About Us - Founder
Hi. I'm Jill Nederlof, the heart, and soul behind Laguna Vans. My journey into adventure travel began when my husband and I relocated to Laguna Beach in 2009. We quickly pivoted from boating on the east coast to overlanding on the west coast. After exploring the US for over a decade in various adventure vehicles, we found ourselves hooked. Each vehicle came along with a unique online community, but the Storyteller Overland Van community surpassed all expectations. If there is ever a malfunction or question, the group is there to help. I was on a recent ski trip in Utah and after posting a photo, was invited to "moochdock" in a fellow Storyteller owner's driveway in the area. The Storyteller Overland community has encouraged and supported my business dream.
In late 2023, I was on a cross-country trip with my four-year-old Labrador, Oscar. We hit a winter storm in Nebraska and, after a long and weary travel day, pulled into a pet-friendly hotel in downtown Denver. Parked in front of the Hotel Monaco, a homeless fellow approached my driver's window and started ranting about the Mercedes brand. He also said he "had some stories to tell me." While uncomfortable, I suddenly had that "aha" moment. What if I could replace the shiny Mercedes emblem with something kinder? There I was in this awesome 4X4 overland van, and all this guy could see was the shiny status symbol! It was at that moment that I dreamed up a replacement peace sign emblem for all Sprinter van owners. "Spread the power of peace, one adventure at a time."
The road from dream to reality was paved with challenges. Some people were negative, some encouraging, but when I pitched my idea to my younger son, Andrew, he did not think it was so crazy. The mother-son duo dove into product development, and the first peace sign emblem was produced in a few months. Andrew's expertise and background in engineering and manufacturing was critical for our success. My passion was contagious, and soon, my older son, Trevor, was developing the website.
One of the highlights as an entrepreneur happened on a recent off-road trip to the lost coast, north of San Francisco. I had an orange peace sign emblem (prototype) on my van, and many van owners enthusiastically placed orders! I drove home to Laguna Beach with more enthusiasm than ever!
Our adventure community aren't just customers, they are part of an ever-growing family. Their stories remind us of why we do what we do. The connections forged along the journey have been incredible. Looking ahead, we dream of expanding our products to enhance the adventure travel experience.