Q&A
10 MINUTES WITH THE FOUNDER
ZEAL Optics
A conversation with Mike Lewis, digital marketing manager of ZEAL Optics. I N T E R V I E W: Chantel Ellerington P H O T O G R A P H S : ZEAL Optics I S S U E 006
THE FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO THIS MONTH
THE ROUND-UP!
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PIKKAS PERUVIAN CUISINE & PISCO BAR
“So that making decisions to reduce their impacts becomes an automatic decison interwoven in everything they do” SECOND HOME KITCHEN + BAR
- Mike Lewis, marketing manager
AVIANO COFFEE
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Q&A
Style - Memphis
CE: The story behind the name... ML: In 1997 Michael and Wink Jackson were living in Moab, UT, splitting their time between mountain biking endless trails in the high desert, and skiing countless winter pow lines in the Rockies. Their passions became their lives, and their zeal for life outdoors quickly became their business. After searching for optics to complement their pursuits,they couldn’t find sunglasses or goggles that could stand up to what they put them through. The Jacksons believed they could build better products to help them enjoy the wonders that surrounded them with amazing optics, while at the same time creating a movement for conscious consumers looking to vote for the environment and the outdoors with their dollars. Their zeal for living their lives outdoors became ZEAL Optics. CE: One thing all of the ZEAL Optic ambassadors have in common? ML: Simple – passion. They are all ZEAL. Each year we get the ZEAL Family together for our catalog shoot and it’s always amazing to see photographers inspiring surfers, endurance runners inspiring wake boarders, and snowboarders inspiring bow hunters and fishermen. While all of their pursuits may differ, their zeal comes from the same place, a deep-rooted need to commune with the wilds and make a difference for generations to come.
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CE: Being the only sunglass company in the world to use all plantbased materials , how have other companies followed suit? ML: There’s a revolution taking place in materials around the world. Advancements in bioplastics are moving so rapidly right now and the developments have made it easier and cheaper to reduce your manufacturing footprint, as well as the legacy of your products. It’s truly inspiring to see other brands adopting these materials and pushing the envelope on quality and design to decrease their impacts. We hope that our focus on materials helps inspire other brands to do the same and realize that you don’t need to sacrifice quality, clarity, and durability in the pursuit of “green” technologies. We can’t make much of an impact on our own, but collectively, as an industry and as consumers, we believe that thoughtful decisions to do what each of us can adds up to actions whose impact has a sum far larger than its parts.
Q&A
“ Our goal is to motivate people to get outside and ”Explore More,” to find adventure in the everyday, to push their limits, whatever those may be; and follow their ZEAl” With products, imagery, and stories that inspire people to make outdoor adventure a daily ritual.” - Mike Lewis
CE: What does it mean to be part of the Boulder Community? CE: Leading ZEAL Optics digital marketing across 19 countries with ML: Boulder, Colorado is an amazing place. Voted repeatedly a focus on Bioplastics, how has that contributed to 61,000 Instagram as the worst dressed city and city where people look the best followers? ML: The goal of all of our marketing isn’t solely to drive sales; it’s naked, Boulder is a creative hotbed and a major hub for designed to drive people’s passions. Our goal is to motivate people athletes, start ups, natural foods and the outdoor industry. ZEAL moved to Boulder shortly after we were founded, and to get outside and “Explore More”, to find adventure in the everyday, it’s been amazing to become part of the town’s social fabric. to push their limits, whatever those may be; and follow their ZEAL. With products, imagery, and stories that inspire people to make We work with countless local, like-minded companies and outdoor adventure a daily ritual, our goal is to remind our followers people to not just grow our brands, but grow the brand of of the amazing gifts our wilds provide, so that making decisions to Boulder and make this a premier center for talented, creative people doing what they can to change our society. reduce their impacts becomes an automatic decision interwoven in everything they do. Lofty? Yes, but what is life if you’re not pushing CE: And an anecdote to share from an adventure with the yourself to make a difference and live inspired? ZEAL team? ML: Wow, where to begin? One of my favorite memories was camping with the Family last fall at Midnight Ranch outside of Steamboat. After a long night of swapping tales around the campfire, and too many bottles of whiskey to count being spewed over the fire, we headed out for a morning hike, swim and cliff jumping – our kind of triathlon. A close second would have to be joining Dr. Jon Kedrowski, author of Sleeping on the Summits, for a trip earlier last year to climb Mt. Hood, sleep on the peak, and drop in on our snowboards and skis at first light, repeating the fun the next day on Mt. St Helens on the 34th anniversary of its last eruption.
