We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chris Lynch a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Chris, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Our mission at Everyday California is simple: make fun happen, create cool products and protect the environment. As a California native, my love for this state began at an early age. My mom was one of the first-ever female Navy Salvage divers, so naturally, she had me in the water before I could even walk. I still remember learning to scuba dive at the bottom of a pool in Modesto and driving over to Santa Cruz to learn how to surf. This lifestyle instilled my appreciation for the ocean, which still guides everything I do and inspired the mission for Everyday California.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I founded Everyday California with my business partner, Michael Samer, in 2010. What started off as a small operation consisting of a few kayaks, an old pick-up truck and a couple of guys running discounted adventure tours in La Jolla, developed into the full-blown ocean adventure and lifestyle brand that Everyday California is today. Now, we offer kayak and snorkeling tours, surf and SUP lessons, kids’ surf camps, ocean equipment rentals, reef-safe sunscreen and apparel and accessories for men, women and kids.

Right now, I would say I’m most proud of the tremendous growth the Everyday California brand has seen in the apparel and sunscreen categories! These are recent endeavors for our team and they now make up 40% of our overall revenue. Our wholesale retail is continuing to gain momentum, with our products in stores like Urban Outfitters, so I’m excited to further develop this sector of the business.

One thing that sets Everyday California apart that I’d love for people to know more about is our give-back and green initiatives. As the business grows year over year, it’s really important to me that we remain committed to preserving and protecting the ocean and marine life by donating a portion of every purchase made to environmental organizations and nonprofits through our ongoing partnership with 1% For the Planet. Additionally, we donate 10% of all surf camp bookings to the local youth non-profit Urban Surf 4 Kids, giving all children, regardless of background, the opportunity to positively experience the ocean and enjoy the transformative mental and physical benefits of surfing.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Everyday California’s reputation was built in the San Diego community by practicing what we preach! We love to share our knowledge about the ocean and sustainability with the community through our educational tours focused on local wildlife and environmental preservation, teaching surf and SUP lessons and prioritizing our charitable contributions, all with a commitment to preserving the beaches and wildlife that give Southern California its charm. Additionally, we partner with like-minded, San Diego-owned brands, like Fresh Clean Tees and San Diego Surfrider Chapter to throw Earth Day celebrations and World Ocean’s Day beach clean-ups.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Ultimately, when the 2008 recession hit, I lost all hope of finding a career out of college and ended up at the beach, unemployed. With nothing to lose, Mike and I pivoted our life plans, took a leap of faith and opened Everyday California out of the back of our truck. Though this journey has certainly been fun and exciting, nothing in business is “easy.” We are constantly learning and reevaluating, overcoming challenges and uncovering new ones. Over the years, I have established a goal of being 1% better each day, really focusing on making our core competencies the best that they can be. There’s something to be said for the long game, you don’t have to grow all at once!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.everydaycalifornia.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everydaycalifornia/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EverydayCalifornia/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/everyday-california/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/everydaycalifornia
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/everyday-california-la-jolla-2
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@everydayca