Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Gaby Alves, co-founder of Tampon Tribe, located in Santa Monica, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My company is Tampon Tribe! We manufacture and sell totally sustainable, 100% organic, plastic-free period products! Our customers are anyone who wants to do the best for their bodies and our Earth. We source of all our organic cotton from small growth farmers in Europe, and we are certified ICEA sustainable, so every step of the manufacturing process is monitored. We are also totally vegan and without chemicals and fillers. For every pound of plastic we save, we collect the same amount of plastic waste from our oceans. So we are perfect for the health-conscious eco-warrior who wants to make a difference.

Tell us about yourself

I am Brazilian, and I had my first business at 15, so it's part of my soul. I arrived in Los Angeles 7 years ago after owning and running restaurants in Beijing - so you could say that I love to travel, and I love a challenge! My business partner Jen and I started Tampon Tribe when we noticed a huge lack of sustainable, organic products in the period space. We are also both passionate about our beaches and oceans, so we set to develop a product and business that ticked all of the boxes. We also love Dollar Shave Club, so we wanted to start a subscription business that could scale.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

That's a hard one! Surviving and thriving through COVID as a business is now one of them for sure. I am super proud of Tampon Tribe to have hit the $1MM revenue mark and to continue to grow. While I was in Beijing, I was awarded Business Woman of the Year by Women in Business, that was amazing.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Keeping motivated is always the hardest. Every day you are faced with new challenges, new fires to put out, and new decisions to be made - it is not for the faint-hearted! So staying on track and focusing on your goals and small wins can, at times, be challenging.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Make sure you have a great product-market-fit. Test it out! Do some pre-sales, and make sure people are going to buy what you're about to sell!
  2. Count the small wins. They add up.
  3. Fail fast. If something is not working, either pivot or get out. Don't give up too quickly, but you must recognize when something needs to change.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Being an entrepreneur is a rollercoaster ride - but I wouldn't change it for the world.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://tampontribe.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tampontribe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tampontribe/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tampontribe
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaby-alves-86289217/

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.