How Vacation Turned Sunscreen Into a Nostalgic Lifestyle Brand

Vacation was founded by a pair of beach-loving creatives who teamed up with the mastermind behind PoolSuite FM, an internet radio station obsessed with retro leisure vibes. Together, they built a brand that’s as much about playful escapism as it is about serious sun protection. From recreating the iconic Orange Gelee tanning gel to launching Instagram-worthy whipped sunscreen, Vacation’s journey is a masterclass on community-driven branding, product innovation, and leveraging cultural nostalgia for explosive growth.

Nathan and Aaron break down the science behind sunscreen, the regulatory hurdles for global expansion, and how Vacation has gone from a DTC darling to the #1 sunscreen in Target. With $40 million in revenue and serious acquisition buzz, this episode peels back the layers on what it takes to disrupt a legacy category—and why the future of sunscreen just might look like the past.

https://poolsuite.net/
Vacation ad: https://www.tiktok.com/@vacationinc/video/7132998444548885802

• (00:00) - Intro
• (01:59) - Non-resident Import Record Loophole
• (03:24) - Customs Fraud
• (04:12) - Nutrabolt investing in Bloom Nutrition
• (05:27) - Skincare Review
• (07:15) - Sunscreen 101
• (12:56) - Sunscreen around the World
• (18:05) - Sunscreen Market
• (19:22) - Vacation Founding Story
• (32:08) - Brand Identity
• (39:47) - Vacation Growth
• (41:55) - Exit Potential
• (49:27) - Closing