November 18th, 2025 | by Carina Hamel
Europe, I love you. My love with you began when I was 16, the year I moved to Norway. I’d never been outside North America, but I decided to attend a sports academy there. As a cross-country ski racer, Norway was the dream, home to some of the greatest Nordic skiers in history. I grew up watching 16 Days of Glory from the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, and from that moment, I was hooked: the snow, the sport, the northern lights.
Europe, I love you. My love with you began when I was 16, the year I moved to Norway. I’d never been outside North America, but I decided to attend a sports academy there. As a cross-country ski racer, Norway was the dream, home to some of the greatest Nordic skiers in history. I grew up watching 16 Days of Glory from the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, and from that moment, I was hooked: the snow, the sport, the northern lights.
Thank you Joshua Strong for the above image!
Thank you Joshua Strong for the above image!
When I landed in Norway, reality hit. I didn’t speak a word of the language, and it was harder than I’d imagined. But everyone was so welcoming. They took me under their wing, helped me learn the language, and ultimately changed the way I have gone to live my life.
That experience sparked a lifelong love of international connection; of learning from different cultures, understanding what shapes our differences, and realizing how important it is to do business the right way.
When I landed in Norway, reality hit. I didn’t speak a word of the language, and it was harder than I’d imagined. But everyone was so welcoming. They took me under their wing, helped me learn the language, and ultimately changed the way I have gone to live my life.
That experience sparked a lifelong love of international connection; of learning from different cultures, understanding what shapes our differences, and realizing how important it is to do business the right way.
Pictured above:
1: The team out front of our office in Vermont, in an old underwear factory. 2: Robby getting some good flow. 3: The team riding one of many Vermont dirt roads. 4: Bivo founders Carina and Robby. Thank you to Joshua Strong for images 1-3!
Pictured above:
1: The team out front of our office in Vermont, in an old underwear factory. 2: Robby getting some good flow. 3: The team riding one of many Vermont dirt roads. 4: Bivo founders Carina and Robby. Thank you to Joshua Strong for images 1-3!
When Robby and I first met, I had just quit my job and started a footwear product development business. At the same time, I was dreaming about moving to France. I’d spent time in Annecy for work and quickly learned it was one of the most glorious places on earth. The running! The lake! The baguettes! The cheese! I signed up for job alerts at Amer Sports, secretly hoping to land something there, and I even convinced Robby to do the same. We never made the move, but the dream of living in Europe has never faded.
When Robby and I first met, I had just quit my job and started a footwear product development business. At the same time, I was dreaming about moving to France. I’d spent time in Annecy for work and quickly learned it was one of the most glorious places on earth. The running! The lake! The baguettes! The cheese! I signed up for job alerts at Amer Sports, secretly hoping to land something there, and I even convinced Robby to do the same. We never made the move, but the dream of living in Europe has never faded.
- Almost to the day - when we launched Bivo in the U.S. We knew there would be an appetite (or thirst, you might say) for our bottles in Europe. Almost immediately, we started getting press mentions and Instagram messages asking when we’d finally make our way across the Atlantic. I wanted to move fast, but with limited funding, we had to focus on building our North American foundation first.
- Almost to the day - when we launched Bivo in the U.S. We knew there would be an appetite (or thirst, you might say) for our bottles in Europe. Almost immediately, we started getting press mentions and Instagram messages asking when we’d finally make our way across the Atlantic. I wanted to move fast, but with limited funding, we had to focus on building our North American foundation first.
Pictured above: Our team in Richmond, Vermont. We're small but we love to have large amounts of fun! Thank you Joshua Strong for the second image.
Pictured above: Our team in Richmond, Vermont. We're small but we love to have large amounts of fun! Thank you Joshua Strong for the second image.
Then, this past April, when extra tariffs hit, we knew the time had come. I jumped on a plane and spent a whirlwind few weeks traveling through the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France, and the U.K. I only managed one bike ride (and it was glorious, thank you, Paris!), but six months later, here we are. And I’m so excited.
Thank you for being here and for believing in Bivo. It is an honor to have our bottles in Europe! Cheers, Proost! Prost! Skål! Santé! Salute! Salud!
Carina
Then, this past April, when extra tariffs hit, we knew the time had come. I jumped on a plane and spent a whirlwind few weeks traveling through the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France, and the U.K. I only managed one bike ride (and it was glorious, thank you, Paris!), but six months later, here we are. And I’m so excited.
Thank you for being here and for believing in Bivo. It is an honor to have our bottles in Europe! Cheers, Proost! Prost! Skål! Santé! Salute! Salud!
Carina
Yannis Rondiris
November 18, 2025
Glad to see you coming closer to us. I have heard many good things about your products and I look forward to having the chance to order from Greece. Just let me know about the European ordering process.
All the best.