The ZAGS Story

Tell me about your background and the journey to getting to where you are today.

I am the daughter of an artist...I have always been surrounded by creativity and encouraged to be creative. I received a BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) with a concentration in painting from Clemson University. Afterwards, I went on to graduate with an MAT (Masters of Art in Teaching). I taught middle school art for 2 years. I quickly realized that that role was not for me - you truly need to be called by God to be a teacher, and I was not. I went on to pursue a career in pharmaceutical sales (via a short stent in copier sales to gain sales experience) and loved sales! After 10 years, a great deal of travel, and 3 children later, my husband and I realized the importance of me staying at home as the "CEO" of our household. The sweetest job of all!

Tell me about the story behind the business—how it got started and how it has evolved into what it is today. 

Our family lives in Mt Pleasant, South Carolina- just a 7 minute bridge ride over from Charleston-and we love it here! We are always bouncing from one sun-filled activity to the next: tennis matches, soccer games, pool parties, family picnics, the Volvo Car Open, outdoor social gatherings, boat rides to barrier islands- you name it! When my youngest was around 3 and our family was returning from a hot, sunburned boating trip to our favorite barrier island, Caper’s Island, I realized how desperately wonderful a blanket that could protect my little ones from harmful UV rays would be! I returned home to surf the internet to purchase one. There was no such product to be found. That was what I would say was my “a-hah moment.” I began stewing and dreaming of the idea, literally.  I would wake up in the night thinking about this idea that God had so sweetly put on my heart. I woke up to many "God taps" on my heart saying, “I have given you this idea, these gifts, these resources, so go and use them now.” So, that is what I have done.

I love how God works and puts all of the right people, in the right places, at the perfect time! I quickly realized how important each person I have met, each place I have lived, and each job that I have had has been in preparing me for ZAGS.  For instance, I have a friend from college, who attends our church, who ended up being my manufacturer, right here in Charleston, SC. That was the first of many doors that flung wide open. Things came together and happened very quickly, I felt very affirmed to start ZAGS. When asked about what this product would be called, the name ZAGS flew from my heart and out of my mouth. My children were the inspiration for my brand and product line. It seemed fitting to honor them with the name, their initials: ZAGS. We all adore this.

Tell me about the day or the moment you really decided to take this step. When was it?

Boat ride after boat ride, dream after dream, my adoring and supportive husband, Greg, was convinced to encourage me to go for it!  He wanted to give me my best shot with ZAGS. The next step came when I explained my vision to our college friend, now manufacturer. Once I fully understood that my idea could become a reality, I knew I had to go for it, really go for it! Our family had just returned from a trip abroad to Italy and France. To say that I was inspired after that trip,  is an understatement! I came back with beautiful images that I had to create. The images were all coastal inspired from our life in the lowcountry and our trip to the Mediterannean that summer. They were the perfect initial designs to compliment my “invention."

Why Sunwraps?

When I was coming up with the ideal size and shape of the first prototypes of ZAGS, I went to my closet and pulled out my favorite scarves and wraps. I found 3 sizes that I wear the most because of their versatility. From there, the initial 3 sizes were formed: the Surf Square (40”x40"), the Sunny Shawl (24"x65”), and the Be Anything Blanket (40”x80”). Because they are all sun-protecting wraps (UPF 50+) in different sizes, the word “Sunwrap” to describe them seemed a natural, easy fit.

The company name came from your children’s initials—can you tell me their names?

I love that each time that I hear or say my company’s name, ZAGS, my heart smiles knowing that I am honoring my 3 children: Zella, Anne Gregory, Sam = ZAGS