Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris McKinney.
Chris, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was growing tired of working in Corporate America and needed a change. I always had a drive to be a business owner and work for myself, but never really had that motivation to fully follow through with it until my position at the time went away due to restructuring. Turns out this was the push I needed to figure something out. Basically, I googled “how to start a business with no money.” Making soap was like 6th on the top 10 list. So, I tried to give it the Marine Corps spin to bring awareness to the benefits of all-natural soap to a different niche. It took me right at a year of experimentation to perfect my recipes, then I started selling online and at shows. Everything I make is derived from my time in the Corps, scent names, actual scents, etc. will all resonate within the Veteran community. Soap shaped like a grenade also helps with that crowd of motivators. We were the first to make this design with our patented shape and are very proud of that fact. We are constantly coming up with new products and offerings that influence our customers to continue to “Shower with Freedom.”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A lot of the necessary startup licenses, registrations, taxes, etc. were a challenge. I applied and was accepted into the Entrepreneurial Boot Camp for Veterans and attended the EBV program at Florida State University. It was a great networking experience and helped point me in the right direction to build the foundation of my business from its inception. The largest issue I’m running into now is handling growth and keeping up with demand.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Here at K Bar Soap Company, we handmade all-natural grooming products primarily for men. The company is most known for its “Pineapple” Grenade-shaped all-natural soap. This was our flagship product, which has spawned into beard care, lip balm, hand repair, showering accessories, and even apparel. I make everything we sell by hand, I’m still a one-man band and do it all myself. It’s much easier to control quality this way and ensure the best possible customer experience with my brand. I also pride myself in the fact that I have faster shipping/handling times than a lot of competitors. Most orders ship within 24 hours of receiving them.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My wife and family have been supportive along the way. Because she still works for a company, it allows me the freedom to run the business without having to pay for insurance, benefits, etc. for the kiddos. She even designed the packaging for my Grenade bars that I use to this day.
I also give credit to the Entrepreneurial Boot Camp for Veterans that I attended at Florida State University. It was a crash course in how to frame a business, which was instrumental in getting K Bat Soap Co off the ground.
Pricing:
- Grenade Soap $12.97
- Beard Oil $18.97
- Beard “Grease” $19.97
- Hoodies $39.99
- Hats $26.99
Contact Info:
- Email: Info@kbarsoapco.com
- Website: www.kbarsoapco.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/@kbarsoapco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kbarsoapco
- Twitter: Twitter.com/@kbarsoapco
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCt8FSbswCtBIJGFvZcM9n0g
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