Hawaii

Island Slipper has handcrafted premium footwear in Hawaii for 80 years, but geography created a competitive disadvantage. Shipping from Oahu to the mainland took five to seven days and cost more than competitors. When Matt and Tersha Carpenter returned in 2011 to lead the family business into its next generation, they needed to solve the distance problem without compromising their artisan approach. Joining Amazon Handmade in 2020 opened the door to Fulfillment by Amazon(FBA), whichletthem ship inventory to mainland fulfillment centers in advance. Now when customers order Island Slipper products, delivery takes one to two days instead of a week. The Carpenters extended the advantage with Multi-Channel Fulfillment and Buy with Prime on their website, and A+ Content toshowcasetheir craftsmanship story, turning their biggest liability into a competitive strength.

Husband and wife entrepreneurs, Robin Van Niekerk and Tatyana Cerullo, spent five years getting the formulation for their zinc-based reef-safe sunscreen just right. When they launched their Kōkua Sun Care line of products, their brand was instantly popular across Hawaii.

To scale beyond the islands, they chose to join Fulfillment by Amazon. Suddenly, customers from all over the country were choosing their sunscreen to protect both themselves and their local marine environment.