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It’s a story of inclusive, customizable designs. An entrepreneur dedicated to offering what women really need. And a bank that believes in her dream.
Every woman is unique. So, why should every woman’s eyewear be one-size-fits-all? That’s the question that inspired Ashley Mariko Meilon Johnson, founder of Mohala Eyewear, to develop a personalized fit that works for the diverse women of Hawaii.
“We offer three different nose bridges, three different widths, and temples that adjust to larger and smaller head sizes,” says Ashley. “I’m also working on a bendable nose bridge so it can be custom adjusted. We listen to our customers, and we’re getting endlessly better at customizing the fit.”
If you want to give (or receive) the gift of eyewear that doesn’t pinch, slide, or touch your lashes, think Mohala Eyewear. “During the holidays, we’re going to have a Black Friday sale with 35% off one pair, or 50% off two pairs,” Ashley explains. “Early access goes out on November 27 – just go to our website and opt in to email. Then on December 3 we’ll have a code for 15% off sitewide, and 15% of sales will be donated to Make Lemonade, raising money for cancer patients. December 4 is the start of three weeks where you get a free gift with purchase of $200 or more. And we’ll have a trunk show at Nordstrom Ala Moana on December 7 and 8.”
With her CPB banker there for her every step of the way, the future looks bright. “For a startup, getting access to capital is game-changing. With our line of credit from CPB, I’ve been able to scale my business and continue to expand our line,” Ashley says. “Our banker goes above and beyond. She helps me organize my accounts, amplify my brand, and she even nominated me for a local small business award. It was a beautiful awards ceremony, and really helped keep the entrepreneurial fire going.”
