Our Mission
Melanie Winters
I’ve worked on the island of Mallorca for almost 18 years in roles encompassing marketing, publishing and the superyacht industry. I have continually noticed that captains and crew are always asking for simple items that every boat needs, but are not always that easy or straightforward to obtain. After numerous discussions at various high-profile boat shows such as PIBS, Barcelona and Monaco, it became apparent that two of these fundamental items were mats and flags.
It turns out that trying to find a dockside welcome mat of high quality, often at relatively short notice, is not quite as easy as it seems. And should you wish for a quirkily shaped one that is both fire proof, rain proof but hopefully not bullet proof, well then you are looking at a run up time that’s longer than a round the world race. And that was our, oh so simple, lightbulb moment. So, while enjoying a frothy cappuccino with my lifelong friend and now business partner, Helen Stachini, on the aft of a J Class, Mats & Flags was born.
I’ve found that my experience in the luxury sector, firstly with Mercedes Benz in the UK, and most recently with Neptune bespoke luxury superyacht mattresses, has meant that I fully understand our customer’s wants and needs. But most importantly it’s how to deliver those in a timely, efficient and cost-effective manner. Customer service and quality are two things that have been intrinsic in my whole career and are key cornerstones of Mats & Flags.
My passion for all things superyacht also spills over into my other passion, which is people, and to fulfil this I write about crew both sea and shoreside for the Islander magazine. Over the past decade this has introduced me to some of the most interesting captains and crew in the industry, many of whom are now proud owners of our products and has allowed me to grow an ever-expanding network of both friends and clients.
So, if you like bespoke quality service, that is also certain to get you smiling, please email us at info@matsandflags.com or complete an enquiry form here. We'll be happy to arrange an in person appointment or a virtual quote, so we can supply you with the most outstandingly unique Mats & Flags around.
Helen Stachini
Originally from the UK, I moved to the Canary Islands at the young age of 19. Having been brought up in the hospitality sector, service was always something I enjoyed and thrived in.
When the opportunity arose to work on the QE2 cruise ship as a silver service waitress travelling the world, I jumped at the chance. Little did I know back then I would be called to work at sea again later down the line.
I started in the yachting industry in 2002 working onboard a 52m chartered motor yacht. I travelled the world once more and got a serious taste of this exhilarating sector. But after 10 years of travelling I decided that I needed a home base, and where better than Mallorca to continue working within the yachting industry. Starting my new land based life I worked with a fast paced, busy yacht agency where I first met the lovely Melanie Winters.
As well as promoting the business at yacht shows I was also called to work in yacht recruitment for many years. Back in those days I was on the docks speaking to both crew and captains, and the thing I loved most was the opportunity to change other people’s lives and to be of service to the many captains I came into contact with. However, the more successful it became, the more I was stuck behind a desk. For someone that had always been front of house and a people person I missed being out on the dock meeting new people face to face.
In 2017 I started down a new path in the refit and repair sector of the industry in STP Shipyard. I loved it ! I was back out on the docks again organising all manner of works for this busy company, including carpentry, anti-fouling, metal works, engineering, upholstery and parts supply, to name just a few. This steep learning curve has brought me to where I am today, with my own business HS Yacht Services - your personal shore-side connection.
Having learned Spanish since arriving on the island this gave me a whole new world of opportunity to practice in a business setting within the yard and I quickly established good relationships with the many nautical companies that I continue to work with to this day.
Melanie and I have always inspired each other through our work and personal life, so when we were both self-employed it seemed only natural we should join forces in something that would be a benefit for all and so Mats & Flags was born.
With Melanie’s background in marketing, my service background and Spanish, plus our wealth of contacts, we set to work. We hope you love our products as much as we do and it´s our pleasure to help you find your perfect bespoke mats and flags in Mallorca!