GLYD O – How it all began
When I was around 16, I got a new surfboard and used to store it leaning up against the wall in the corner of my room. The room had varnished wooden floorboards. One day the board unexpectedly slipped out from under itself and crashed to the floor. This sparked an idea for wanting to build a surf board rack and start a business doing so. It was the seed for GLYD O. I have revisited the idea many times over the years, building numerous different stands, all of which were impractical in some way or another, until the Revolute Surf Board Rack.
I realised through the journey of design and development of different prototypes over the years that the stand had to be adjustable, efficient and affordable to manufacture, be made from quality materials, sturdy, have an inventive step to the design and be aesthetically pleasing. Each prototype taught me something else about the attributes the stand needed to have. Each prototype was a step in the evolution of the Revolute Surf Board Rack.
I would have to say that the process of building something from nothing is extremely rewarding. That goes for the micro business that I run to the Surf Board Rack Revolute that I invented. It has taken me a lifetime to achieve these things and a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I wouldn’t want to start it all over again but it has been worth every bit of the pain and suffering to get here. I really do believe in living your dreams. It brings such a sense of self worth to succeed in making your dreams a reality.
THE BUSINESS
GLYD O is an Australian owned small business based in the city of Geelong, that believes in building quality Australian made products. Here at GLYD O I am passionate about building wooden surf board racks and love the process of designing, inventing, innovating, and developing. GLYD O partners with trusted Australian manufacturers to ensure consistent quality while maintaining my design standards.
GLYD O is a sole trader and I take care of every aspect of the business from picking, packing and shipping to website development, from accounts to customer service, sales to marketing. This means faster response times, personal attention to detail, and someone who genuinely cares about your experience.
There is a real personal touch when dealing with a sole trading micro business that you won’t find dealing with a larger company. At GLYD O you are dealing with the owner, the person who started the business who is passionate about the business and who has a vested interest in keeping you happy. Someone who believes in the business and its values. Someone who is willing to go above and beyond for you.
THE NAME
The acronym GLYD O (pronounced glide) stands for Gotta Live Your Dreams. The O is symbolic of the Enso symbol and is representational of the search for perfection or enlightenment.
The name GLYD O was born out of the need to find fulfilment in life. It is about the nature of life and the significance of finding it. It is about Filling the Void – finding meaning, enjoyment and happiness in the things that we do. Living the dream and in so doing, doing what makes us happy.
GLYD O also relates to the importance of not giving up on dreams. When you feel there is no other way, you’ve ‘gotta live your dreams’.
THE LOGO
The GLYD O Logo is based on the Zen Buddhist Enso (circle of enlightenment) symbol, that represents enlightenment. It also represents interdependence and the oneness of all things in life.
Usually the enso is painted as an open circle. The open circle allows for movement and development. Included is the idea of the beauty of imperfection and suggestion that it is possible for anyone to attain enlightenment.
When the enso is painted as a closed circle it represents perfection.
GLYD O – The First Surf Board Rack
The Revolute surf board rack is Patent Pending and the first official product release of GLYD O after many years of building board stands. The name Revolute is in reference to the curved nature of the design. It is a minimal design that is clean and functional.
SUSTAINABILITY
GLYD O’s main manufacturing material has been birch plywood which is a sustainable resource with very little overall environmental impact. This comes from how quickly Birch trees grow, their abundance and because the process of replacing and re-growing is a relatively easy one. Also harvesting the trees doesn’t hurt the region’s biodiversity.
GLYD O is moving over to Bamboo for its main manufacturing material for even better sustainability. Bamboo is considered sustainable due to its rapid growth rate (Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on earth), ability to regenerate after harvesting, minimal water and pesticide needs, and its role in carbon sequestration. Unlike trees, bamboo can be harvested without replanting, as it regenerates from its existing root system. This rapid regrowth, coupled with its carbon-absorbing properties, makes it a highly renewable and eco-friendly resource.