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Explore more.
ZEAL Optics team and ambassadors in action
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TALK TO US -------
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CE: A current partnership or community ZEAL is making a positive dent in? ML: In addition to working on numerous projects in and around Boulder, including Project 5480 where ZEAL plants enough trees annually to add up to the elevation of our headquarters, we partner extensively with numerous non profits that are making a difference. From More Than Just Me, a group that’s currently climbing the 7 Summits to raise funds and awareness to fight cystic fibrosis, to the dZi Foundation, which we donate sunglasses to for distribution to Sherpas in Nepal, to joining forces with Protect Our Winters, which raises awareness about climate change with a variety of strategies, we believe there is strength in numbers and passion is the fuel to be the change you want to see in the world. Check out our Community page for more info on our focus on social responsibility and the groups we work with. CE: “We are all ZEAL” How does this tag line connect individuals across the world to the brand, the lifestyle, and the products? ML: We believe that if you have eyes, and like to go outside, then you’re part of the ZEAL family. Whether you’re biking, hiking, snowboarding, climbing, paragliding, surfing, BASE jumping or just taking your dog for a walk, you are a part of the movement to live an inspired life where the world around you is a playground and source of daily inspiration. Whatever your passion, the common thread is a thirst for adventure. Life is better through our lenses and we want everyone to follow their ZEAL.
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CE: Locals Only: What is Industry Night? How can one get involved in the ZEAL Optics community in CO? ML: As part of our mission to grow the brand of Boulder and grow our community, we host monthly events where we get people together from the Active, Outdoor, and Lifestyle industries in and around Boulder. Beyond being a great opportunity to drink free beer and network with our peers, each Industry Night features talks from our Ambassadors and others that inspire us. We partner with a different nonprofit each month that the speaker is passionate about, and through generous donations from our friends and partners, we host silent auctions and raffles ranging from trips to Nicaragua, to guided mountaineering adventures. Industry Night continues to grow on a monthly basis and we’ve brought in more than $30,000 to support non-profits in the last year, and countless memories to share. These events are open to everyone and the topics are incredibly diverse – after all, we are all ZEAL. We share these events through our newsletter, so just sign up on zealoptics.com or shoot us your email at info@zealoptics.com to get added to the invite list. We’re really excited about next month’s Industry Night, which is taking place on Earth Day on April 22 and Upslope Brewing is hosting us for a talk by ZEAL Ambassador and Polar Explorer Eric Larsen, who will be sharing a travelling photo exhibit and sharing tales of how climate change is impacting life, adventure, and our polar ice caps. CE: Insiders tip: S/S15 must have? ML: My go-to right now is TRACKER with a digital Rx from our in-house lab, the world’s first zero-waste prescription facility. Launched late last year, TRACKER’s wrapped style is amazing for flyfishing, splitboarding, mountain biking and every other endeavor I’ve tested them in. I’m also incredibly excited about our upcoming launch of our first photochromic sunglass lens in two new styles, BIG TIMBER and DECOY. These lenses feature the technology that put us on the map in skiing and snowboarding, a combination of polarized and photochromic power and protection, the “Automatic+” changes tint based on UV light, making it as versatile as you are. If your day’s plans include round the clock adventure, this is the lens for you!
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