The Shipwreck Shop idea was born in the late sixties, with the shipwreck of a small yacht in a heavy storm on the coast of the Caribbean Island of Antigua. Stranded on this quiet Caribbean island the couple had to find a way to finance their escape, so they started a 'shipwreck' shop and decorated the store with wreckage from the yacht.

The concept proved so successful, that the couple expanded the stores throughout the islands and Shipwreck Shops came to the island of St.Maarten.

As the island of St.Maarten grew from a fledgling tourist destination with only a few hotels, to a major player in the Caribbean tourism trade, complete with fantastic duty free shopping, innumerous world class hotels and casino's; so Reinier & Lydia Heere grew the company into the major retailer on the island, that it remains today. Over the years the stores have became a landmark on the island, and are well known as "the" store for high quality island clothing, souvenir items, gifts and handicrafts.