Meet Katri Randall | Co-Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katri Randall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katri, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process was less about coming up with the idea and more about recognizing its potential and believing in the impact it could have. My background is in PR and marketing, and early in my career I worked as an executive assistant to a CEO, where I gained a behind-the-scenes understanding of what it takes to keep a business running. Those experiences gave me a strong foundation in marketing, organization, operations, and problem-solving.

What really stood out to me was the opportunity to solve a common challenge. Spending the day at the beach or hosting an event there should be fun, but it often involves hauling equipment, setting everything up, and hoping everyone stays comfortable. We wanted to make beach gatherings effortless by providing everything people need, including shade and other essentials, so people can focus on enjoying time together.

What ultimately inspired me to help build this business was the chance to create memorable experiences for people while making the beach more accessible and comfortable. As COO, I get to combine my passion for operations, marketing, and customer experience to make sure every rental feels seamless from start to finish. There is something incredibly rewarding about knowing we have helped create the setting for birthdays, proposals, family reunions, and simple beach days that become lasting memories.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What sets me apart is my ability to combine creativity with operations. My background in PR and marketing taught me how to connect with people and tell a story, while my experience working alongside a CEO early in my career gave me a firsthand understanding of the organization, problem-solving, and behind-the-scenes work required to build a business. As COO, I get to bring those skills together every day.

Getting to where we are today has not been easy. For the first few years, I balanced building this business with a full-time role, which required a lot of patience and commitment. After four years of growing the company, we are finally fully self-employed and able to dedicate our time and energy to taking the business to the next level.

One of the moments that made me realize we were building something special was our second summer in business, when we were consistently selling out every weekend. Seeing customers trust us to be part of their celebrations and knowing we were helping create meaningful experiences was incredibly rewarding.

The biggest lessons I have learned are that you have to be adaptable, building something meaningful takes time, and every challenge is an opportunity to improve. As we grew, we also grew our ability to solve problems and navigate obstacles more efficiently.

What I am most proud of is that our business has become about more than just beach equipment. We help people create memories and make the beach more accessible. Some of the most meaningful moments have been helping older customers enjoy the beach again through accessible setups and beach wheelchair resources. It reminds us that what we do goes beyond a beach day. We are helping people connect, celebrate, and experience moments they will remember.

Looking ahead, we are excited to continue expanding throughout Southern California and eventually into other markets. Our goal is to keep creating effortless experiences that bring people together.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting, I would want them to experience the best of the Westside since that is where I spend most of my time. I think the best way to experience LA is to slow down, enjoy the weather, eat well, and spend time by the ocean.

I would start with coffee at Cow’s End Cafe and a walk along the beach near the Venice Pier. One of my favorite spots is just south of the pier in Marina del Rey because it is the perfect place to relax and meet up with friends.

Of course, we would spend a day at the beach with our own setup so we could enjoy the ocean comfortably without worrying about the details. For food, I would take them around Washington Boulevard, have dinner at Casa 12, and end the day with sunset drinks on the Hotel Erwin rooftop at Kassi.

My favorite LA experiences are the simple ones: great food, ocean views, and spending quality time with people you care about.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Choosing just one person to shout out would be nearly impossible because I have been incredibly fortunate to have so many people who have supported, inspired, and challenged me throughout my life. If I had to narrow it down, I would dedicate this shoutout to my mom, my dad, and my fiancé, who is also my co-founder. Each of them has influenced me in a different way and helped shape the person and business leader I am today.

My mom has always been an incredible example of pursuing what truly fulfills you. When I was in high school, she went back to school to earn her Master’s in Fine Arts so she could follow her passion as an artist. Watching her take that leap taught me that it is never too late to invest in yourself or build a life around what you love. Today, she is still doing what she loves every day, and that has been a constant source of inspiration for me.

My dad has shown me what perseverance looks like. He overcame many challenges to build a successful career in materials science, and his dedication, resilience, and work ethic have had a lasting impact on me. He taught me the importance of showing up, staying committed, and trusting the process, even when things are difficult.

Finally, my fiancé and co-founder deserves so much credit. He introduced me to the possibilities of business ownership and has been an incredible partner throughout this journey. Building a business together has taught me so much, and without his vision and belief in what we could create, this company would not exist. I am grateful that we get to build both a business and a life together.

Website: https://thebeachoasis.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeachoasis/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Beach-Oasis/

Image Credits
Courtesy of The Beach Oasis.