Holden Bierman, an American teenager, built a swimwear brand at age 12 with a $500 loan from his parents. Started during the Covid-19 pandemic as a small clothing business, it has since grown into Coastal Cool, a sustainable beachwear company that says its products have helped fund efforts to remove plastic equivalent to more than 100,000 bottles from the ocean.The 19-year-old entrepreneur from Holly Springs, North Carolina, started by selling T-shirts and hoodies before shifting to swimwear made from recycled materials. Bierman launched his first business during the early days of the pandemic, when school closures left him looking for ways to spend his time.“I was just bored,” Bierman told Good Morning America. “Everybody was at home inside, nobody was outside, school was out. So I just started [to] research business ideas.”His interest soon developed into a business. Bierman officially launched Coastal Cool on his 13th birthday in August 2020, using the loan to pay for business registration, a website and sample products.
How did Holden Bierman build his business?
Bierman prepared a presentation for his parents explaining how he planned to use the $500. He then taught himself how to run an online business through YouTube tutorials, business podcasts and online forums.He learnt to build a website, source suppliers and ship products to customers. The business initially focused on casual clothing, but Bierman later decided to move towards swimwear.In an interview with The US Sun, Bierman said his interest in creating and selling products had started early. His father’s work in sales and his mother’s creative background also influenced his approach to business.“My dad gave me the business side, and my mom gave me the creative side,” he said.The move into swimwear helped Coastal Cool establish a clearer focus. Rather than selling only clothing, Bierman wanted to offer products that customers could buy while supporting an environmental cause.
How does Coastal Cool help remove plastic waste?
Coastal Cool makes swimwear using recycled materials, including polyester derived from discarded plastic bottles. The company also works with Tidey Ocean, a nonprofit that supports plastic collection and recycling and provides paid employment in communities affected by ocean pollution, according to its website.The partnership operates through a programme under which each product sold helps fund the collection and recycling of one pound of ocean-bound plastic.The company says its efforts have helped remove plastic equivalent to more than 100,000 bottles. The figure is based on the business’s reported environmental impact.Bierman told Good Morning America that linking the brand to sustainability gave the business a broader purpose beyond selling products.The company also uses an on-demand production model, meaning products are made when customers place orders. This allows it to operate without holding large amounts of stock. Bierman has credited this approach, reinvesting profits and listening to customers with helping the business grow without outside investment.
Balancing business and school
However, managing the company alongside his education has required him to balance schoolwork with orders, social media and business partnerships. In interviews, Bierman has spoken about missing some typical high school events while working to expand the brand.His longer-term plans include taking Coastal Cool into more retail stores and studying a business-related subject at university.
