The Real Story Behind Seek Wander Share

Photo Cred: Todd White

With 2016 in full swing, we are delighted with the possibilities that will present themselves in the months ahead. This is the year, that the ambitious ladies of Seek Wander Share will do something that scares them and take a HUGE risk! With some serious goals in mind, Seek Wander Share has quietly been working on an exciting venture that has taken tons of time and energy! So why work so hard for the unknown? After all, one of the outcomes can be failure, womp womp. Well, we are glad you asked. As cliche as it may sound, Jennifer and Melissa have decided to chase their dreams and start a project that allows them to explore their passion. Don’t worry…the suspense is finally over because we are soooo ready to shout out our big secret from the rooftops. Seek Wander Share is beyond thrilled to announce that on February 8th, 2016, we will be revealing a revamped blog and launching an ethically-sourced and socially conscious shop with beautiful handmade products from artisans around the world curated for the modern girl just like YOU. It’s with an adventurous and curious heart, that we invite you to read along and learn about the real story behind Seek Wander Share.

After the hustle and bustle of retail life about two years ago, we both moved on to jobs that looked great on paper but somehow still felt something was missing. Of course, our new roles were great resume builders however the opportunity to give back and do something more meaningful did not present itself. As time passed by, we quickly realized we shared a passion for leaving a positive footprint and ultimately making the world a better place not only for ourselves but for others too.

It wasn’t until July of 2014 when we both had an “aha” moment. At the time we were both single so we decided to take a girls trip to San Francisco. From the minute we stepped out of the BART, we knew this trip would be one for the books. On a total side note, we booked our lodging extremely last minute (which is very rare considering we are both extreme planners) and did absolutely no research on hotels. Our two deciding factors to pick a hotel were (1) Is it in our budget? and (2) Are the photos cute?. It turned out, we booked a room in the “tenderloin.” For those who are not familiar with this San Francisco neighborhood, it’s not ideal for two cute ladies strolling the streets unless you’re ready for a million cat calls from random bums. But, we made the best of it and it totally worked out in the end. Back to SF…with a more open mind and adventurous spirit, the energy of the city and its people really captured us. It’s hard to put into words but we were surrounded by such innovators and forward thinkers and that type of vigor is not only inspiring but also contagious.

We came back to Austin with the desire to do something big! Fast forward a few months down the road and after a girls night out at the ballet followed by dinner (which everyone bailed except Melissa), Jennifer proposed the idea to start a blog, a place were we could share our adventures, experiences and dreams with a community that cares about making a difference. We wanted it to be all about travel, food, art, culture, community, fashion and beauty! With zealous mindsets, Jennifer and Melissa got to work (mostly thanks to Jennifer’s awesome technical skills) and created a website. Hence Seek Wander Share was born in December of 2014. After months of the daily blog grind…we were totally crazy and super committed and posted six days a week for the first six months …we noticed we were straying away from the original idea — creating a platform to enrich the lives of others  and creating a community that inspires and encourages individuals to make a difference.

After a meeting of the minds over pizza, on a hot summer day in Austin last year, we evaluated the status of our blog. We still felt that somehow we lost our voice so the wheels started turning once again. Our journey finally led us to this point: we were committed to starting an online-marketplace with ethically sourced items and beautiful handmade products by artisan groups both near and far. With a clear vision and goal, we have worked feverishly hard to create an inspirational lifestyle brand that gives you the feeling of fulfillment and happiness. Our new mindset meant we were prepared to work hard by working long hours, creating relationships, doing research, saving money and all the crazy things it takes to start a business.

WHO WE ARE…

Our mission for Seek Wander Share is to support talented individuals and contribute to the well-being of their life. You will find one-of-a-kind, handmade items and feel connected to people from all over the world. Every purchase by our thoughtful customers like you has a direct impact in creating a sustainable positive impact with our artisans and their communities. For the next month while we continue to prepare for the launch of our shop, we will be sharing our adventure as we travel to Guatemala to connect with one of our amazing artisan groups, our values and sneak peeks in a count down to our February 8th 2016 launch date!

We hope from the bottom of our hearts that Seek Wander Share inspires you to seek out your passions and helps you explore and share your dreams this new year.

Much love,

Jennifer and Melissa