Meet Colin, Alex, Harrison, and Amelia | Co-Founders, Palm + Oak

We had the good fortune of connecting with Colin, Alex, Harrison, and Amelia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Colin, Alex, Harrison, and Amelia, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
The four of us knew we wanted to go into business together, and we were all craving some kind of creative outlet. Then Colin and I were having our first baby, and Amelia and Harrison (the other half of Palm + Oak) gifted us a jar of avocado dye and some avocado dyed onesies. We all loved the dye color and process so much that we started exploring natural dyes. In addition to natural dyes, we do coffee roasting, screen printing, embroidery, and are always picking up new hobbies.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
We’ve all worked in so many different cities and industries, but it was a love of nature and creativity that made Palm + Oak happen. We knew each of us had something unique to bring to the group. Colin has worked in the coffee industry for over 10 years and Harrison started home roasting for fun. So there was a lot of knowledge between the two of them, and an urge to make coffee roasting their own. Amelia is a dreamer who also does interior design and has her own home organization company called Aligned. I don’t know a small business that doesn’t rely heavily on organization and design, and being a dreamer is a must. More important than our careers outside of Palm + Oak, we’re all at a point in our lives where we know what makes us feel good, and we’re always running toward that feeling. We make sure we’re never overwhelmed with our work, and if we start to feel that way, we take a step back and slow down. Being able to go at our own pace is essential for the four of us.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We’re in Florida, so it would definitely be a beach day. Breakfast at Southern Roots (Jacksonville), lunch at Black Rooster Taqueria or Hunger Street Tacos (Orlando), drinks at Whippoorwill (Orlando) and live music wherever we could find it! We’d also probably have to stop at Blue Spring State Park to see the manatees migrating. The ideal day would end with a bonfire and good conversation in our backyard.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Can we name a few? First, it would be Colin and Harrison’s parents. The Menzel’s. They raised their kids to be creative and curious, and continue to be a great support system for all four of us. We also want to shout out our communities in Florida. Orlando and Jacksonville Beach are cities with an incredible dedication and support for local businesses. So much love!

Website: palmoaksupply.com

Instagram: @palmoak