Customer Service... from the other end of the line

Every day millions of consumers shop online and wait patiently (or not) for a shiny new treasure to arrive at their mailbox. The wait is painful – but surprisingly addictive! I have to think it stems back to the excitement of getting mail as a kid. It still makes me giddy!

But sometimes... and I know we’ve all been there… something goes wrong. Mr. Postman gets lost, or confused – the size is wrong – they shipped the wrong item – or worse I see the package arrived 1 day after I left on the vacation I’d been planning for 6 months. WHY?! (Yes, this happened to me, and the wound is still fresh!) So, I proceed to find out how to contact customer service and spend the next hour composing a “somebody done somebody wrong song” - and - if they catch me on the wrong day, I just might jump down the throat of the first person who tries to help me.

And sometimes, that’s the only way to get things done, right?

WRONG.

In this day of everything-I-want-is-online-and-I-want-it-right-NOW we've skipped over the person to person interaction and rarely see a face or smile to go with the purchases we make. Worse yet, somewhere along the way we forgot to be nice – on both ends. There are places I frequent that maybe aren't my favorite or I 'll even pay more for something just because the person on the other side of the counter is SO wonderful I can’t help but want to support them! Finding good customer service these days is like a Diamond in the Rough. (Like my Disney reference girls?) Likewise, the internet has made it easy for us to be abrupt, demanding and downright rude because we know we’ll never meet the person on the other end of that email or phone call.

But you know who is on the other end of that email or phone call?

Me. 

I’m not pointing any fingers – I’m as guilty as the next person – but being the face of customer service for KaiKini has opened my eyes in a major way. Gone are the days where I immediately assume the person on the other end of that line doesn’t care about my problem. We DO care! You’re the reason we get to make bikinis on a gorgeous little island in the middle of the Pacific. But sincerely, please be understanding as much as possible and believe we are doing our very best to make you feel the ALOHA.

I’m not saying it’s all bad!

I have to give a major shout out to our amazing customers, because for the most part, you are sweet, understanding and gracious. You have no idea how much it means when I get to post a good review about our Kinis or get a ‘Thank you for the amazing customer service.’

So, THANK YOU. You rock my world!

Bucket List Photo Challenge - 10 Locations, 10 Prizes

Join us for the KaiKini Bucket List Challenge! Our first 10 locations are right here at home on beautiful Kauai. We took KaiKini to the top of Sleeping Giant to start off the challenge and had a blast on the adventure!

Everyone is welcome to participate! The winners will be announced as each challenge is completed. The winner will be featured on KaiKini.com & Facebook and the first two Runners-Up will also be featured on our website. We can't wait to see KaiKini all over Kauai! To see the official contest page visit our website!

Next our bucket list will be heading to the other Hawaiian Islands and the top 100 places we want to see KaiKini around the WORLD! Stay tuned!

To participate:

1.  Grab your favorite KaiKini Bikini (at least one piece top or bottom must be showing) 
2. Be the first to tag @kaikinibikinis and #kaikinibucketlist completing the challenge (be sure to read the details!) 
3. We will verify that you are the first to complete the challenge successfully 
4. Photo will be posted on KaiKini.com & Facebook - Rewards will be given out as each challenge is completed 
5. Complete ALL 10 places on our Bucket List and win our GRAND PRIZE!! (Read on below!)

Contest entries must be submitted before 12/31/14

Grand Prize:

TOUR THE NEW KAIKINI HEADQUARTERS + 5 CUSTOM BIKINI SETS

Are you made for adventure?! Spread Aloha visiting all 10 places on our Kauai Bucket List & complete the challenges to meet the KaiKini Wahines and tour our new facility in Kapaa! You'll also have the opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at our little piece of paradise and choose 5 custom bikini sets (or 10 pieces)!!! You do not have to be first for each individual location on our list to win our Grand Prize but you must be the first complete ALL of the challenges as instructed in the details below.

