Twice a year we have the pleasure of giving out two Project Cape Made grant awards to local makers who have been nominated by the community to receive $500 in order to grow or enhance their businesses. We are able to give out $2000 in total every year thanks to the generosity of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod and donations made by the public at our LoveLocal Fest :: Holiday Edition.
This spring’s grant recipients are Nautically Northern and Seasouled. Here we chat with them in order to get to know a little bit more about their respective brands and to ask how they will use the money.
Nautically Northern began in 2016 after Laurel Ryan moved to Cape Cod. Each piece of jewelry is hand stamped and designed to tell a piece of someone’s story through a saying or an image of a symbol or a place. For every piece sold Laurel donates $1 to charities such as the American Red Cross, Child & Family Services of Cape Cod, and the Pan-Mass Challenge.
What is your connection to the Cape?
Laurel: I have always come to the Cape since I was little, but three years ago I moved to Wellfleet in order to be closer to my friends.
Tell us about Nautically Northern. How did you get your start?
Laurel: I got my start just making pieces for friends as a hobby. The feedback from them was great so I decided to see if I could take it to the next level buy selling them online and reaching out to stores. We have grown so much since then, but everything is still made by hand.
Where do you find inspiration and what sets your product apart?
Laurel: I get a lot of inspiration from my daily life. I used to travel a lot for work I love but always had a hard time finding jewelry that expressed what I liked or had meaning. That’s what really sets Nautically Northern apart. Our items are designed to help bring a little piece of someone’s journey to the surface where they can see it, feel it, and share it with others.
What is your favorite thing about being a maker on Cape Cod?
Laurel: My favorite thing about being a maker on Cape Cod is the variety of people you meet. In the summer people come from all over the world to visit and that has been such a great help growing my business.
How will you use the Project Cape Made grant to grow your business?
Laurel: I plan on using the Project Cape Made grant to buy all new marketing supplies to help grow brand awareness more.
Describe your favorite Cape Cod day.
Laurel: My favorite Cape Cod day is breakfast at Hole in One, a walk on the National Sea Shore trails. Lunch at the Knack. Then sunset at the Wellfleet pier with Mac’s lemonade.
Sarah Tovet has always had a deep love for the ocean and culture surrounding such a unique place. She creates her signs for Seasouled – painting, cutting and sanding each one herself – in order to nourish the soul or perhaps even remind someone of a special moment in their lives.
What is your connection to the Cape?
Sarah: I was born and raised in Centerville. Much of my family still lives here, grew up here, and many of my close friends do too.
Tell us about Seasouled. How did you get your start?
Sarah: I wanted to find a way to combine my love for creation; truly using my hands to make something and offer a product that can easily remind you of your experience on the Cape. I keep the design and colors simple to match most decor, the wood is light in weight so they’re easy to travel with and hang, and they can offer a conversation starter or reminder of a trip and/or Cape memory.
Which one of your signs is your most popular? Which is your favorite?
Sarah: ‘Call Me When You Get To The Bridge’ is by FAR, my most popular! If you live on the Cape, and are expecting guests, or have family members/friends who are coming from off-Cape, many times you tell them to reach out when they get to the bridge. It’s truly a measure of time around here! That sign was a special request by a wonderful lady and has grown immensely popular over the last year!
My favorite is: ‘Raised on Salt Air’ – it just rings true for me.
What is your favorite thing about being a maker on Cape Cod?
Sarah: The genuine support and camaraderie. Everyone is always so encouraging, and willing to offer their own experiences. Whether it’s engaging on social media, or offering a suggestion about marketing, or how to grow your business. It’s a team effort that I think would be hard to find in other places!
How will you use the Project Cape Made grant to grow your business?
Sarah: I’m excited to be able to update some of my marketing materials and wholesale brochures, and also build some new displays!
Describe your favorite Cape Cod day.
An early morning walk down to the beach for sunrise with my coffee, pack the cooler for lunch and drive out onto Sandy Neck with some friends and family. Spend the afternoon hanging on the beach, swimming, playing cornhole, and staying for sunset, pizza, and a fire. Maybe a couple of s’mores too.
