Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in skin care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Sheilagh Maguiness, Co-Founder of Stryke Club, based in Minneapolis, MN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am co-founder of Stryke Club, which is a personal care brand for teens and boys. I started Stryke Club with four other moms, and we have 11 children between us. We couldn't help but notice, as our kids reached their tweens and teens, that while our girls' bathrooms were jammed with every type of skincare product, we were lucky if our sons even washed their faces. As a pediatric dermatologist, something I'd also noticed in my practice after over a decade of treating teens with acne and complexion problems was that girls were much more likely to engage in their recommended skincare routines than boys. Offering an acne-focused skincare brand geared toward boys that fit easily into their active lifestyles is what Stryke Club is all about.
Tell us about yourself
I'm a board-certified pediatric dermatologist with a busy academic practice and a passion for education. I'm also a mom to two active tween boys. A few years ago, a good friend I'd made during my fellowship training and early career in San Francisco proposed the idea for Stryke Club - a personal care brand for boys. As a physician and a mom, this idea resonated deeply with me on many levels. Making skincare and personal hygiene easy, accessible, and cool for teens is very important, and it motivates me every day. Boys deserve better than borrowing products from their moms and sisters, and even more importantly, Stryke Club is on a mission to remove the stigma surrounding self-care for boys!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I'm proud of how we approached formulating our Stryke Club products from scratch. It was like learning a new language and skill set. We needed a cleanser that was gentle on the skin but tough on acne. After over a decade in practice, I knew exactly what ingredients we needed to use and how I wanted our products to perform. Taking a solid idea and turning it into an effective, innovative skincare line that works for teens has been a huge accomplishment for me personally and for our brand.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The hardest part of being a business owner and entrepreneur in a small start-up is that you must wear many different hats. From product formulation and patent applications to clinical studies and testing, all the way to marketing the brand - it's a lot to take on and can be overwhelming at times. I've had to step out of my comfort zone in many different directions, including becoming active in our company's public relations and starting social media channels. These were things I never imagined I would be doing after a long career in academic medicine. However, once I overcame my fear of trying new things, I started to relax and enjoy the process and the many new roles I was taking on. I'm learning so many new things on a daily basis!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Assemble a great team. No start-up can get off the ground without dedicated partners who share your vision and are willing to put in the hard work.
- Move out of your own way. As I said above, starting a company and learning new skills will push you out of your comfort zone in ways you didn't imagine. Instead of fighting it, acknowledge what it is you're actually scared of and then move past it.
- Perfect is the enemy of good. My partner, Stacy Blackman, said this to me early on in our journey; and it has been true in so many situations. If you wait to try new things until you get them absolutely perfect, then you will surely never begin at all.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://strykeclub.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopstrykeclub/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strykeclub/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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