/
RSS Feed
Mountaineer Brand was founded in 2013, somewhat by chance. Their founder, Eric Young, was growing his traditional Fall beard when he began to research beard care options to enable him to keep the beard without the irritation and itchiness that newer beards can cause. Being a father of three on a lower than average salary, Eric was unable to justify paying the prices of the current beard care options on the market, so instead, he decided he would learn how to make his own.
Initially, it started as nothing more than a personal project with the single goal of caring for his own beard at a reasonable cost, using natural ingredients. Quite soon, people began asking Eric what he used in his beard to make it look so good, and Eric decided to start making his product in small batches that he could sell to friends and acquaintances to supplement his income and treat his family. As popularity grew, Eric listed the products on Amazon and all of a sudden the brand started to take off.
Eric Young (Founder & CEO) & Meredith Young (COO)
Show Notes:
- 00:31-2:35: Jim introduces today guest, Meredith Young, COO of Mountaineer Brand and asks her to give the audience a brief insight into her personal life.
- 2:36-3:36: Young talks about her business partner and CEO of Mountaineer Brand, who happens to be her brother and where their roots are in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Young also discusses her brother’s passion for entrepreneurship and how it started at a young age.
- 3:37-3:43: How did you guys get started with Mountaineer Brand?
- 3:44-4:22: Young says that her brother, who has a beard, was in search of a cheap, good, all-natural beard care product but they were all too expensive. So, he took it upon himself to start Mountaineer Brand and Meredith was right there with him from the very beginning.
- 4:23-4:40: Take us through that process…
- 4:41-5:21: Young discusses her and her brother’s tactics to get started. They looked at trends in the industry as well as what other companies, now competitors, were doing for ideas and inspiration. What started with beard Oil evolved to beard wash, Balm, mustache wax, and even lip balm.
- 5:22-5:44: How did you grow from 2013 to where you are now?
- 5:45-6:54: “It was gradual, but it was also explosive.” Young takes the listeners through what it was like to start in her brother’s kitchen to now having two warehouses full of inventory and selling on Amazon and in big box retailers like Walmart.
- 6:55-7:11: What’s your 30 second elevator pitch for Mountaineer Brand?
- 7:12-7:39: “All-natural beard and body care company that we make; It’s a part of us.”
- 7:40-8:00: What’s the one thing you’re most excited about for Mountaineer Brand Company?
- 8:01-8:29: “I’m excited about everything. We are expanding, though. Our retail market right now is pretty exciting.” Young talks about meeting with other large retailers and having confidence in those meetings and how exciting that is
- 8:30-10:00: What is yours and Eric’s worst business moment since starting Mountaineer Brand?
- 10:01-11:29: Young talks about a time when hundreds of labels were published and sent out on products that were incorrect and some even had a spelling error on them and what it was like dealing with that.
- 11:30-11:41: Meredith, what was your one takeaway from that moment?
- 11:42-11:59: “Slow down!” Young says don’t let the pressure of a deadline rush your work. She advises it’s better to be late and have something done correctly.
- 12:00-12:32: What would you say is the best thing about doing business in West Virginia?
- 12:33-13:47: “West Virginia is home… Being able to pull from this state for inspiration… It’s given us a lot.”
- 13:48-14:09: What’s the thing you’re proudest of since being a part of the start of Mountaineer Brand?
- 14:10-14:50: “I’m proud of every moment! I’m proud of all of it. I can’t put one moment over another because they’ve all been so great and they all build off each other.”
- 14:51-15:20: Jim takes a brief moment to recognize the sponsors of the show that allow us to tell these wonderful stories about West Virginia businesses.
- 15:21-15:27: Share with us your vision for Mountaineer Brand long-term…
- 15:28-16:30: “We’d love to be a household name. We want to be big!” Young talks about the endless opportunities ahead for their company and potential strategies to make their dream a reality.
- 16:31-16:39: Talk a little bit about your team
- 16:40-17:28: “We all work well together. We have a really positive energy.” Young talks about how everyone has and knows their role but that it doesn’t stop there as everyone is a contributor to the bigger picture.
- 17:29-17:45: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to young business owners or aspiring entrepreneurs?
- 17:46-18:10: “There’s a balance between don’t give up and due-diligence” Young advises to check out your market to see if there’s a need and if people will buy your product and if there is a market, don’t give up on your dream.
- 18:11-18:20: What’s one thing you do everyday that you think contributes to your success?
- 18:21-18:50: “We are so positive here.” Young credits her environment and the people around her for the success they’ve achieved thus far.
- 18:51-19:32: What’s one book you’d recommend to aspiring business people and entrepreneurs?
- 19:33-19:51: Young recommends “The Alchemist” saying that it, “fine-tunes your focus.”
- 19:52- 20:26: If you could meet one person in West Virginia that could help advance what you’re doing at Mountaineer Brand, who would it be?
- 20:27-20:53: “Whoever you are out there that can help us, come find us!”
- 20:54-21:23: How important is selling online right now compared to retail?
- 21:24-22:00: “Amazon is our bread-and-butter. It’s a big part of what got us started.”
- 22:01-23:08: What’s the best way for people to find your products and reach out and connect with Mountaineer Brand?
- 23:09-23:47: Young says their products are sold online and in any Walmart in the U.S. Young also mentions their website as well as their Facebook and Instagram pages as places they can be found.
- 23:48- Close: Jim thanks Meredith Young for joining him on another episode of Positively West Virginia to discuss her company, Mountaineer Brand. He also once again recognizes the wonderful sponsors of the show.