The Merry Motivation: 

Growing up on an Australian farm, wellies were a part of my daily life; reliable, durable, comfortable and ripe for adventure! Some of my fondest memories are in my wellies with siblings doing simple things like bush walks, racing across the hay bales and sitting in a paddock making daisy chains together. 

Today, those joyful childhood recollections have evolved into a life I never could have dreamed of for myself! 

The Merry Beginning: 

It all started back in 2014. I moved from the farm to the city for study and work, and whilst in the CBD, I couldn't find an all-weather boot to get me from my daily commute to the corporate world and then back to the farm on weekends. 

The more I thought about it, the more I realised there was a gap in the market. I felt that an everyday waterproof boot could possibly be the most practical type of boot. I began wondering if I could merge the function of my childhood farm boots into an on-trend fashionable silhouette for everyday, city and country living. 

This coincided with a time of feeling disconnected from my true self. After a decade of living in the city, I felt a strong desire to reconnect with the girl I was, who played outdoors and was endlessly curious and carefree. 

So I started sketching up my ideas. With some technical help from a friend, a business plan and a return trip to China booked to meet potential suppliers, Merry People boots were born!

The First Merry Steps: 

I started out selling Merry People Boots at farmers' markets on the weekend. As much as those early years were dotted with highs and lows, it was during this time that I became closely connected with my customers. This truly shaped my vision for each design and further highlighted the huge gap in the market Merry People could fill.

Fast-forward to a decade later, and I look back on these early years as the most formative; a truly grass-roots beginning that provided a slow-burning - but sharp - learning curve that led to our current business model. 

I often reflect back to that version of myself, the euphoric feeling of selling boots to happy customers and packing up my market stand with a sense of triumph and drive stirring inside me, to the lows of exhaustion, poor sales, ongoing financial stress and self doubt - all while trying not to worry friends and family along the way!

I am so proud I didn’t stop then, and instead, kept moving towards my dream of what Merry People could - and has - become.

From Grassroots To Global: 

As Merry People has grown, so has my little family, my team and my drive to demystify the belief that gumboots should be reserved for rural life only. 

Merry People’s goal to embrace gumboots as a contemporary part of the everyday wardrobe - no matter where you live - continues with colours that bring joy to every journey. 

I am incredibly grateful for the experience so far and still have to remind myself - as a busy mum and CEO - to embrace all the mess of life, to relish in the unexpected and to feel present in the smaller joyful moments every day. 

To me, that is what Merry People is all about!

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. 

Dani xx