders. A risky move for a start-up, but I was fully aware of it and mentally prepared myself for it.
I love nature and dread imagining what this planet will look like in 50 years or less. I care about our environment and planet, so I do my best not to “hurt” it. That’s one of the reasons the core value of Gomboc Goods is sustainability. It’s what makes my products slightly pricier than commercial brands, but that was never up for debate. It took me a long time researching to find a recycled and durable material that feels premium and soft. I have to say I’m delighted with what I saw, and so are my customers, as they seem to be coming back for more – yey!:)
Gomboc Goods towels are meant to last, so you can rest assured they’ll keep you company for a long time. By creating a durable product, we wanted to ensure waste and overconsumption are off our brand’s menu. We support the idea that “less is more.” In other words, investing in one good product that ticks multiple boxes (GG towels are used for yoga, beach, surf, as a blanket, for travel, as shower towel, and decor) is there to last. I also travel a lot, and I’m close to being nomadic – I’ve lived in London, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, and Mexico in the timeframe of 10 years. My bags never have enough space, so that’s also one of the reasons why Gomboc Goods was born – to make my life easier!
Can you talk to us about the role of luck?
I am a firm believer that you make your luck. It’s an understatement of your skills and powers to say where you are in your life right now is down to luck. If I need to be luckier – I invest more energy into what I’m passionate about. But if there’s any luck involved, it’s my luck in discovering my gift(s) and being able to monetize it.
Contact Info:
- Website: gombocgoods.com
- Instagram: @gombocgoods
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/GombocBeachYogaTowels
Image Credits
Juan Villalolobos Robles and Alejandro Victoria
