What’s the story behind Nature Boy Products?
It started out as an idea to create a natural oil to tame my rough beard. Once I realized I created something awesome, the idea began to evolve into something much larger. From there, we spent 18 months developing and researching until we had a product and platform we could proudly present to the world.
The journey began in late 2014, with a desire to create an all-natural product for my scruffy beard. As I began to let my facial hair grow and appreciate the look, I realized that it would require more care and grooming than just a quick few strokes of the hairbrush. Seeking to tame the wild hair on my face, I visited a beauty supply store and inquired about hair products for beards. Unfortunately, they had no such product.
After visiting other stores with no luck, I ended up looking through my girlfriend’s old products and used what seemed to be the best and the least heavy on my face. This kind of did the job, until it either started to itch in the sunlight or get flaky. So what’d I do? I started washing my beard daily. Another mistake… This stripped my hair of its natural oils, which gave me the “burlap beard,” as my former co-worker once described it. The struggle was indeed, real.
A few months down the line, I began to notice my girlfriend using coconut oil in her hair. Her process opened my eyes to the DIY approach…it then dawned on me that I should just create my own product. From there, I started researching and talking to my barber. I read about carrier oils and butters, and educated myself on other types of oils, such as fragrance and essential oils.
I carefully selected the plant-based oils that I felt would help me create a beard serum that seemed scarce in my part of town. I chose my oils based on their benefits for hair and skin nourishment, and those less dense for easy absorption. I also decided to remove fragrance oils from my concoctions, because they are synthetic and unnatural.
2015 consisted of lots of mixing, testing and free samples. I eventually crafted the oil serum that was exactly what I was looking for. It made my hair softer, it looked healthy with a soft sheen, and had a subtle scent that wasn’t overbearing or clashing with cologne. Beard Oil No.1 was born. This inspired the designing process of more products to come in the near future.
What’s the most exciting thing about Nature Boy Products?
Receiving genuine feedback from people all over. Knowing that we are contributing to men’s grooming process and helping them to feel their best.
What’s the most challenging thing about Nature Boy Products?
Managing time and prioritizing ideas. With an exciting new business, new ideas are constantly flooding into mind. Finding the discipline to prioritize what really needs to happen first, along with the tasks of everyday living is a constant growth journey.
Why was it important for you to collect reviews?
Reviews helps people feel a sense of authenticity in what it is you are selling. It brings your product or service to life beyond the glamour of a website. It also helps a potential customer feel more confident in their buying decision.
How has the reviews you generate influenced your business?
Reviews are everything. Reviews have help us shape and revise various parts of the business. Our customer’s experience feedback is their unbiased truth, and without that, we’d only be projecting what we THINK is going to work.
**If you had one thing to say to other ecommerce businesses, especially those just starting out, what would it be? **
Don’t rush to launch prematurely. Take your time, plan thoroughly, and make sure your web platform is easy to navigate. Lastly, make sure you give your customers the ability to leave their feedback on your site. That feature alone brings your website to life because it displays human interaction and proof that there’s traffic coming to your business.
Visit www.natureboyproducts.com for more on Nature Boy Products.
