About shorerun

I grew up in Newcastle, NSW, about four blocks from the beach, but spent the next 28 years in Melbourne working in commercial insurance. By 2021 I was a senior underwriter at a firm on Collins Street, managing a book worth around $40 million, and I was good at it. But I was 54, my kids had both moved interstate, and I remember sitting in a risk assessment meeting one Tuesday afternoon thinking: I have maybe 15 working years left and I'm going to spend them arguing about exclusion clauses. That was the moment. Not a slow drift. A specific Tuesday.

Before shorerun, I knew nothing about making or selling physical goods. What I did know was how to read a contract, assess a supplier, and spot where a business model had a hole in it. I'd spent nearly three decades pricing risk for other people's companies. I'd reviewed the books of clothing importers, leather goods wholesalers, textile mills. I understood margins and freight and what it costs when a supplier in Guangzhou goes quiet in February. That background turned out to be more useful than I expected when I started calling factories and asking hard questions.

— Make it worth keeping. — Robert, Robert Stephen Oliver

Our team

• Priya Nambiar — Operations and Fulfilment Coordinator: Priya joined shorerun in mid-2023 after six years running the stockroom and dispatch for a homewares wholesaler in Thomastown, VIC. She manages inbound freight, pick-and-pack schedules, and the relationship with our third-party courier accounts. When Robert realised he was spending 12 hours a week on logistics admin, he posted on a Bendigo small business Facebook group and Priya replied within two hours.
• Declan Farrugia — Digital and Customer Experience: Declan grew up in Ballarat and spent three years doing customer support and Shopify store management for a small outdoor goods brand in Brunswick before that business closed in early 2024. He handles the shorerun website, all customer emails, and the product photography done on-site in Bendigo. He also runs the monthly supplier performance spreadsheet that Robert uses when renegotiating terms.
• Annalise Vukovic — Buying Assistant and Product Research: Annalise studied fashion business at RMIT and spent two years as a junior buyer's assistant at a chain retailer in the Docklands before deciding she wanted to work somewhere smaller. She came to shorerun in January 2024 and focuses on sourcing new suppliers, attending trade fairs like the Melbourne Gift and Lifestyle Fair, and building out the product testing process Robert put in place at launch.

Frequently asked questions

How long will my order take to arrive?

Standard shipping takes 3–8 business days depending on your location. Express orders placed before 2pm AEST Monday–Friday are dispatched the same day and typically arrive within 1–3 business days. Remote areas may take a little longer.

Do you offer free shipping?

Yes. Orders over $100 AUD qualify for free standard shipping Australia-wide. This threshold is calculated after any discounts are applied, and GST is included in all prices shown at checkout.

Can I return something if it doesn't work out?

You have 30 days from the date of delivery to return an item. It needs to be unused, in its original condition, and with tags attached. Sale items and personalised products are not eligible for change-of-mind returns.

How do I care for my Shorerun products?

Care instructions vary by product. The Coastal Twill Baseball Cap can be spot-cleaned with a damp cloth. The Woven Leather Crossbody Bag should be kept away from prolonged moisture and wiped down with a dry cloth. Beanies can be hand-washed in cold water. Specific care labels are included with every item.

What materials do you use?

Products vary — the Recycled Nylon Beanie uses post-consumer recycled nylon, the Vegan Leather Belt uses PU vegan leather, and the Woven Leather Crossbody Bag uses genuine cognac leather. Full material details are listed on each product page so you know exactly what you're getting.

Are any products suitable for people with metal or skin sensitivities?

The Brushed Metal Watch uses a stainless steel case and back, which may cause reactions in people with nickel sensitivities. If you have known metal allergies, we'd recommend checking the product specifications or contacting us before purchasing. The vegan leather and nylon products do not contain animal-derived materials.

Do you offer gift wrapping?

Yes. You can add gift wrapping at checkout for $5.95. We use kraft paper and a simple card — no plastic. If you'd like a personal message included, just add it in the notes field during checkout.

Do you offer custom or personalised products?

We don't currently offer custom orders through the website. For bulk or wholesale enquiries that may include branding options, reach out to us directly at hello@shorerunco.com and we can talk through what's possible.

Customer reviews

• 5/5 “Belt arrived quickly and fits perfectly” Ordered the Vegan Leather Belt in Black on a Tuesday and it was at my door by Thursday. The sizing guide on the website was accurate — I went with the medium and it's spot on. Feels solid and the buckle hardware is clean. Really happy with it.
• 4/5 “Good cap, took a few days longer than expected” The Coastal Twill Baseball Cap in Sage is exactly what the photos show — nice colour, structured brim, sits well. Delivery took about six days to Melbourne which was a bit slower than I'd expected for a local order, but the product itself is worth it. Would order again.
• 5/5 “The crossbody bag is genuinely great” Bought the Woven Leather Crossbody Bag in Cognac as a birthday present for myself. The leather is soft but feels like it'll last — not stiff or plasticky. Fits my phone, keys, wallet and still has room. Arrived well-packaged with no damage. Already recommended it to two friends.
• 4/5 “Watch looks great, strap could be better” The Brushed Metal Watch in Rose Gold looks really clean in person — the brushed finish is subtle and the face is easy to read. My only note is the default strap is a little stiff out of the box, though it's loosened up over a couple of weeks. Good value at $124.
• 5/5 “Beanie is warm and doesn't itch” I've been wearing the Recycled Nylon Beanie in Charcoal almost every day since it arrived. It's genuinely warm without being too bulky, and no itching which is a big deal for me. Ordered standard post to Hobart and it showed up within five days.
• 5/5 “Packaging was nice, product even better” Ordered the crossbody bag as a Christmas gift and added the gift wrapping option at checkout. It came wrapped neatly in kraft paper with a card — looked considered without being over the top. The recipient loved it and has been using it daily since. Will be back.

From the journal

• Thirty years in finance and then I just stopped — After three decades managing risk for other people, I finally decided to take one myself and moved to northern Tasmania.
• Why it took eight months to find the right leather — The Woven Leather Crossbody Bag almost didn't happen because I couldn't find a tannery willing to work with a one-person operation.
• How I actually wear the Coastal Twill Cap day to day — The Sage cap gets worn seven days a week here, and after four months I have a fairly clear picture of what it handles well.
• What a production run of 60 units actually looks like — Running small batches from a regional base sounds romantic until you're chasing freight quotes between Bendigo and Devonport at midnight.
• Northern Tasmania in June is not what people expect — Most people visiting Tasmania in winter head south to Hobart, but the northwest coast in June has its own particular quality that I've come to depend on.
• The watch was about solving one specific problem — I wanted a watch that worked at the beach, at a working lunch in Devonport, and didn't look like a fitness tracker or a boardroom statement.