Meet Shannon Dohemann

We recently connected with Shannon Dohemann and have shared our conversation below.

Shannon, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

When we started our small business, we had no idea where it would take us. Looking back, our plans were focused on growing a local brand and selling cute, comfy clothing. Now our brand, MADE IN MARIN, focuses more on the importance of giving back to the community we live in. And through that, we have found a deeper purpose in our own lives.

MADE IN MARIN is our local brand and clothing company. We make shirts, hats, sweatshirts and more for the whole family. Our brand is about showcasing the beauty of a life in Marin County. And sharing all of the locally owned, and family-owned businesses that give our county that small town feeling. We have hidden gems all over the place, and we think that shopping local and supporting the long-lasting small businesses is what helps people connect to their community more than anything else.

As we grow our brand, our connection to our community, customers, and fellow small business owners grows as well. We have created a platform where we can show locals and visitors all of our favorite places to support. We teach how much of a difference it can make when you choose to support a “ma-and-pop shop” versus a big box store. And all of this is making us happier than we have ever been. Being a part of something good, giving back, and supporting one another is so important. It is a special feeling, and we are so proud to be any part of helping someone thrive. We believe this has become our purpose in life.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My name is Shannon Dohemann and I am proud to have started a small business that helps people connect to Marin County, whether they live here, grew up here, or are visiting. Growing up in Marin County has always been something I felt was so special. And now having the opportunity to show what I love most about it, to thousands of people, has given me so much more meaning in life. My husband and I love to share our favorite spots to eat, shop, and visit in Marin – all of them being locally owned small businesses like our own. And we have met the most amazing people along the way.

In our day-to-day life we find ourselves working long hours on the business. In such a short period of time, we have grown dramatically, and it has created quite the “labor of love.” Social media has become a main portion of our brand, where we post content for MADE IN MARIN or other small businesses in the area. We are very well known for being “foodies” and many of the videos we post are at restaurants around Marin. So if you’re hungry, we can show you some amazing places!

To set up these collaborations, we spend a lot of time networking, editing, and making plans on social media or via email. And on top of those emails, we run a full-on clothing business. Where we have customer service, pack orders, design and test products, and make all the items as well! We love to set up as vendors for farmers markets and local events to show off the amazing merch we create for MADE IN MARIN.
We are often working late nights in the workshop. That’s where we tie dye and screen print clothing for our brand. Many local companies contact us to make merch for them, too!

Big news- soon you can find MADE IN MARIN clothing in stores! and of course still online at www.madeinmarin.org
DONT MISS OUT ON THE HOODIE DROP THIS NOV 1st – THICK COMFY OVERSIZED HOODIES are PERFECT for this WINTER – THEY’RE ON EVERYONE’S WISH LIST. (online only and at our in-person events)

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I think to succeed in small business, you have to be willing to pivot, give back, and be willing to go the extra mile.

There have been times where we have created items we loved, and they just didn’t sell the way we had hoped for. There will always be failures, and sometimes shocking ones. But that doesn’t mean the next idea won’t be a great one. It could be the best one yet! And that’s why failing and trying something new – pivoting – is so important in this small business world.

And when we do go through the ups and downs of business, it is so incredible to see the community of loyal customers still cheering us on. We always do our best to give back to their children’s schools and sports teams and show up for the families in our community whenever we can. That has helped us connect to our community and gain a true support system around us and our lives. We feel so grateful for that.

There is no easy way to succeed when you’re running your own company, but I do think if you learn to support the people around you, then you can all rise together. MADE IN MARIN has always been about helping others. We love spreading the word out about other small businesses, and it has helped ours succeed in return.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

We are very excited to announce that we want to collaborate with a few locally owned stores in Marin County to get MADE IN MARIN on the shelves. And we want to hear from our customers and supporters – to see where you think we would best fit!
Think about those true “MARIN” based retail locations that you can picture our hats and shirts displayed.
We will choose one store in each town! Send us messages via DM, email, or comment on an Instagram post to help us choose!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.madeinmarin.org
• Instagram: TheMadeinMarin