Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in skincare but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Maxine Chapman, CEO and Co-Founder of SurfDurt, located in San Diego, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We manufacture and sell sunscreen with the least possible toxicity of any currently published formula. A better and safer suncare solution for you, your skin, and our oceans. Our customers are outdoor adventurists and enthusiasts who care about the ocean and their skin.
Tell us about yourself
When I first started SurfDurt with my family's help and with my friend and cofounder, Nikki, it was because reef-safe sunscreen barely existed in the states. I thought, if you could do something of use to better the world, then you probably ought to do it. Years later, I am motivated by the challenge to be a better individual, leader, and company: not just with our final product but with every aspect of our internal culture and our process. I want to be among those who show that doing good is cool and that the good guys can win in business and in life, and I think that's more true now than ever. It's a very fun time to be a woman on a mission, and we've been in a very good company pursuing ours.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is that this company means what it says. We hold ourselves accountable to do more good than harm, and we're always searching for the best possible solution for each other and for our planet, from process to ingredients to supply chains to packaging. We're not perfect, but we're always asking ourselves how we can do and be even better, and I'm really proud of that.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I think one of the hardest things is constantly balancing ambition with resources. We're a small but mighty, scrappy company, and we've done a lot on a shoestring budget. I'm happy with the skills that have been enforced on us, but it's always delicate to balance.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- If you feel like your idea deserves to exist in the world, then go for it with everything you have. We need people who put their heart into the things they believe in.
- You do have to believe in it. In my opinion, you have to be in it for more than money. There are much easier ways to make money, but if you're fighting for something you believe in, you're impossible to keep down. Entrepreneurship needs that.
- Surround yourself with really smart people and ask questions all the time. People want to help, don't be afraid to ask them to.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.surfdurt.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/surfdurt/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surfdurt/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxine-j-chapman-79399412a/
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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