From Shade to Privacy: How Our Family's Beach Problem Sparked a Business

It all started on a hot summer's day, just after the birth of our daughter. As new parents, my wife and I were excited to introduce her to the beach, hoping to spend some relaxing family time. I remember loading up the car with everything we thought we'd need—diapers, baby sunscreen, extra towels—and, of course, our newly purchased CoolCabana.

It was the perfect setup. We wanted something that would give us shade from the harsh sun and protect our little one while we enjoyed the ocean breeze. And for most of the day, it did just that—until the sun started to shift. As the afternoon rolled on, we noticed something frustrating: no matter how much we angled the cabana or repositioned our towels, there was always one side exposed to the sun.

But the sun wasn't our only challenge. The beach was busy that day, and as we tried to carve out some private space in the crowd, it became clear that we wanted more than just shade. My wife needed a little extra privacy to breastfeed our daughter, and I wished we could have created a more peaceful, secluded spot to enjoy those special moments. That's when the conversations began.

Later that evening, after putting our daughter to bed, my wife and I talked about how we could make our beach setup more comfortable. We brainstormed some ideas, and my wife suggested something simple but brilliant: side walls. "Why don’t we just create our own?" she said. That was her practical side kicking in, and within days, she made a trip to Spotlight She picked up some durable, beach-friendly fabric, dusted off her sewing machine, and got to work.

What she created was fantastic. The side walls not only gave us that much-needed extra shade during the brightest parts of the day, but they also provided the privacy we craved on busier beach days. It was perfect. I remember sitting under our cabana that weekend, marveling at how much more comfortable we were, and it struck me—if we needed this, surely others would too.

That’s when our business idea took root. At first, we started small, crafting a few more side walls for friends and family. The response was incredible. They loved the added shade, the privacy, and the flexibility of customizing their cabana to suit their needs. Each weekend at the beach, people would stop and ask us where they could get side walls like ours. With a newborn in tow, starting a business was never on our immediate radar, but this simple, practical solution kept pulling at us.

Our goal is simple: to help families like ours enjoy the beach with a little more comfort and a lot more shade.

We’re proud of what we’ve built. It’s more than just a business for us—it’s about creating products that make special family moments even better. If you're anything like us, you value those simple joys—sitting under the shade with your loved ones, feeling the cool breeze, and enjoying the day. And we’re here to make sure you can do just that, with all the privacy and comfort you need.