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Building one of the first Men’s Grooming E-commerce Brands – Michael Gilman of Grooming Lounge
Mike Gilman, founder of Grooming Lounge, a men's grooming products brand and online retailer, shares his entrepreneurial journey, the motivations behind starting Grooming Lounge in 1999, and how he leveraged his family's background in the beauty business. He delves into the strategies and tactics used to grow his business, including the evolution of their online store, the launch of their physical stores, and the development of their in-house products. Mike discusses the challenges and changing landscape of e-commerce, the importance of quality and customer service, as well as their marketing strategies, including email and SMS campaigns. He also highlights the significance of testing products in their barbershop, transitioning to a third-party logistics facility, and the role of his remote team in business operations. Mike reflects on past mistakes, notably with influencer marketing, and emphasizes the value of hiring good people. He concludes with advice for entrepreneurs and offers insights into the future plans of Grooming Lounge.
A Wildberry that turns sour flavours to sweet – Hank Watt of Nature’s Wildberry
Hank Watt, founder of Nature’s Wildberry, shares how he discovered a unique berry that changes sour flavors to sweet, offering a natural alternative for weight management and taste enhancement. Hank shares his entrepreneurial journey, from discovering the berry's benefits in 2013 to launching a freeze-dried version of the product to overcome its perishability and high costs. Hank also dive deep into business strategies, the challenges and successes of bringing an innovative product to market, Shark Tank experience, and the importance of customer trust and education.
Greeting Cards with Instant Cakes – Sarah Neal of InstaCake Cards
Sarah Neal, founder of Instacake Cards, transformed her expertise in food technology and cake decorating into a thriving business that creates greeting cards with ingredients for 60-second celebration cakes. Despite launching just before the pandemic, her innovative idea gained traction as lockdowns drove demand for unique, shippable celebrations. Sarah shares insights on sourcing, manufacturing, trade show experiences, and her appearance on Dragon’s Den, offering advice for entrepreneurs and plans for future growth.
Building a Leather Accessories Brand as a Full-Time Homemaker – Julia Hankinson of Crown Leatherworks
Julia Hankinson, founder of Crown Leatherworks, shares her story of starting her business while still in high school, her initial challenges, and her journey of growth using social media and platforms like Etsy and FAIRE.
