A Few of my Biggest Challenges with Starting EBOOST

I recently sat down with ForceBrands to share my challenges with starting EBOOST and advice to those looking to start a brand or company.

What’s one of the biggest challenges EBOOST has faced in building the brand?

The biggest challenge is that myself and co-founder John McDonald never raised enough money to build a team and have a real marketing budget. We raised capital a few times with the help from our friends and family — just enough to keep the wheels moving, but never enough to scale.

The wellness space continues to gain momentum and has certainly changed a lot in the last 10 years. Where is the future of the movement going? What trends are EBOOST anticipating will dominate the space in the next 10 years?

I see the consumers becoming more educated than ever before. Every brand and product that is seen now is rooted in great design, packaging, and purpose. The future is definitely based more on science and clinical support. The evolution of cannabis, hemp, and CBD will have a major impact on future trends and product innovations that will play a major role in new products and their customizations over the next 10 years. It is important to stay educated on these evolutions, as well as the customer's needs.

If you could go back and build the EBOOST team any differently, what, if anything, would you change?

I would have focused on hiring experts from the direct-to-consumer (DTC) space who could have built out EBOOST's customer acquisition and performance marketing in the digital world. Back in the very beginning of the company, I would have also focused on Amazon in a much bigger way and been committed to hacking and figuring out how to be top-ranked brand and used their platform to launch and create new products combined with the performance marketing. At the time, very few people were focused on either of these in this space.

Are there any industry mentors that have helped you along the way?

I have been fortunate to have a wide range of friends in the industry — from brand owners, top retail brokers, to top investors. They have all been generous with their time and insights. I have the biggest respect in that I have never had just one mentor to lean into. I have always been receptive and open to learning from as many influential people around me in a bigger and more meaningful way because the truth is, EVERYONE NEEDS A MENTOR–seriously.

What’s some of the best business advice you wish you could have given to your younger self?

Go an inch wide and a mile deep. Focus on the customer and raise enough money to build a team of category experts.