Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Chris McKinney, owner of K Bar Soap Company, located in Clover, SC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Here at K Bar Soap Company, we make all-natural, minimal ingredient soap and grooming products for Patriots. We make everything by hand in small batches and will never compromise quality for quantity. Our product is meant to attract men to the all-natural soap space by soap design, ingredients they can pronounce, and help them realize the difference our products have on their skin over the store-bought mainstream soap that is often made with unnecessary chemicals.
Tell us about yourself
I had searched and tried various things over the years while working through corporate America, so I always knew I wanted to do something on my own to have full creative responsibility. It took a while, but after coming to the conclusion that there wasn't anyone in this all-natural soap category that catered to manly men, I decided to jump right in with both feet and make this happen. I find my motivation each day knowing that I am making a quality product and providing for my family, with full responsibility of this business succeeding, or failing, rested firmly on my shoulders.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
It's hard to pick one, but the most important one had the ability to break the chain from working for someone else and have the faith and confidence to make something work that I had control of. Not working for someone else and being self-reliant is the front runner when it comes to my biggest accomplishment.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
My hardest struggle is operating my business through improved spaces at my house. I feel like I can never truly "detach" and take time off because I live at work. Of course, there have been growing pains, but being in the trenches for what feels like 99% of the time is a bit challenging.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Do your market research.
- Design, source, etc., a quality product or service.
- DO IT!
Whatever you do, don't overanalyze things in the beginning if you are unsure of yourself. There is no excuse for inaction; some things will just be learned by trial and error. There is nothing you can do to prevent this fact. You will have to learn to take challenges in stride and keep moving forward. It is a learning process.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I'd like to thank Soledier Socks for recommending me. Owning a business is liberating, scary, unsettling, and stressful, with no particular order of precedence. I highly recommend anyone try it and not be in their later years asking themselves, "What if?"
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://kbarsoapco.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kbarsoapcompany/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kbarsoapco/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kbarsoapco/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
