Meet Sara Kenton: The Woman Behind Tupelo Goods
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Sara Kenton knows the power of simplicity — and how to build a brand that connects. After helping scale YETI into a household name, this Austin-born entrepreneur co-founded Tupelo Goods, an heirloom-quality outdoor furniture company based in Dripping Springs, TX.
We caught up with Sara to hear about her journey to founding Tupelo Goods, the brand's exciting partnership with Seaside, where she can be found when she's not working, and more. Get to know this inspiring FACE of the South!
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Tell us about you! How did you end up in this field?
My first glimpse into a world-class brand came while I was in college at the University of Texas, working at the Four Seasons — an experience that shaped my understanding of hospitality and the power of thoughtful details. From there, I went on to lead e-commerce teams at HomeAway and YETI in Austin, which gave me a front-row seat to what it takes to build beloved consumer brands.
That blend of hospitality, travel, and product-driven storytelling gave me a unique lens I carry into every decision I make at Tupelo Goods. I didn't come from the furniture world, but that's been a gift. Pulling ideas from other industries — especially travel, tech, and outdoor — has helped us approach product design, brand building, and go-to-market strategy in fresh, unexpected ways.
What's the one thing you want people to know about your business?
We may be relatively new to the furniture space, but we're not new to what we do best: rotational molding. Our team brings deep expertise to this process, especially from our time at YETI, and we have complete confidence in its potential. We believe rotomolding is the future of outdoor furniture, and we're proud to be leading the way in bringing that durability, precision, and design flexibility to this category.
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Where can we shop Tupelo Goods?
Our products are available directly at tupelogoods.com, and we also partner with select premium retailers throughout the country. You'll find Tupelo furniture in luxury resorts as well as design-forward outdoor showrooms throughout the U.S., like The Laurel Group in the Hamptons, Elegant Outdoors in Naples, and online retailers such as Perigold and Lumens.
We're big fans of Florida's 30A area. Can you tell us about Tupelo Goods' collaboration with Seaside, FL?
Absolutely. SEASIDE® holds a special place in our hearts — it's where we've vacationed as a family for over a decade, and where many of our customers go to unwind and connect. That emotional resonance made it the perfect place to not just showcase our products, but to prove them …
SEASIDE® gave us the chance to test our designs in one of the most demanding environments — salt air, intense sun, constant use — and it's been a powerful validation of our brand promise. If Tupelo furniture can thrive there, it can thrive anywhere.
Resorts and resort communities like SEASIDE® need durability and low maintenance in a big way … That led to the launch of our 'Take SEASIDE® Home' program — so guests who fell in love with our furniture during their stay could bring that same feeling home.
More than anything, this partnership gave us a blueprint for how we want to show up in hospitality moving forward: with pride, performance, and a deep respect for the spaces where people come to gather, recharge, and make memories.
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Where can we find you when you're not working?
I have two kids in competitive sports, so I spend a lot of my time watching them practice and compete. When I do have some downtime, I love playing piano, watercolor painting, and squeezing in a tennis match when I can. I also love to travel and spend as much time outdoors as my schedule allows.
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What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
I had the privilege of working with Roy Seiders, founder of YETI, and he remains a mentor to me to this day. He was relentlessly focused on product and taught me the value of speed — making, testing, and learning. At Tupelo, we move fast and are not afraid to course-correct. It's never about waiting for the perfect moment; it's about momentum, clarity, and trusting the process.
Aside from faith, family, and friends, name three things you can't live without.
Chamomile tea, a pool floatie, and French café music while I cook.
This article contains product affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links.
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Southern women are doing remarkable things. Meet more of them in our FACES archives!
About the Author Lennie Omalza
Lennie is a Southern-based freelance writer. Originally from Hawaii, she is a yoga-loving foodie who travels as often as she can.
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