1. Hanalei Pier:
   CHALLENGE: Take a pic on the pier with 2 other girls wearing a KaiKini *all of you wearing KaiKini*
   REWARD: You and your 2 friends receive a promo code for 35% off your next order! 
2. Kilauea Lighthouse:
   CHALLENGE: Take a unique perspective pic in front of the lighthouse (make it look like your holding the lighthouse in your hand, etc.)
   REWARD: I ♥ Kauai tank top + Hand-painted KaiKini trucker hat 
3. Kapaa Bike Path:
   CHALLENGE: Take a pic riding a bike anywhere on the path with the ocean in the background
   REWARD: Bikini Set of your choice 
4. Secret Falls:
   CHALLENGE: Take a pic at Secret Falls with a rock tower and the falls in the background REWARD: Custom Bikini Set & Tour the New KaiKini Headquarters 
5. Kilohana Train:
   CHALLENGE: Take a pic riding the train in your KaiKini
   REWARD: Bikini Top of your choice 
6. Menehune Fishpond Overlook:
   CHALLENGE: KaiKini Love! Take a pic at sunset kissing someone special at the overlook REWARD: Hand-painted KaiKini trucker hat + 30% Off your next order 
7. Spouting Horn:
   CHALLENGE: Take a pic in front of the spouting horn (must be spouting) and there must be a chicken in the picture too!
   REWARD: Bikini Bottom of your choice 
8. Hanapepe Swinging Bridge:
   CHALLENGE: Take a pic on the bridge wearing your favorite KaiKini
   REWARD: I ♥ Kauai tank + 30% Off your next order 
9. Pihea Lookout - Wai'ale'ale Sign:
   CHALLENGE: Take a pic next to the famous "wettest spot on earth" sign doing a yoga pose REWARD: Bikini Set of your choice 
10. Napali Coast from the water:
    CHALLENGE: Take a pic anywhere on the Napali Coast from the water holding up double shakas! (You can be on a Kayak, on a tour boat, sailboat, doesn't matter as long as you're on the water!)
    REWARD: Custom Bikini Set & Tour the New KaiKini Headquarters

Win these Sunnies!

Throwback to last weekend's photoshoot with a few of the beauties from 

Kauai Juice Co. 

The results: Pure Glowing Goodness.

  

Like these sunnies? We're doing a giveaway with Kameleonz this weekend so watch our Instagram for the details!

A big thanks to Ariel, Robin & Stefanie! XoXo!!

A KaiKini Confession

Guest blogger Marina here, Quality Control Manager and seamstress for those KaiKinis you love so much. The most wonderful Andrea asked me to step in for this post and talk about my first experience with a KaiKini. Little did she know that…

I have a confession to make. 

My first time owning and wearing a bikini wasn't until after I started working at KaiKini (gasp!). As in, my first KaiKini was my first bikini! Up until that point, I’d never bought a bikini before. Like, NEVER EVER.  Why, you ask? Truth be told, I’m pretty self-conscious. Similar to many other girls out there, I easily find fault with what I see in the mirror, especially when it comes to my bikini body.  I pretty much never felt 'bikini ready.'  I was never comfortable enough to show that much skin so I stuck with unflattering, ill-fitting one pieces and tankinis. It took a move to Hawaii and a job at KaiKini to open my eyes to the possibility of wearing something other than the potato sacks I was used to.

There is something really awesome about Kauai. Actually, there are a TON of awesome things about Kauai, but there is one thing in particular: girls here, of all shapes and sizes, ROCK their bikinis. From high coverage to barely there Brazilians, women here strut their stuff and are proud of it. Never before have I seen as much self-confidence as I've seen walking the beaches of this beautiful island. And you know what? Self-confidence is contagious. If all of these women could kill it in a bikini, why couldn't I??

And this is where KaiKini comes in. When I first started working with Taryn and the girls, I had this mental block about our Kinis. NO WAY would I EVER wear something so cheeky and revealing!

