Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in skincare but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Eddie Omar, CEO of PHYTO-C SKIN CARE, located in Elmwood Park, NJ, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Phyto-C Skin Care is the inventor and leader of Vitamin C skincare formulations. All Phyto-C formulas are natural, safe, and backed by science with two grants from the National Cancer Institute for our Vitamin C formulations. Formulas are handmade daily in micro-batches to ensure customers receive fresh products with every order.
Our products are sold globally in over 21 countries. Initially, our products were sold through medical professionals such as dermatologists, plastic surgeons, etc. However, our focus has been on selling directly through our website and authorized e-commerce channels to develop a better direct connection with customers.
Tell us about yourself
I joined Phyto-C Skin Care in 2013 shortly after graduating with a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry from the University of Rhode Island. Phyto-C Skin Care was started by my father, who revolutionized skincare with his formulations. He is a brilliant scientist with a big heart which doesn’t always work well in the business world. I began running the business shortly after joining the company and became an owner in 2018.
My first meeting with the staff happened a few weeks after joining the company. The meeting was to notify them that we were unable to make payroll because our distributors were not paying their invoices on time (or at all). I remember leaving that meeting and promising myself two things, 1. I will never have to have that meeting ever again, and 2. We will be the number one skincare company in the world. Phyto-C Skin Care became profitable three years after I took over. We were just awarded the top new global cosmetic brand on China’s TMALL platform. China is the number one market for cosmetics, so it is a huge achievement.
What keeps me motivated is how far we’ve come and how many people we have helped with their skin issues. I had bad acne growing up and knew how much bad skin affected me to the point where I didn’t want to leave my house and I never wanted anyone to feel the way I did.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment was being awarded the top new global cosmetic brand on TMall in China in 2021. China is the largest skincare consumer in the world, so it is a major achievement.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Firing people is the hardest thing to do because deep down, you hope people will change or at least be self-aware enough to want to improve, but it rarely happens, so you always must do what’s best for the business and other employees.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- When starting a company, you should expect to work 16-20 hours per day/ 7 days a week, so you need to make sure you’re passionate about what you do.
- Read as much as possible, learn quickly, fail forward, and do not have a victim mentality. As an owner, you need to understand everything is your fault, and you need to be able to adapt no matter what is thrown at you. If you don’t succeed, it is only your fault.
- Learn to outsource talent. You’ll get a much better result than learning to do it all yourself and save money in the process.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.phyto-c.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c_eo_ph/
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.
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