Lakebound began in 2007 when I was looking for a map of my hometown lake, Lake Coeur d’Alene, and couldn’t find one. I was living in L.A. at the time and wanted a piece of home. So my friend Chris, a graphic designer and also a Coeur d’Alene kid, made one. While home in Idaho that summer, I shopped it around to some local retailers and to my surprise, the maps sold! I decided to keep going and see if there was a market for this. The early years were completely a labor of love. The line was limited to prints and I carried all the inventory. Since I was doing only wholesale, I would drive around the northwest to different retailers as my own sales rep. The business paid for itself but not much more. It was a crash course in wholesale, pricing, cashflow, bookkeeping, and licensing, all on the fly. 

Over the years the business grew and grew. I opened an Etsy shop and an online store. Because I had a direct link to customers, sales skyrocketed. I learned how to scale the business. The team expanded, and revenue increased, and continues to do so consistently year-over-year. Our product line has gone from prints only to barrel ends, wood and metal signs, tees, hats, kids apparel, stickers and mugs, and this month we’ll launch blankets, pillows, and towels.

Lakebound is more than a business for me, it’s something that won’t let go of me. I love the challenge of putting a business together and growing it. I know that water can heal and connect. If you're reading this you're probably a lake person too, and you've got powerful memories of being at the lake: summers learning to water ski, sleep-away camp, cliff jumping, being at the cabin, the smell of the shady coves and bays, the lazy days melting into warm evenings, and fall after the crowds leave. For me, there's something about the lake that's like nowhere else. I slow down, I generally let go. And when I leave, I take a little of that feeling with me. 

Our goal at Lakebound is to bring a little of that lake magic to you, wherever you may be. Thank you for being a part of our story.

- Mary 

Owner, Lakebound