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Welcome back to The Sustainable Business Spotlight! In this episode, I’m joined by Deirdre Bird, founder of Dry Umbrellas, a company reimagining a frustrating everyday product with sustainability in mind. After one too many cheap umbrellas flipped inside out on the streets of Boston, Deirdre decided to take action.

The result? A line of high-quality, ocean-bound plastic umbrellas that are as durable as they are impactful.

We talk through her unexpected journey into entrepreneurship, the realities of building a sustainable supply chain, and how one product can shift the way people think about consumption. If you’ve ever been frustrated with a broken umbrella or questioned the long-term impact of single-use materials, tune in! Deirdre’s passion for the planet is contagious and her umbrellas are making waves (pun intended!)

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• 02:33 – The “aha” moment that turned Deirdre from commuter to founder of Dry Umbrellas.
• 05:52 – What makes building a sustainable supply chain difficult, but worth it.
• 07:40 – The keys to launching a successful Kickstarter campaign (and what Deirdre wishes she’d done).
• 13:41 – Why ocean-bound plastic matters and why bamboo and steel were deliberate choices.
• 19:17 – How Dry Umbrellas made it onto shelves at REI (and why in-person product feel matters).
• 22:35 – Exciting news: compact umbrellas are coming, just in time for the holidays!

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share it with someone who values planet-first products!

Links:
Enter the Giveaway here! https://jeltbelt.com/pages/sustainable-giveaway

Website: https://www.dri.earth/

Instagram: @dri_umbrellas

Amy's Links:
• Website
• Alpine Start Media's Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Jelt's Instagram