Buying A Hammock Brand And Growing The Business To $2.4M/Year

Hammock Sky

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Published: May 3rd, 2021

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Hammock Sky

Founder, Hammock Sky

$80K

revenue/mo

Founders

100

Employees

Hammock Sky

hammocksky.com

from Hollywood, Kentucky, USA

started

$80,000

revenue/mo

Founders

100

Employees

Discover what tools recommends to grow your business!

NinjaOutreach

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Helium10

Jungle Scout

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Note: This business is no longer running. It was started in and ended in 2023. Reason for closure: Shut down.

Hello! Who are you and what business did you start?

Hi there! We are TCM, and we are the owners of Hammock Sky. Hammock Sky provides a wide range of hammocks, hammock chairs, and other outdoor accessories that cater to everyone’s relaxation needs.

Three years after Hammock Sky was founded, the original owner, an American expat living in Thailand, decided to sell his brand to TCM, to give himself the freedom to dream and provide someone else with the opportunity to manage his company. We bought Hammock Sky in 2017, three years after it was founded, and have experienced greater success than ever before, with our products constantly selling out online.

In 2020, we reached $2.4M, selling more than 44,000 units.

What's your backstory and how did you come up with the idea?

The idea for Hammock Sky came from an American expat, who at the time, was living in Thailand. One day, while relaxing on his hammock at the beach, enjoying the feeling of the wind in his hair and freeing his mind from his everyday worries, he had an epiphany - that what he desperately wanted was to share his experience of extreme relaxation with people everywhere.

Even though hammocks were easily available on the market, he aimed to make his dream a reality, and create a product that stood out: a premium quality hammock, much larger and more spacious than other hammocks on the market, that gives you the freedom to dream.

As a result of this personal experience, Hammock Sky was born. Our hammocks are bigger than regular-sized hammocks, providing the user with plenty of space to stretch, move around and get comfortable. Through Hammock Sky, people are given that time of the day where they can enjoy, dream and experience ultimate relaxation.

TCM is an eCommerce technology company that identifies, manages, and grows eCommerce businesses. We bought Hammock Sky, as we recognized the values that it expresses and agreed with them, with the importance of taking time for yourself, and the mental, physical, and emotional health benefits of relaxation. Hammock Sky was a great opportunity for our company to purchase a business that preached our values and was so in line with what we believe in.

Take us through the process of designing, prototyping, and manufacturing your first product.

Hammock Sky is so much more than the ordinary hammocks that you see in the shops. For our hammocks, we wanted to use sturdy, durable, and premium-quality material that guaranteed absolute comfort and provided full support, even after hours of use. Our very first hammock was specifically designed to be bigger than regular-sized hammocks so that the user would have more room to toss, turn and find their optimal position.

It helps to have a realistic step-by-step plan with actionable steps. Having a target, and knowing the necessary steps to make it a reality is very important, and will ensure that your goal is ultimately achieved.

Our personal favorite is Hammock Sky’s Double Brazilian Hammock, which isn’t just made from great-quality fabric, but allows you to find the most comfortable position possible! Here at TCM, we like to say that our hammocks are the “epitome of relaxation!” Every nap you take will leave you waking up refreshed and ready to take on the day.

Describe the process of launching the business

After coming up with the idea for Hammock Sky, the original owner’s target audience was the average American customer, which he targeted through selling his products on Amazon. However, not many people were aware of the brand, which led to limited sales and exposure. In 2017, three years after it was first founded, TCM acquired Hammock Sky and implemented strategies that led to great success.

We initially began selling our various products on Amazon, just as the original owner had done, but later on, expanded our online presence to include Shopify as well. By applying the correct SEO techniques, and using valuable marketing expertise, we are proud to say that Hammock Sky has become a successful online company, just 7 years after its inception.

Since launch, what has worked to attract and retain customers?

The main way that we have attracted our customers and encouraged them to buy our products is by appealing to their desire to experience ultimate relaxation and the freedom to dream. We have crafted various kinds of hammock and hammock accessories that are better and more spacious than those of competitive companies, offering our customers superior relaxation.

In addition to this, we have launched numerous marketing efforts and campaigns on all online platforms. As a result, we have created an online community that is based around and united by a mutual love for our products.

One particularly helpful thing that we have emphasized is the importance of SEO, or search engine optimization, in increasing the exposure of the brand. Another thing that we have found to be really successful in writing and publishing blogs related to our customers on our Shopify store. It has worked really well for us. In addition to this, we have begun working with influencers, who have promoted our products, and created further exposure.

We actually came across this website called NinjaOutreach, wherein just a few steps, we were able to locate hundreds of potential influencers that promoted our products and advertised them to their respective audiences.

We found that since Hammock Sky is a seasonal brand, advertising on social media didn’t help us much, and just ended up being a waste of money.

How are you doing today and what does the future look like?

We are very grateful to say that business is booming. More and more people are purchasing our products and the rates of returning customers are higher than ever before. We have employees that work all over the world, occupying all kinds of roles that range from writers to designers, suppliers to content writers, and even permanent influencers that we work together with.

Our global team ensures that we have an international perspective and that we are creating and advertising products that are relevant to, and applicable for, a wider audience.

Hammock Sky remains one of the most competitive hammock brands in the market. We are constantly thinking of and generating new products, looking for points of improvement and added features that will benefit potential customers, and further enhance their experience of relaxation. We make sure to keep up with the latest marketing trends so that our products stay practical and relevant.

The future looks bright and promising for Hammock Sky, and we are excited to see where we are going to go from here.

Through starting the business, have you learned anything particularly helpful or advantageous?

Through our business, we have learned so many important lessons. We have gone through hurdles, and have come out stronger. Being part of such a competitive market with so many aspiring entrepreneurs means that it can be challenging to stand out, and ensuring that potential customers are aware of your brand is incredibly important.

However, here at TCM, we have found our niche. We ensure that we are taking good care of our customers and that every single product that we sell enables its user to experience ultimate satisfaction and bliss. We have learned just how important it is to have a good relationship with your customers, to guarantee a loyal following, and that they recommend Hammock Sky to their friends and family.

What platform/tools do you use for your business?

As we mentioned before, we initially launched the business on Amazon but we later expanded it to include Shopify as well. Both Amazon and Shopify are excellent platforms that cater to a large audience, offering us increased visibility and exposure to potential customers.

Aside from those platforms, we also utilize tools including Helium 10, Jungle Scout, and Keyword Inspector. The programs enable us to include popular and frequently used keywords that optimize our content and improve our online visibility.

What have been the most influential books, podcasts, or other resources?

Several books majorly influenced us, including ‘Hooked’by Nir Eyal, ‘This is Marketing’ by Seth Godin, and ‘The 5 am Club’ by Robin Sharma. We recommend that anyone who dreams of being an entrepreneur should read these books, to gain an insight into the world of marketing and the impact of product acquisition on our daily lives.

Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting?

Our main piece of advice is to think of an idea, and just go for it. Set a clear goal and make sure that you do something productive each day that will help you get a step closer to your goals. It helps to have a realistic step-by-step plan with actionable steps. Having a target, and knowing the necessary steps to make it a reality is very important, and will ensure that your goal is ultimately achieved.

Another major piece of advice that we can offer is to consult the right people! Though you may feel committed to seeing your company through to the end, often it is a more responsible decision to involve the right people and ensure the company is managed correctly and more efficiently. When Hammock Sky was acquired by TCM, it experienced major growth and achieved greater success than in its first three years. It just goes to show that putting your company in the right hands offers great benefits and potential for your company!