A little known fact about KaiKini (Shhhh! Don’t let Taryn know I told you!):

As quality control manager, I make sure that every single piece produced in our small studio is up to our high standards.  If there is ever a flaw in one of our suits that cannot be fixed, like a hole in the fabric or broken elastic, it will sometimes end up in one of the KaiKini girls’ Kini collections. (Side Note: The downside to being such an awesome team of seamstresses is that flaws like this RARELY happen but when they do, the first thing everyone asks is, “What size is it?!”). We all have a few castaway, un-sellable bikinis in our possession and it was a suit like this that had the honor of becoming my-first-bikini-oh-my-god!

I remember it like it was yesterday… it was a black Okole with a hole. Now, the awesome thing about our Okole bottom is that not only does it offer more coverage than a Kai, but for girls out there who may not be as well-endowed in the booty department (like yours truly) it has this awesome ability to give what you've got some extra oomph! Thanks in large part to the scrunch in the back, the Okole silhouettes your bum and gives it a nice heart shape, magically making it look, well, better.  When I first tried it on, while still self-conscious and not ready to wear it in public, I did have to admit that my tukas looked the best it ever has in a swimsuit.  No saggy fabric or ‘diaper butt’ here!

So that was my first experience with a KaiKini. I have to say, it’s taken me a long time to get to the point of wearing a bikini in public. I’m still self-conscious and am not yet able to strut my stuff and rock it, but I’m getting there. I’m a bit biased because I actually make the bikinis I wear, but I truly have to say that if not for KaiKini, I might still be wearing my ugly tankinis and lamenting my awful tan lines. Not only am I proud to say that my stomach now gets to see the light of day, but my KaiKinis still remain the only bikinis I own. 

I guess the moral of my story and the message I’d like to share is this:

For those of you dreaming about one day wearing a bikini: you’ll get there. Take baby steps. Ease into it. Find the cut and fit that makes you feel the best. Go to an isolated place and wear your Kini without fear.  Work your way to the point of being happy in your own skin and of what you've got. Oh, and if your first suit happens to be a KaiKini, awesome!! Wear it knowing that we were thinking about YOU when we made it and that we see you as beautiful no matter what. But even if a KaiKini isn't the first suit you've ever owned, or even if you don’t own a KaiKini, wear whatever helps you feel like the goddess you are. 

Now go out there and strut your stuff, Kini lovers!

XOXO

Marina

P.S. What’s YOUR first bikini story? We’d love to hear about it in the comments section!

Survey says...We have the best fans in the world!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

We were so blown away by the incredible response we received from our survey last month! The feedback we received is invaluable and we wanted to take the time to let you know we've heard your requests and want to address some of the most common ones specifically.

• Bandeau Tops – Yes! We know those tan lines can be pesky! We have a new design in line to be cut & sewn (as a matter of fact we’re working on it as we speak) that should be released in a month or so and it is beautiful! 

  

  Sneak Peek of our new Bandeau

• More Reversible – We love this one because we’re as excited about the new Reversible styles as you are! We've already released a new Reversible Burnt Orange & Nude Kai and have big plans to expand this line in the coming months!
• More coverage/ Bigger Sizes – We already offer a couple styles that give more coverage than our Cheeky Styles like the Kai. The Okole & Kahuna bottoms are both more of a boy short cut offering more coverage for the booty. The Kahuna even has cute strappy sides like many were requesting! Our Makai bottom is more of a full coverage bottom and actually already comes in our Larger (Size 8-10) and we have plans to bring at least the Okole in size ‘Larger’ in the future, so stay tuned!
• Price – We hear you – bikinis can get expensive! With some brands charging upwards of $200 for a bikini set, we’ve done our best to keep our prices reasonable. Just in case you didn’t know, each piece is cut by hand and sewn with care and aloha right here in our warehouse on Kauai. While most swimwear companies eventually outsource their line to be made overseas where labor is cheaper (or even worse, in a sweatshop), we've held strong to our commitment to keep production here, where we can give back and offer jobs to our local community. Our story and the wonderful people behind KaiKini make it more than just a bikini. Your support and love is something you can feel good about – you can read more of Our Story here: http://www.kaikini.com/our-story/

