Global impact through customer engagement How Griffin Thall has partnered with customers to scale Pura Vida wristbands and support dozens of charitable causes. When Griffin Thall and his friend Paul Goodman first arrived in Costa Rica, they didn't have much planned except surfing and celebrating their recent college graduation. With good waves and good times in mind, they were eager to enjoy their newfound freedom. Little did they know the duo would leave days later with so much more than they arrived with: local contacts, a friendship turned partnership, and a new business idea with the potential to change lives. Eight years later, Thall, Goodman and their fully realized business Pura Vida Bracelets are doing well, having sold their products to millions of customers worldwide, contracted with over 350 artisans and partnered with over 174 charities along the way.
How Pura Vida came to employee email database life While scouting for good surf spots in Costa Rica, Thall and Goodman befriended a local artisan couple, Jorge and Joaquin, who sold handmade bracelets on the beach. They bought bracelets for themselves, but the next day they came back for more. Impressed by their story and talent, Thall and Goodman purchased 400 bracelets from the men, intending to resell them at home. "We thought maybe we could take it online or in some surf shops and continue that pura vida spirit in San Diego," Thall recalled. In Costa Rica, pura vida is a versatile greeting (much like aloha in Hawaii), which translates to pure or simple life. It also reflects a certain attitude of the inhabitants, a relaxed and grateful way of seeing the world.
They would pay homage to this way of life with the name of the company that ultimately emerged from their journey: Pura Vida Bracelets. Just a month out of college, Thall had no job or school to focus on when he returned to California. This freedom allowed the two friends to embark directly on the cultivation of Pura Vida. On the flight home from Costa Rica, the men had written their story on Goodman's iPhone, and it became the narrative they told when they shared their business idea. “After we put our heads down and started working, we discovered that a niche market was waiting for Pura Vida,” says Thall. Between college campuses, trade shows, and local community events, Thall and Goodman have worked tirelessly to share the Pura Vida story and the first-hand talent of their artisans. Every day, they emailed store shoppers and visited local shops and stores.