Experts

Sea Bags was founded in 2006 on the principles of being green in product and practice, being made in Maine, and acting as good stewards to our community and state. Sea Bags has employed over 200 people, many of whom Beth mentored and have gone on to run their own companies. Today, Sea Bags has 50 stores, a robust online business, and hundreds of wholesale accounts including Life Is Good and Ralph Lauren - along with a newly-licensed NFL collection. As Sea Bags continues to grow, Beth remains focused on the core mission of the company: being sustainable in product and process, becoming a best-in-class employer, and keeping production local. Beth also serves on the boards for the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and serves as Board Chair for the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. She co-founded the Maine Textile Consortium, actively mentors start-ups, and has been named a Woman to Watch by Maine Biz.

Co-founder Anni Stromfeld started SIJO alongside childhood friend Jacob Xi after reconnecting and bonding over their common interest in entrepreneurship and a desire to build an ethical and sustainable business in the health/wellness area. Her vision was to transform the way consumers think and feel about the home. After working in high-stress, results-driven work environments and juggling her career and personal life, she sought to find balance in the chaos of life. The root of that: better, healthier sleep. This journey to find balance helped her (and Jacob) precisely identify the demands of the SIJO customers, using innovative fibers and materials to create the best possible products.Anni, Jacob and their team focus on creating sustainable, performance driven products that not only boast healthy benefits and unparalleled quality, but that have a simple, modern aesthetic that suits any home.

Co-founder Anni Stromfeld started SIJO alongside childhood friend Jacob Xi after reconnecting and bonding over their common interest in entrepreneurship and a desire to build an ethical and sustainable business in the health/wellness area. Her vision was to transform the way consumers think and feel about the home. After working in high-stress, results-driven work environments and juggling her career and personal life, she sought to find balance in the chaos of life. The root of that: better, healthier sleep. This journey to find balance helped her (and Jacob) precisely identify the demands of the SIJO customers, using innovative fibers and materials to create the best possible products.Anni, Jacob and their team focus on creating sustainable, performance driven products that not only boast healthy benefits and unparalleled quality, but that have a simple, modern aesthetic that suits any home.