A Sense Of Belonging

Sip and Ship is occasionally an extension of that yearning to have a place where you belong. Often, the process of finding a place of belonging means concealing another part of yourself before revealing what is hidden. For Dante Rivera, Founder/CEO of Dante’s Inferno Dogs, getting a mailbox at Sip and Ship over a decade ago was initially a way to cover up his identity. An alcoholic at the time, Dante had a whole host of problems knocking at his door: drunk driving tickets, unpaid checks and invoices. “I was barely functional,” he says, and wanted a place he could receive his mail anonymously. Over time, this new address has provided an opportunity for Dante to reinvent himself: He has been sober for the past 10 years and his hot dog catering company has been thriving for the past 15.

To the naked eye, the only thing differentiating one wood mailbox from another is the small sticker with the number on it, but we see it differently. From our vantage point, each mailbox represents variations of color, dimension, and character as each one represents a life, a family, a business, and often a combination of them all. Across our cast of customers, the common thread is Sip and Ship providing an anchor and a community connection. We are honored to be that landing point for our customers.

Thank you Dante for allowing us to share your story. We celebrate you, your business, and your compassionate leadership.

#sip #ship #shop #ballard #greenwood #mobilizingsmallbusiness #supportingbusylives #compassionateleadership