Today we’d like to introduce you to Easton Jones.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Easton. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
Growing up in a tight-knit surf family, surfing became a part of my life at a very young age. My dad, Rob Jones, would take me to surf every day before school. I’d wake him up at 6:00 A.M. He’d start the coffee, and I’d pack the car up. We’d drive straight down Rosecrans where he would drop me off before he met up with clients for his business, Jones Landscapes. Design presented itself early in my life. With my dad drawing and designing gardens for a living and my mom displaying windows at the Beverly Hills Bikini shop, I became immersed in creativeness.
I remember designing surf ads on Microsoft Paint or drawing my next spray paint for my boards on paper. Starting a business was in my blood. It was just a matter of time. I remember writing my goal list for Summer 2013. One of those goals was to start a clothing company that gave back. So there I was at 19-years-old, just graduating high school and wanting to run with a huge goal. From there, I began meeting with people in the South Bay community who had successfully done what I was going to do.
I hit the ground running with the name Fish At Sea. I purchased the domain, utilized the logo from one of my sketchbooks, started designing the website, and then producing the clothing that I would launch in October 2013. I remember driving back from picking up my first batch of shirts and hats and screaming at the top of my lungs with excitement. I began talking to the local surf shops to get my product in their stores. I made my first sales to friends and family, and I was now a businessman.
Thousands of sold products later, I can tell you that Fish At Sea is still small, but I’m working hard at my dream. Running a clothing company is no easy task, especially on your own. From social media advertising, keeping the website up to date, designing and producing the products, shooting the product shots, packing, shipping, and managing the business side. And trust me, there’s a lot more than just that… If there’s one thing Fish At Sea has taught me, it’s that running a business is a marathon, not a sprint.
While maintaining the business, I was splitting my time by working at Wellen Surf, Islands Restaurant, Nitro Circus, and attending El Camino College. Somehow I was still managing to get in the water. I received my AA then moved on to obtain my bachelor’s degree in business entrepreneurship at CSUDH in 2017. I was then offered a full-time job as the E-Commerce coordinator at Nitro Circus. In August 2018, I decided to go on my own.
I started my own graphic design business called Easton Jones Design. I’ve created car-wraps, billboards, logos, newsletters, ads, banners, and clothing both internationally and locally. I’m still working on Fish At Sea continually trying to grow it. I got engaged early this year to the most amazing gal, Hana, and we are getting married in August.
My plans are to continue working as a freelance graphic designer and to keep Fish At Sea marching on.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The pathway has almost been like driving through Palos Verdes. You have a beautiful view, but you’re constantly having the up and down hills. You can’t have it run smoothly unless you’ve done the hard work and gotten over those hurdles.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I’m most proud when I can look back at a design or piece of clothing I made years ago, and still enjoy wearing it or looking at it. The best parts in my career have been when I see a person, who I don’t know, walking through the South Bay and wearing something that I created.
I want my brands to be known for their quality and the character behind them. When starting Fish At Sea, I chose to give back 10% of all proceeds to Water Wells for Africa. It’s been awesome to even make a small impact on an international level. I’m excited to continue to learn and grow as a person, designer, businessman, and a soon-to-be husband.
What were you like growing up?
I’ve always tried to set goals and pursue to accomplish them. I did Boy Scouts growing up and was able to accomplish the Eagle Scout rank. This journey taught me to always follow through and finish what you started. I like to have fun, but I’ve learned to get serious and buckle up the hatches when it counts.
Contact Info:
- Website: FishAtSea.com + EastonJonesDesign.com
- Phone: 310 647 7030
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @FishAtSea + @EastonJonesDesign
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fishatsea + https://www.facebook.com/EastonJonesDesign/
- Twitter: @FishAtSea + @EastonJonesDsgn
Image Credit:
Surf Photo: Greg Browning
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