Maybe this blog becomes my outlet. Maybe it’s just a place to say the things most business owners don’t say out loud.
Every day I come to work.
It’s not the same office it used to be—but somehow, it still feels the same.
We started Epoch Eyewear at my kitchen table in 2014. I was pregnant with my son, Lincoln, at the time. He was born on August 31st—a Sunday. I had a C-section.
Monday was a holiday.
I was back to work on Tuesday.
If I’m being honest, I’ve carried resentment about that for a long time.
Not because of the work—but because of what it cost.
This Wasn’t a Passion Project
Some founders will tell you they followed a dream.
That wasn’t me.
This business wasn’t something I fell in love with at the beginning. It was something I endured. Something I earned the hard way.
In the early years, I took on whatever needed to be done—especially the things no one else wanted to do. I carried more than my share, often out of fear of what would happen if I didn’t.
Looking back, I should have left sooner.
But I didn’t.
I was young. I was overwhelmed. And I was scared.
The Turning Point
In 2018, I left my marriage and moved into an apartment with my kids.
And right in the middle of that transition was this business—Epoch Eyewear.
It wasn’t just a job. It was how I supported my family. It was also tied to everything I was trying to untangle.
And at one point, I was staring down over $1 million in debt.
People talk about sleepless nights with newborns.
Try carrying that kind of weight—financial, emotional, and personal—while still showing up every day, expected to perform, lead, and grow a company.
That changes you.
What People Don’t See
Running a small business is heavy.
You put everything you have into it—your time, your energy, your finances—and then you get a one-star review because someone’s favorite color isn’t in stock anymore.
And you still have to pick up the phone with a smile.
You’re responsible for every decision. Every mistake. Every outcome.
And sometimes, the wins don’t feel like they count—because the responsibility never turns off.
12 Years Later
I’ve been doing this for 12 years now.
I’ve gotten a lot wrong.
I’ve gotten a few things right.
But I’ve sacrificed too much to let this fail.
So it’s going to work.
Not because it’s easy. Not because it was always the plan.
But because I refuse to let everything this cost me be for nothing.
What We Actually Do
Somewhere along the way, this stopped being just a business.
It became something bigger.
At Epoch Eyewear, we make adventure-ready sunglasses—built for real life. The kind where you’re outside, moving, pushing yourself, and not worried about babying your gear.
Lose them. Scratch them. Take them everywhere.
They’re $30. You’ll survive.
But they’re also high-quality, designed to keep up with you—wherever you go.
Why It Matters
Behind this brand is a family.
My kids, Lincoln and Emerson, have been part of this business since the beginning. They’ll be in the warehouse this summer, packing orders and working events. In 2024 when I didn't have a team to join me at the PGA show in Orlando, FL, my boyfriend Anthony, and his brother, Andrew came along to help me out. Turns out they like sunglasses more than I do - and now I can't get rid of them. I think God sent me Anthony to keep the wheels on this thing. I also feel for him that he's in the trenches with me, fighting for this dream. It's not easy, and not everyone is cut out for it.
This isn’t a faceless company.
It’s real people who have put everything into building something that lasts.
What I Ask
If you’re one of our retailers or customers:
- If we mess something up—tell us. We’ll make it right.
- If we do something well—tell us that too. We want to do more of it.
We’re committed to getting this right.
Final Thought
Most people will never see what it takes to build something like this.
And that’s okay.
But if you’re here—reading this, supporting us, wearing our product—just know:
It means more than you probably realize.
