- May 12, 2024
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For Lena Lux and Scott Hanson, their paddleboard company is more than a business — it creates an opportunity to help educate the community.
Hanson was raised in Ormond Beach while Lux has lived here for 10 years. Both are water sports enthusiasts and passionate about the environment. Their paddleboard company, Water’s Edge, was created out of their desire to combine both interests and a drive to educate the community. The couple agree that the paddleboard tours give them a platform to teach people about proper boat etiquette, issues that affect Florida rivers and its wildlife.
“People joke about the manatees being speed bumps but I don’t really find it funny,” Lux said. “I think we need a healthy respect for people and the environment around us.”
Lux and Hanson met a little over four years ago while running the Tipsy Taco restaurant on A1A in Ormond Beach.
“We’re good together,” Hanson said. “We’re fire and ice. I’m good at one thing and she’s good at the opposite.”
Their relationship began as a working one, so they knew they were good at running a business together. Over time, they fell in love and are now engaged. It only seemed natural to the pair that they would open a business, so one year ago, they launched Water’s Edge.
“Everything’s got its pros and cons,” Lux said. “We work really hard to find a balance. Our ideas are so different. Sometimes we don’t even think on the same wavelength and have to figure out a way to meet in the middle. A lot of times, we have the same bottom line but think of different avenues on how to get there.”
Lux is currently working on two business plans — one for a paddleboard company, and another for a food truck. She has sought guidance from SCORE, a nonprofit organization funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration which provides mentors and educational workshops to small businesses. Once the plans are completed, she will begin “funding shopping” which includes applying for an SBA loan and identifying potential investors.
“They’ll remember this more than any miles or any race they will run the entire year. They got together and paddleboarded.”
BRAD MONTGOMERY, Seabreeze girls' cross country coach and athletic director
The long-term goal for them is to have a successful paddleboard company, a food truck, merchandise and a brick-and-mortar business where their clients can meet then grab a bite to eat following their paddleboard excursion.
With the help of fellow Chamber of Commerce members and their first tour group — Every Kid Swims — Water’s Edge became a reality. They have been consistently giving tours on a weekly basis as they focus on smoothing out the business logistics.
“We are working hard on our paddleboard business this summer and promoting ourselves, not only here but in Crystal River,” Hanson said. “We will pretty much travel anywhere within two hours. We want to share our experiences with everybody else.”
Giving back to the community has always been a priority for the entrepreneurs. Lux started Restaurant Row while working at Tipsy Taco. The nonprofit organization provided an opportunity for her to host large-scale beach and riverside clean-ups.
High school and middle school students can also earn community hours while participating in clean-ups with Water’s Edge. They have already taken the Seabreeze girls cross country team out on the paddle boards.
“They’ll remember this more than any miles or any race they will run the entire year,” said Brad Montgomery, Seabreeze girls’ cross country coach and athletic director. “They got together and paddleboarded.”
