Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Erika van den Brink, Founder of ButterBalm, located in Greenville, NC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
ButterBalm is an all-natural + cruelty-free sun care lip balm. Our cruelty-free, proprietary balm seals and heals lips to make them buttery smooth. We are sold mostly in surf shops, and our customers are mostly those who consider themselves "outdoorsy." We have customers who are surfers, skaters, snowboarders, and anyone who enjoys vegan products or the mission to support a minority and female-owned business.
Tell us about yourself
I first got started on my business after college, when I was at my marketing job at Catch Creative agency in Greenville, NC. I was doing a lot of product photography at that point, and I wished for an opportunity to shoot something of my own -- something of substance! As a lover of the outdoors and a seeker of the sun, I was inspired to create a high-quality product with a purpose. Having been raised along the Carolina Coast, I've always been drawn to coastal culture. I wanted to create a brand that inspired adventure and promoted a love for the outdoors. Butterbalm is made with the purest possible ingredients and is designed to seal and heal your lips so that you can go outside without fear of sun damage or dry air. Put our product to the test. It'll make your lips smoother than you ever imagine, pinky promise.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
At the beginning of my business venture, wholesale-ing our balm to the first store felt like the biggest accomplishment. Over time, going to a Surf Trade Show, getting huge brand Collaborations, and landing a surf store I have loved since a child has meant so much to me.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Consistency in the parts of operating a business that I wasn't passionate about - now, with a growing team, I am allowed more creative flexibility, but at the beginning learning how to do very tedious things could free frustrating & overwhelming. I stuck it out, asked for advice, and stayed consistent, and it paid off in the end.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Do something authentic to you. Don't just try to start something because it's a trend or widely loved- you can create a legacy when you are in alignment with your purpose and you understand your "WHY?"
- Stay consistent & don't be discouraged. Ask for help. When starting something new, it's likely you will hit obstacles and challenges, don't quit. Become resourceful. Figure out how you can achieve your goal and continue to stay motivated in momentum, ESPECIALLY when it feels slow.
- At the end of the day, the only opinion that matters is yours. You're going to meet people who may never "get it," but if you love it, who cares. Use your intuition and individuality to navigate the direction of your business! Stay grateful & remember the humble beginnings to look back on in appreciation!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.thebutterbalm.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebutterbalm/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/butterbalm/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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