Few brands embody summer as genuinely as Onia. The direct-to-consumer swimwear brand has made quite the splash over the past decade with its minimal and timeless designs. Inspired by modern voyagers, Onia is far more than an online retailer; it is a consumer-centric lifestyle brand committed to providing the most sun-sational experience throughout the entire customer journey. The brand aims to make easy living more attainable – starting with an easy and enjoyable last-mile experience for its customers (they offer on-demand swimsuit delivery and 1-on-1 sessions with a stylist). We sat down with Onia’s co-founder, Nathan Romano, to chat about swimwear style, customer expectations, and how same-day delivery has transformed their business.
Onia: We noticed that there was a definitive void in the market for high-quality, perfectly fitting men’s swim trunks — we became the first brand to offer guys tailored swimwear that they could wear on and off the beach. As the brand grew, we remained steadfast in our commitment to revolutionizing the swim and resort wear business for both men and women. We remain a company of firsts, of breaking new ground, whether that be in translating ready-to-wear for the water or working with premium heritage fabric houses like Liberty and Ratti or upholding a rigorous standard of technology that sets us apart from other names in the space.
Customer service is at the root of everything we do, and we are always looking for ways to offer a more seamless service to our Onia family wherever they are shopping. One positive review we repeatedly garner from our customers is that our deliveries are prompt and reliable, and we’re proud of that record. We also recently introduced same-day contactless delivery. We offer returns for all full-priced merchandise within 14 days of the delivery date. Online sessions with a stylist are also available by request — we love to help people figure out what Onia pieces fit their sensibilities.
Quality. Style. Timeless.
Fit. Comfort. Luxury.
Loyal. Entrepreneurial. Independent.
Perhaps, customers care a bit about the story behind the brand, the personality, the POV. They care about the world of social media and they want to interact with us there. But, since 2009, the main expectations continue to regard quality, fit, and style. That’s something we never lose sight of.
We try to be available to our fans in as many ways as possible. We have a dedicated Customer Service team that fields customers’ inquiries over the phone, on email, and through constant monitoring of social media, from DMs to comments. For us, our consumers understand the brand so well, so we’re always excited to hear their thoughts and see how we can continue to refine the CS process — and the brand in general — through our interactions.
Our DNA is all about travel, so we think of our social media as a portal for modern voyagers to explore new destinations, get inspired for warm-weather vacations, and really see the quality and fit of our pieces in a visual enriching way. A lot of our inspirational content ties back to the /brief, Onia’s online magazine, where you can find stories about everything from the rising new chef to the best beach movies of all time.
Fit is usually the #1 issue. Our team of dedicated customer services is well-versed in every collection — their product knowledge is unbelievable! Because they have been at a lot of the fit-testing and have gone through training familiarizing themselves with how our pieces fit on a variety of body types, they are well-versed at answering questions and helping customers decide what size is right for them. It’s quite an art-form for us.
The last mile is important, if not more important, than the first mile. Buying something from Onia is not just a transaction, it is an experience. And, as such, we offer our extended family everything from private sales to social media call-outs (every Friday we post #myonia which features UGC content from our customers around the world) to, as we mentioned, a digital lifestyle magazine — the /brief — that offers compelling stories, travel advice, and culture happenings, really just an extension of the Onia world. And, of course, your customer service doesn’t end after purchase. We are around for style advice, for article ideas, for recommendations….whatever our customers have to say, we want to hear.
First of all, in the midst of COVID-19, we thought this would offer customers a safe, expedient redemption experience — our entire same-day delivery process is contactless, ensuring the health of our consumers and employees. We also believe in adapting to and servicing their lifestyles — we know the typical Onia customer is extremely busy and always on-the-go, so this is one way to offer instant gratification, especially, say if you’re packing at the last minute for a holiday or want to try things on immediately. The response has been incredible — we see customers ordering more pieces than before and returning less, which we really think is due, again, to the immediacy and efficacy of the system.
New colors, new embroidery, and new prints!
Check out our Elastic Calder Swim Trunks, Charles Embroidered Swim Trunks, and Liberty Print Elastic Calder Swim Trunks
New silhouettes, new hardware, and new fabrications!
A few of our favorites: Cindy Metallic Zig Zag One Piece, and Kendra Printed Rib Tank Top
Are you a DTC brand looking to boost your brand and customer experience?
Talk to us about same-day delivery and outstanding post-purchase experiences.
sales@withbond.com
511 West 25th St.
3rd floor
New York, NY 10001
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