We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Becca Sapienza. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Becca below.

Becca, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I’ve always been that typical Florida girl. Growing up I spent most of my free time at the beach or out in the boat. I lived in a bathing suit most days and I lived in beach-style clothing. Roxy, Billabong, you name it I wore it. I loved to draw from an early age and got tired of seeing the same repetitive artwork in big box stores. Plus, I wanted my art to have an impact. As I got older, I noticed how people treated the waterways and beaches where I lived. It was sad to see so much trash and disregard for wildlife. I was determined to do something. So Vitamin Sea Clothing was formed as a way to raise funds for trash pickup on beaches and donations to area wildlife rescues. It grew from that point on. I did local markets and festivals with my clothing. Had a few trials and errors with printing and learned a lot about owning a business. I’m proud to say my work is still unique and focuses on the beauty of our planet. I can now donate monthly to numerous charities local to my area and around the world!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Becca and I was raised in a small town called Crystal River, Florida. I loved boating and swimming and the wildlife of Florida. I went on to college for Anthropology but I was always drawing and painting in my spare time. I would occasionally sell a piece here or there, but I wanted to create something bigger. Vitamin Sea was a creation of my love of the ocean. My artwork ranges from watercolors and ink prints of wildlife and beach scenes. I am most proud of sticking to my style. I made mistakes in the business trying to imitate what was popular at the time, but came to find people loved my work for what it was! Sharks, seashells, and sea turtles are some of my favorite subjects and I am proud to share my work and have others where and enjoy them!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

There was a time that I almost gave up on Vitamin Sea. I had left college unhappy and unfulfilled. I had no inspiration. I took a few months off and cleared my head. I had a friend tell me to start an idea book. “Just list what makes you happy!” So I did. I always circled back to art and the ocean, I knew I had to keep going no matter how long it took. I started with a small budget and did only local shows that were free or low-cost to vend at. I began also offering my shirts at the local restaurant I worked at. My family and boss really supported my art and I can’t thank them enough for that. Planning and writing out my inspirations and struggles really helped me see the big picture. If you aren’t happy with something, change it!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Being real and genuine! I love doing markets and festivals throughout Florida and meeting the people who love my work! Speaking with like-minded individuals really helped me connect with my customers and have them see who I am. They appreciate the actual person behind the art and the products I sell. Consistency with product control and making sure the best fabrics went out was a high priority for me as listening to what the customers loved and what they wanted more of. I truly loved connecting with them when they purchased or just stopped by my booth.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shopvitaminsea.com
• Instagram: @shopvitaminsea
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopvitaminsea

Image Credits
Photos taken by Becca Sapienza