Shower Pouch ™

Re: Amazon Black Business Accelerator networking event - downtown LA In 2016, my business partner and I embarked on a journey to revolutionize hygiene products for the outdoor enthusiast, birthing ShowerPouch. Our first product was a 2' x 1' full-body wet wipe, which garnered a devoted following beyond our expectations. Fast forward to our Amazon debut, where our partnership with the e-commerce giant catapulted us to new heights, earning us the coveted "Amazon Choice" badge. Overnight, Amazon emerged as our largest retail partner. As a minority-owned enterprise, Amazon invited us to apply to the esteemed Amazon Black Business Accelerator (BBA) program. While this year's application didn't secure us a spot, we were invited to a BBA networking event in downtown LA alongside fellow minority-owned Amazon businesses. Surrounded by a plethora of impassioned and accomplished entrepreneurs, the experience was both invigorating and inspiring. Throughout the evening, fruitful discussions and synergistic exchanges flourished, underscoring the power of collective support. The networking event was further amplified by insights shared by the Amazon BBA leadership, affirming Amazon's enduring commitment to uplifting minority-owned ventures. Their pledge of sustained financial backing underscores a profound dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion on their platform. Heartfelt gratitude is owed to Amazon and the BBA team (Irene Lee) for their tireless efforts in spotlighting minority-owned enterprises. Fingers crossed, next year we'll get accepted into the Amazon Accelerator program.

Surrounding oneself with exceptional individuals who believe in your vision is paramount. I am particularly grateful to my friend, Mark Han, Managing Director and Partner for OVR (Outdoor Vehicle Recreation) Magazine. His willingness to have discussions about the Outdoor Adventure Industry has been invaluable. In two of their previous printed articles, we've been able to get ShowerPouch featured. Mark, your support is deeply appreciated. Thank you! You can pick up an OVR magazine at your local Cabela's, Bass Pro Shop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc. Here is a link to a free one-year digital subscription https://lnkd.in/g99-Z-Hd

HAPPY 8TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY Shower Pouch ™ 🎂 8 years ago, Omar Jimenez and I embarked on a journey to create the best hygiene products for the outdoor adventurer. Our mission was inspired by the personal challenges we faced with our loved ones. My father, a retired Navy veteran stationed in Afghanistan, asked if I could develop something better than baby wipes, as that was all the soldiers had access to in the field. For Omar, it was about finding a way to care for his mom while she was in hospice. In 2014, we decided to merge our talents to tackle these challenges because nothing on the market met this specific need. We formally launched Shower Pouch in 2016 and never looked back! Remember, hard work is the down payment on your dreams. Keep believing, keep grinding, and watch your 'what if' turn into 'what is'. Cheers to 8 years and many more! Here is a link to our most recent podcast with our friends at Rigged for Dirt. We speak about our company's back story and our love for the outdoors. Enjoy 🎧. www.theshowerpouch.com https://lnkd.in/gPbgGNYF

Shower💧Pouch Now at REI Laguna Hills, CA 🙌🏽 This past weekend marked a significant milestone for Shower Pouch ™, we are officially on the shelves at REI Laguna Hills, CA! A little backstory: two years ago, at Outdoor Retailer in Utah, we had a scheduled meeting with an REI buyer two days before the trade show. Unfortunately, the entire REI team had to cancel their trip, which was a tough moment for us. We’ve always felt aligned with REI’s values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability, so the missed meeting hit us hard. But like any entrepreneurial journey, we adapted to change. We doubled down on growing our presence through Amazon and our Shopify retail partners, knowing that perseverance would pay off. Fast forward to two months ago, we were invited by Rigged For Dirt to participate in a small event called the “Tiny Expo” at REI Laguna Hills. Through that serendipitous opportunity, we connected with the store manager and local buyer Lisa Froya. The shared enthusiasm between us was immediate, and it became clear that Shower Pouch could meet an unmet need for their customers. I share this story because being an entrepreneur is as unpredictable as it is also rewarding. The journey comes with its highs and lows - the tough conversations about budgets, trade shows that sometimes feel fruitless, and countless moments of recalibration. Yet, with a mix of preparation, resilience, and a little luck, you can arrive where you’ve always envisioned (cough cough … REI). This isn’t an expansion into every REI store (yet!), but it’s a meaningful start. I’m incredibly grateful to my mentors, my amazing managers over the years who shaped my career, my talented business partner Omar Jimenez, and my family and friends. Most importantly, a heartfelt thank you to my wife, Regina Houston for her unwavering support through my countless brainiac ideas. This is just one small step toward our broader growth plan, but it’s a moment worth celebrating 🥳 . Here’s to many more!

That's a wrap, folks! We wrapped up a fantastic Winter Sale Event at REI's Laguna Hills, CA, location. We exceeded expectations for sales and were able to resonate with the needs of the consumer - convenient, efficacious hygiene products on the go! I was blown away by the professionalism and warmth of the entire REI team - special shoutout to Lisa (Buyer) and Alan (Store Manager). They, along with the rest of the REI team made us feel like part of the REI family 😊. Here’s a snapshot of a custom fixture they allowed us to accessorize with Shower Pouch branding. The second image is the team right after their morning huddle, standing proudly in front of our Shower Pouch display table. Their energy and dedication shine through in everything they do. If you're in the area, you can find us cross-merchandised throughout the store: at checkout, custom end cap, in the hygiene section, and on the impulse carousel. Thank you, REI, for this incredible opportunity. You’re the dream retailer we’ve envisioned partnering with for over a decade. Cheers to what’s ahead!

REI + Shower Pouch = Opportunities I had an incredible experience at the REI Tiny Expo in Laguna Hills this past Saturday, surrounded by amazing brands like Rivian, Yakima Products, KC HiLiTES, Inc., and OVR Magazine 🎉! It was a real privilege to connect with some of the REI leadership team, including store manager Alan O. and local buyer Lisa Froya. The conversations were uplifting and promising. We're now exploring how we plan to execute Shower Pouch ™ into our first REI store ... Fingers crossed! 🤞 Moments like these are a powerful reminder of what truly drives success—hard work, genuine connections, thoughtful planning, and showing up where your customers are ... cough cough (REI). And, of course, having products you deeply believe in. It’s all part of the journey, and I'm grateful for every step forward. 💪 Looking forward to what’s next! #entrepreneurship #outdoorgear #hygiene #REI #ShowerPouch #growth