Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stephen Letourneau, CBO of Cannuka, located in Columbus, OH, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Cannuka is a Mānuka honey-infused skincare collection focused on calming and moisturizing you skin while focusing on having a positive impact in our community. Our customers are people looking for simple easy to understand ingredients and focus on healthy skin, not perfect skin.
Tell us about yourself
I have been a beauty care product junky my whole life; I haven't always loved the way the industry talks to consumers. Here was an amazing opportunity to provide a quality product that was inclusive (before it was fashionable) and allowed us to enter the conversation about how we talk to ourselves. Promoting a simple easy to understand skincare line, where we want you to love yourself today (and have healthy skin- whatever that means to you)!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My board would want me to say having had one of the largest national retail launches (which we did), but honestly, the feedback we get is simply amazing. The stories from people dealing with so many different issues (not just skin), the fact that our product is offering a bit of relief and a touch of hope for them, or a moment of calm self-care. It's the best part of this whole business and truly gets me so fired up to keep going.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Staying focused on our business and not worrying about what other people are doing. Having already seen counterfeits of our brand in a couple of countries, watching other brands come out with "similar" products and hearing about it. At the end of the day, it's a huge testament to what we are building (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery). Our team is focused on providing the Cannuka experience, and we inspire other people then that's great too1
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Define your own goals for success- you need to know what will matter to your team from day to day - to the long term (make it more than just about the money).
- Fail fast-learn faster. So many struggles trying to find perfection- it won't be, it will be messy, and you are going to make a million mistakes (only make the same mistake once).
- Take time to celebrate the wins; in the beginning, there is so much to do that it's easy to forget that for most people, this is a once-in-a-lifetime ride- enjoy it.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Take a breath, and make sure to take stalk of your entire life. We often are in our heads about the business 24/7, and every day feels like a crisis in the beginning. Carve out time to do one thing every day not related to the business (I run marathons, so that's my time to recharge). Your friends and family are thrilled to hear about your venture- DON'T forget to ask them about theirs.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://cannuka.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CannukaSKIN/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cannuka/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cannuka
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-letourneau-77955011/
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.