Professional Feature! Campus Chronicle
An interview I did with Peter Gagnon last year on the process of starting a company and what we foresee in the future.
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Matt Greezicki starts beach-inspired apparel company with a mission
October 11, 2017
By Peter Gagnon
SAND Apparel is not a clothing company most may be familiar with yet, but High Point University sophomore Matt Greezicki, the CEO and Co-Founder of the company, is working to change that.
Established in 2015, SAND apparel specializes in beach and swimwear. As a Maryland native, Greezicki pulls inspiration from his home state. The company’s home base is located in Ocean City, Maryland.
SAND Apparel produces a variety of clothes such as board shorts, cover-ups, and sunglasses. The brand is expected to release an entirely new collection in time for the fall season. The collection will feature a variety of hoodies, flannels and long sleeve tee shirts.
“SAND is an influential and amazing company that promotes an aspiring lifestyle of fun, happiness, and relaxation. The shirts are trendy and comfortable and one of my favorite shirts to wear.” States Haley Bossart, a frequent customer, and HU sophomore.
Greezicki speaks enthusiastically about his passion. “I love submerging myself into the beach culture I saw how starting this company could serve as a great opportunity to make money doing something I love.” One of the brand’s main objectives is to combine beach culture with everyday use in a way that also benefits the environment. These surf-inspired looks are designed to be worn both on the beach and off, allowing people to take the beach and the ocean with them anywhere they go.
That is where the company’s core principles come into play.“SAND’s core principles are a reflection of my many summers at the beach and the awesome people I’ve come into contact with since,” says Greezicki. SAND is also an Eco-Friendly brand with a mission to help protect the earth and its oceans. SAND donates 15% of its annual proceeds to Oceana, an organization to help the world’s oceans.
As stated on SAND Apparel’s website, “We established the company with the end goal in mind. That goal was to create a widespread movement along the Eastern Coastline of the United States that would bring like-minded individuals together in a beach environment. Our partnership with the Oceana Organization will allow us to play a part in revitalizing our oceans in their struggling state.”
Greezicki has high hopes for what the future holds for his company. “In the long run, I hope to see SAND bring unity like the west coast has to the east coast.” SAND Apparel is currently working on their fall collection and is sure to showcase a variety of comfortable beach-inspired clothes that can be worn long after the warm summer months have ended.