Meet Lyda Hanson | Co-Founder & CEO

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

Hi Lyda, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started Suntide alongside my brothers Wyatt and Spencer while we were in college. During my senior year at UC Berkeley, I noticed people were looking for simple, on-the-go, low ABV drink options but were tired of the countless iterations of seltzers that had taken over the market. This gap in the RTD market made me think about what I and so many others were missing – a casual but delicious canned beverage suited for all sorts of events, from tailgates to brunch to backyard BBQs and everything in between. I’ve always loved mimosas and noticed that there were no nationally-recognized RTD mimosa brands on the market. We knew this was our opportunity to create something truly unique that we knew everyone would love – and thus Suntide was born.

From a young age, I’ve had a heart for creativity and an interest in visual arts, and I always had the dream of starting my own business. When we came up with the idea for Suntide, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to blend my passion for entrepreneurship with my eye for design. Being a female CEO under the age of 30, I’ve had to prove myself in ways that many others don’t, and my authentic belief in Suntide’s mission, vision and product has provided me the foundation to rise to the occasion and make waves in a historically male-dominated industry.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Rather than hiring a team, my brothers and I divided all the responsibilities of owning, operating and building a business from the ground up among ourselves, committing all our energy to every aspect of the business – from legal work to finding the right production partners who could help us scale without compromising quality. We’re a very young company and our entire C-Suite is under the age of 30, so it took a great deal of effort to advocate for ourselves and ensure the market knew that despite our age, we were coming to the table just as prepared, hungry and dialed in as any other business owners.

While our mission is to create a sipping solution for life’s laidback moments, our vision has been laser focused. We’ve developed strategic partnerships and a distribution network that have been key to our growth. Retail partners like Total Wine have allowed us to grow our reach and scale our business at a rapid rate. The quality of our product and demand in the market has been reflected in Suntide’s 87% distributor retention rate, which is a true testament to our small team’s resilience and commitment to excellence.

Of course it hasn’t been easy, but by keeping our ear to the ground we’ve been able to keep up with rapidly changing consumer preferences and proactively build a brand identity that mirrors our customers’ lifestyle. Because we’ve committed to remaining authentic to ourselves and Suntide’s original mission, we’ve been able to bridge connections with consumers whose own values align with ours – the sun seekers, free spirits and those who know life is better when it’s sweeter. Word of mouth has been a huge component of our community growth, and as a family-owned and operated brand, we’re so grateful that our personal and hands-on approach to business has helped us build such genuine connections with our audience.

At the end of the day, Suntide isn’t just a beverage – it’s a lifestyle we’ve worked tirelessly to immerse our audience in. Everything from our brand messaging to our visual identity has been developed with intention, to reflect the idyllic California lifestyle we cherish. Our identity might be casual but our commitment to excellence is anything but, and we’ve established our credibility by consistently sourcing high-quality, all natural ingredients. I’m so proud of the innovation and success my brothers and I have shared so far, and I can’t wait to see where our shared vision takes us in the future.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting, I’d take them to Encinitas for an unforgettable week. We’d start with a morning surf session at Beacons or Grandview, soaking in the early waves and gorgeous views. Afterward, we’d grab coffee at Lofty Coffee, a local favorite. The rest of the day would be spent at the beach relaxing, swimming and enjoying the sun. For dinner, we’d head to Valentina Restaurant for some delicious food. To cap off the night, we’d catch a show at Belly Up Tavern, one of the best spots for live music in town.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mom! It was originally my mother helping me out with Suntide while my brothers were still in school. We turned our whole house into a packing and shipping station, where she helped me pack sample boxes for distributors, load them into the car and send them off. I remember we would paint little hand made watercolor cards and write thank you notes on them in every box we sent out. She is still a huge part of the company today, helping with everything from design decisions to assisting my brothers in production planning!

Website: https://www.drinksuntide.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/drinksuntide/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinksuntide/

Image Credits
Suntide