A few things you asked about that we’re already doing:

• More styles and patterns – You may not know, but we release at least one new pattern each month if not more! We also try to release a new style every couple months. J Keep in mind, we make small batches of everything so we can give you more variety, but we are a small team, so we can’t release every new print or color in every style we offer unfortunately. We do our best to rotate through our most popular styles though, so keep on the lookout. (P.S. We have a new PinUp top and Makai bottoms in the works!)
• Tops for bigger chested women / More supportive tops – We have a few different options for Larger chests that we offer on a regular basis. Our Sport Tops and Elua/Ekolu tops are both offered in sizes up to an ‘E’ cup and our PinUp top is offered in sizes up to an E/F cup. The PinUp’s style and straps are specially designed for better support of the ‘ladies’ and we have customers who love these comfy options sans the usual padding and under-wire.
• Free Shipping – We have a free shipping option for all shipments within the US and there is only a $30 minimum order to qualify! We even have free shipping to Australia for orders over $50! Just select ‘Free Shipping’ at checkout!
• Rewards Program – We have a VIP Rewards Program that was launched at the beginning of the year and we've been awarding our faithful bikini addicts each month! You can find out more about our 2014 Rewards Program here, but be on the lookout, because we have plans to unveil a new and improved Rewards Program for 2015!

…. And finally, we wanted to address something we hear quite often regarding the models and photos we use to promote our products. We receive a lot of heat for using fit models or the same models to represent our line. Many of you have requested to see more curves/bigger breasts/full figure/voluptuous women sporting our suits. The truth is EVERYONE has a different idea of beauty and while we do our best to represent our line with beauties of ALL shapes and sizes, we run up against many challenges that maybe aren’t obvious at first glance. We find that no matter what photo we upload we get comments along the lines of ‘needs to work out’ ‘too skinny’ ‘too big’ ‘ugly’ or some other variation of hate telling these girls that they’re not good enough. We know many of our models and brand ambassadors personally and they are all beautiful, happy and healthy women. Isn’t it sad that no matter the shape or size of a woman, we can count on some type of negativity from every photo we post? We have a hard time posting a picture knowing it will be met with comments tearing the person down rather than lifting them up. At KaiKini we strive for ‘HAPPY.’ We talk about spreading aloha and what it means to us to live in a way that treats others with love and respect. We ask that you consider this next time you’re ready to comment on a photo and realize that these are real people – Real. Beautiful. People. And it’s time we start recognizing that beauty regardless of whether it comes in the shape or package you prefer. And always remember:

Stay tuned! We have another survey coming and we’re going to need your help again soon!

Reversible is here - 2 in 1!!

We are so excited to reveal our REVERSIBLE and SEAMLESS 'Kinis! Yes, you heard me correctly - we're bringing all the best of the bikini world into one amazing suit. Combine our super high quality with seamless design and we are confident we've made the BEST bikinis in the world! (Now's no time for modesty - we're really excited!) Ok, we admit it, we're a little late to the seamless/reversible party, but let us explain... we have been working for months to ensure our seamless 'Kinis are the best out there and live up to our high-quality standards.

I've had the pleasure of trying out a couple of our new seamless designs over the past few weeks! They've been hiking, surfing, SUPing & kayaking all over this little island and WOW! Our new seamless design is so incredibly comfortable and I'm also excited to have a bottom without scrunch (I like to mix it up every now and then)! This little 'Kini that could stayed on playing in one of the heaviest breaks on the Westside of Kauai.

I also have been surfing in a new style that will make its debut next month sometime. It is a 3-String Okole style offering a little more coverage than some of our other 'Kinis and a slightly higher waist as well (thanks for the inspiration Marina)! Seamless comfort with sexy cutouts on the side and our signature scrunch back is the perfect mix of style and function. I can't say enough about this suit for my active and adventurous friends. This suit DOES NOT BUDGE in the waves. Almost every suit needs a little adjusting now and then, but not this one - I'm in love!

