About

The beach has always been a staple of our favorite childhood memories. There is a lot of reoccurring themes there, setting up the spot, hanging with friends and family, swimming in the ocean, then having to pack it all up at the end and take it with you. That cycle has stayed consistent throughout our beach experiences. However, one afternoon while at the beach with friends, we found ourselves surrounded by empty cans and snack wrappers with nowhere to put them—just like we had countless times before. Trash bags tied to chairs, sticky cans in coolers, or makeshift piles that eventually scattered with the wind. It was messy, frustrating, and oddly familiar. Not to mention the mountain of gear we lugged in and out every time we hit the beach. That moment finally struck a nerve, not just because it was frustrating, but because it was familiar. 

There had to be a better way.

That moment sparked the idea of Clean Coastal, which we formed as a way to make it easier for everyone to enhance their beach experience, create better beach habits, and protect the shorelines we all love. We started on this mission to create and provide durable, low impact essentials that make it simple for beachgoers to relax, pack up, and care for their coasts. Our flagship Beach Bin and low-impact, portable Essentials Collection are designed to do just that (Coming April 2026!). We wanted to shift the culture of outdoor recreation toward responsibility, awareness and more importantly, easy enjoyment with functional gear that blends convenience and care that fit seamlessly into your coastal life. 

This brand is for all generations of beachgoers and coastline dwellers— and it is empowering them to enjoy nature responsibly.

Founders:

Meet Sam Selick - Founder 

I grew up in Annapolis, Maryland and attended Penn State University where I completed my undergrad and fell in love with Penn State football. But I have always found myself around a body of water in the summers, whether it was the Chesapeake Bay, the beaches of Delaware and New Jersey, or at our lake house on Lake Wisconsin (Go Packers!). As I got older I got into skiing and fell in love with the mountains, but it was never that same feeling as that very first beach trip of the summer.  As a kid, every time I stepped into a surf shop, I had this unrealistic urge to buy everything in that store because all of the merchandise gave me such a strong affiliation with the places I love the most. This inspired us to kill two birds with one stone by creating a new outdoor beach brand that enables people to relax and elevate their beach experience with the intention of protecting it each time they're on their favorite coastline. Now, my wife and I have found a new coastline to call home in Southern California, and our Clean Coastal team is building something of our own, but with a little more meaning behind the merchandise.

Michael Barbalace - Co-Founder

I am a Maryland native who grew up in Baltimore, spending my summers on the Chesapeake Bay and at the Maryland and Delaware beaches. My wife and I now call Annapolis home with our two dogs. Those summers instilled in me a deep love for our coastlines and a powerful drive to protect them for what's to come. Launching Clean Coastal fills me with confidence and hope that we can protect our beaches and waters for generations to come.