Spotlight on Barefoot Beach Bums

Life,s a beach!That’s especially true for Mark and Lynn Gould, owners of Barefoot Beach Bums, KC-metro stores that help customers find their “inner beach” by transporting them to an island way of life just by walking through the front door.

Sand in Your Shoes

“We love the beach, and you can’t pack it in your suitcase to bring it back with you,” laughed Lynn. “Whether you’re on a beach, tailgating or in your backyard, you can be with us on island time. Live just as you are but in our Barefoot Beach Bum style.”

“We’ve had people come into the shops just to let their stress out,” added Mark. “No matter if you’re a landlocked person in the Midwest or someone who’s lived on the coast, we want to help our customer keep their inner beach.”

Barefoot Beach Bums is a tropical lifestyle company built on the coastal island way of life. Incorporating the global love of an island, carefree barefoot beach bum lifestyle, Barefoot Beach Bums strives to encompass every aspect of tropical living from music, apparel, sports, gear or travel.

Find Margaritaville in Kansas

Storefronts in Parkville, Missouri, and Oak Park Mall, Overland Park, Kansas, and an online website offer shoppers the opportunity to bring home the beach by purchasing beach house décor, handbags and totes, jewelry, beach and sun gear, apparel and their trademark Barefoot Beach Bums T-shirts and Twisted Tropics T-shirts. A special offering is the fantastic selection of swimwear consisting of bikinis styled for either a hot tropical vacation or a relaxing day at the lake. You can chose from sets or separates to customize your fit with a Barefoot Beach Bums style that sets you apart from all the other sunbathers.

“We offer a variety of beach-themed apparel and décor such as mirrors with seashell-like frames, hand-painted metal art pieces from Haiti, candles with scents such as Sea Spray and Simple Breeze, and wooden signs with such sayings as Life’s Better on a Pontoon or What Happens at the Lake Stays at the Lake,” offered Lynn. “We have seahorse bracelets and starfish earrings. Our handmade jewelry is gorgeous and our shark tooth necklaces and bracelets are very popular.”

“What’s so special about Barefoot Beach Bums  is that you can find any of this merchandise every day of the year versus seasonally like so many other stores,” noted Mark. “If you have a wintertime vacation or cruise planned, you can find tropical clothing here to fill your suitcases.”

Looking Ahead for Sunny Days

When the couple first went into business in 2012, they simply wanted to create and sell their own Barefoot Beach Bums T-shirt line, but sensing a much larger opportunity, their attorney urged them to expand their product line. Given that encouragement, Lynn and Mark added other items and began selling their wares in booths at county fairs and other community events. At those gatherings, customers were so impressed they urged them to open a store.

In 2014 they set up their first shop in the historic area of downtown Parkville, which was very successful. Later in November, Mark felt that the future for Barefoot Beach Bums was extremely bright and decided to leave his job at Cerner after a 15-year career. In June 2015, the couple opened their second storefront in Oak Park Mall. “It’s been a whirlwind,” laughed Lynn. “In the last two years, we’ve opened two stores and had two children. But we just keep plugging away.”

“We’re trying to grow Barefoot Beach Bums, while still retaining that family-owned business feel,” stated Mark. “We care about the communities where we do business and we want to give back to others.” To demonstrate that commitment, Lynn and Mark donate at least 10 percent of their profits to various charities. In 2013, they worked with Kansas City Power and Light to help with the ParrotFest 2013. They sponsored appearances by Nadirah Shakoor from Jimmy Buffet’s Coral Reefer Band as a part of the activities.

Breeze By for a Visit!

The future is exceptionally bright for this entrepreneurial couple. They’re discussing the possibility of franchising and opening company-owned stores throughout the Midwest, replicating their inner beach style for markets such as St. Louis or Chicago.

But for now Lynn and Mark urge locals to visit their shops to share their love of a beach bum lifestyle with them. “If you stop in and love the store, please tell someone about Barefoot Beach Bums. Liking us on social media and sharing by word of mouth are the greatest compliments we can receive. If something could make us better, let us know. Many products we have are due to customer feedback,” remarked Lynn. “Yes, it is crazy to have a beach store in the Midwest, but sometimes crazy makes it all work.” HLM

Visit Barefoot Beach Bums shops at 5 Main Street, Parkville, Mo., and Oak Park Mall, Overland Park, Kansas. Shop online at barefootbeachbums.com.