Our first Reversible design will be available for pre-order later this week in our ALOHA print (shown below)! It reverses to one of our favorites - Seafoam - and there will be a matching reversible top. This print reminds us of a tropical vacation and is perfect for summer. Did I mention its reversible? That's like two suits for the price of one!

What better way to introduce our new reversible and seamless designs than to say A - L - O - H - A!

Flattery or Foe?

Aloha 2014! 

Working in the bikini world is amazing in so many ways. With our Kinis being made by hand right in the studio, we have the rare opportunity to test out new ideas on the fly. With bikini styles constantly evolving and our ever growing desire to stand out among the crowd, we find ourselves inspired to create new designs quite often. On this particular Thursday, I watched from my desk as Becky and Taryn brainstormed to bring a new seamless design to life. Although I can't sew (but wish I did!) the girls asked for my feedback throughout the process and after an hour or two of trial and error we had a prototype! Our first reversible design was born.

It’s always challenging and exciting to bring new, unique designs to the bikini world. Over the past few years, we’ve found companies creating designs similar to ours or using our images without permission or giving us credit - it’s an inevitable part of the business…but it isn't always deliberate. Soon after releasing a pic of our new prototype, we were notified by another bikini company that we were close to infringing on their pending patent. 

"Oh no! Is our new design not original?!" We investigated further and were relieved to find out that their design was actually quite different from ours. "Phew!"

Situations like these can be frustrating, but we also find ourselves unexpectedly flattered. Flattered that another company considered us competition enough to reach out and warn us against making something similar; flattered someone wanted to use our designs or images to represent themselves or their business; but above all, it keeps us relentless in our pursuit of the perfect Kini! That’s why we’re constantly improving our designs and creating new styles as bright and adventurous as our wonderful fans!

We’ve got some exciting designs and announcements coming for 2014 and can’t wait to share them with you!

Xoxo!

Andrea

Bikinis and Beyond

               It's been a little while since I've posted because I've been so busy!! Lot's of things are going on: the photo gallery event went super good. It was the busiest art walk Java Kai ever had! My friends really helped out on that one...two of them fire danced and the other came to DJ.  (see video) Entertainment is always a big plus.
             Since then, I've hired two people to help me sew. I am now making more bikinis than ever. I had my first order from a buyer in Japan as well. She ordered a big sample order to pitch to the stores over there and if all goes well, she'll be ordering  atleast 100 pieces a week!!!! Which is great of course- it would mean my production would need to go up, but it would actually be a really big deal to have my line in Asia. That means I'll be producing for 8 stores on Kauai, 1 on Maui, 3 websites and the buyer in Asia. It's kind of funny to think that i'll be producing all this from my home...
             Another exciting KaiKini addition is the Keiki-kini line! Little tiny, itty-bitty bikinis for newborns all the way up to 6 yrs old. I cannot wait to start making these. Mom and daughter will be able to wear matching suits. How cute is that?!?
            So much is happening and I have so many opportunities coming my way. This business has opened me up in so many unexpected ways. I've become more social, I'm meeting new people all the time, making new friends, working really hard, exercising regularly, eating super healthy, doing more and more everyday. I feel like I have direction. A purpose. A fire has been lit inside me and everyday, thanks to the people and support around me, it seems to be burning brighter.

Sneak peek of java kai art show pics

       I cannot tell you how excited I am to have my photography up in a shop! This business has me doing so many different things that I didn't think of when I started. I've always had fun taking pictures, but this will be the first time my pics will be displayed in public. I enjoy the photo shoots almost as much as the bikini designing...such a pleasant surprise. There will be 11 photos total, and they are all being printed on canvas and enlarged. 


       The prints will go up in Java Kai in Kapaa on January 2nd and remain up for the month. The art walk will be on January 7th from 5 to 8pm. My girlfriend, Andrea is fire dancing, and my friend Zaq is going to DJ. The canvas prints will be for sale, but anything that is left over, i'll be more than happy to take home myself! We'll have hats, posters and calendars too. Would love for you to join us...