We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Charlie Christensen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Charlie below.
Charlie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?
The story behind our brand name is truly a heartwarming memory for my family and me. We were all sitting around the table, throwing out ideas for names and sketching out logo concepts. We aimed to create something simple yet inspired with deep meaning for us. That’s when my mom suggested naming it C Surf Co. She explained it was due to the simplicity of the letter “C,” and that it stood for Charlie. It was like a spark, and that name just clicked and stuck with us. But here’s the thing: the brand name evolved as we evolved as a business. It’s sort of become this phenomenon with our audience. People often wonder what the “C” stands for, and it’s not just for Charlie anymore. It’s now C for the “sea,” symbolizing the ocean we all love. Some of our amazing customers even say it’s C for California or C for their own names starting with C. It’s like this cool puzzle that everyone solves in their own way. And honestly, that’s the magic of it for us. It’s a shared secret, a connection that we all have in our own unique way.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hey there, I’m Charlie, and my journey as a small business owner and brand creator has been nothing short of a thrilling adventure. C Surf Co. is the brainchild I brought to life during the summer of 2020, right when I started my surfing journey. The ocean has always been my sanctuary, a place where I discover healing and wisdom. My surfing experiences began to teach me life lessons that have significantly shaped who I am today.
All the energy and inspiration I gained from surfing sparked a business. With unwavering support from my incredible parents, we set out to create something from the ground up. C Surf Co. was born from this vision—a brand that not only offers surf-inspired apparel but also builds connections and shares the ocean’s healing powers.
What sets us apart is our unique take on surf fashion. Our designs and apparel are a reflection of our personal style, embracing a blend of beach chic and surfer styles. But what truly makes our brand special is the deeper meanings behind each of our designs. We invest our hearts into every piece, meticulously crafting them for quality and creating them with resonating meanings. This experience has allowed me to connect with myself, my family, and my amazing customers who have been able to relate to me and what we’re experiencing in the craziness of life.
Furthermore, we run every aspect of our business in-house. We create, transport materials, pack, and ship orders, and maintain business operations and in-person pop-ups here in San Diego. We source from US-based wholesalers, sample our pieces before production, and then embroider and/or print with connections we’ve made through the brand and supporting local small businesses. We focus on producing small batches of our apparel because we’re a small operation ourselves. Part of our larger vision is for us to grow and have the ability to provide our customers with more of our unique, meaningful, and high-quality products.
I must say, what I’m most proud of is how far we’ve come. It’s changed me, it’s changed our lives, and I couldn’t be more excited about the journey ahead. We’re just getting started, and there’s so much more to come.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
The Mindset Mentor podcast, hosted by Rob Dial, has played a huge role in shaping my personal and entrepreneurial journey. Through Rob’s awesome discussions and practical advice, I’ve learned invaluable strategies for self-improvement, adopting new perspectives, boosting productivity, and shedding bad habits. It’s been huge in developing my personal and professional growth.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty’ has been another significant influence, teaching me not only how to connect with my purpose but also how to build deeper connections with others. Jay Shetty’s podcast has been instrumental in helping me align my personal journey with my entrepreneurial pursuits.
Lastly, Eckhart Tolle’s teachings have had a transformative and healing impact on my life. His guidance has provided me with ways to navigate self-limiting thoughts and tap into a profound sense of presence which has been impactful for my personal and business life.
Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?
I use Shopify for my online business because it provides users with easy tools and support for managing an online store, making it easy for entrepreneurs to start an online business. The main advantage is its ability to integrate multiple platforms, but some advanced customization features and apps require paid subscriptions. Overall, Shopify is a good choice for running a business and for anyone who is just starting out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://csurfco.com/
- Instagram: https://csurfco.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/csurfco
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CSURFCOHOUSE/about
Image Credits
Andrew Tsunoda