Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tamara Mekler, co-founder and COO of Nutshell Coolers, located in San Francisco, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
In a nutshell, we make coolers from coconuts. Nutshell Coolers are thoughtfully-designed for lovers of the outdoors: they’re sustainable and sturdy, spacious and foldable, convenient and stylish. Most importantly, Nutshell is a cooler on a mission: to replace the plastic foam with natural fibers and to connect people with the farmers and materials at the heart of their products.
Our premium insulation is made from upcycled coconut husks, which we buy from small-scale farmers in the Philippines to provide them with additional income and avoid the CO2 emissions from burning husks as waste.
Tell us about yourself
I’ve always loved adventuring outdoors with family and friends, discovering the wonders of nature. I studied Behavioral Biology and Sustainable Development. My dream is to foster healthier relationships between people, communities, and the natural world. That’s what I care about most and what I love to do. And that’s in large part what Nutshell is all about. We make products that encourage people to explore the outdoors and educate them about natural materials and sustainable production. We demonstrate that nature has already solved most of the world’s most interesting challenges and that we can harness those solutions to make better products with a positive impact on people and on the planet.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Our most recent accomplishment that I’m most proud of is our first hire, Julius, Director of Operations - Philippines. Julius embodies all of our company values and has approached his role with the utmost dedication and optimism. I can only imagine what our team will be able to achieve if all our future hires are as good as our first one!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Developing a physical product is an extremely time-consuming process, especially when the design, material, and production processes are completely novel. It takes a lot of patience, iteration, re-design, and some more patience to get everything right. Part of that process can be very frustrating, but the result is just so rewarding.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Find the right partners: a business is only as good as the people working on it. The sooner you can recruit great people to back you and your idea, the better. Whether that means finding a great advisor, a committed co-founder, or an excited first customer, surround yourself with people who are excited about your business and willing to help you make it a success.
- Be actively patient: it takes time to turn an idea into a business. You’ll need to be patient and accept that there will be many roadblocks and failures on the road to success. Don’t let that discourage you. Instead, use it as motivation to work extra hard and proactively, from one small victory to the next.
- Make sure you love what you’re doing: you’ll need the motivation to justify the hard work and to inspire others to back your mission and join your team.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.nutshellcoolers.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nutshellcoolers/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutshellcoolers/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fortuna-cools/
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.