Below has been reblogged from theNativeSociety®’s Interview with one of our co-owners, Josh Taekman–check it out below to learn more from Josh and some advice he has learned along the way.
Bio:
Josh Taekman is Founder of EBOOST, which provides clean performance products that increase energy, focus, and all-around well-being.
How did you get into the industry?
I got into the industry completely by a mistake. I have always been a marketer and owned an Agency in which we were putting together a partnership between 50 Cent and a leading Supplement MFR to create a line of G UNIT Sports Nutrition Products. From here I created the brand and was fully engaged with the opportunities it presented.
Any emerging industry trends?
Consumers are more informed and knowledgeable than ever before, so you have to be transparent about the quality of the product or you will get called out… The biggest trend I see is Functionality being the core focus in innovation and addressing specific health issues.
Any industry opportunities or challenges?
The biggest opportunity is going to Direct To Consumer and building a one on one relationship with the customer. Retail is becoming less relevant in our world, and you can create and build a brand online and through non-traditional channels. The internet is the biggest outlet for shopping nowadays and we are utilizing this to the fullest.
Inspiration for the business idea, and your vision for the Business?
I had this big idea of the business when I realized that there were no Healthy Energy Products that were natural and made you FEEL GREAT & DO MORE aging back to 2009 when we developed the concept of EBOOST. We have since evolved into a full line of Clean Performance Products based on Natural /Non-GMO ingredients that make you feel amazing. We are going to continue to evolve and create more products that stand behind our motto and business concept in the future.
What’s next for the Business in the near future?
We have just recently launched all new branding and packaging, making our product more shoppable and stand out. We also released new products extending our product line including Grass Fed Whey Protein, Probiotic, and Spruce Greens. We are also currently developing a BCAA. Our goal is to continue to build more relationships directly with consumers and provide them the Clean Performance they require to optimize their health, nutrition and well being.
Your key initiatives for the success of the Business?
Our number one initiative has always been to focus on a product that is a quality product and delivers on the promise that is on its label. Through that, we have developed a large network of passionate and loyal consumers. By having a product people love where they feel a noticeable difference in their well being and performance, it has organically gotten into the hands of celebrities and athletes which has generated, press, media and endorsements for the brand and products.
Your most difficult moment at the Business? (and what did you learn?)
The most difficult part of the business is the financing and logistics elements. There are so many moving pieces between ingredients, formulas, packaging, shelf life, retail sales and direct to consumer sales, that it takes a while to be able to properly project and build out the right system. It can be extremely costly if you over or under index on any of the above. I also think the hardest part of any business is customer acquisition, and getting consumers to purchase your products for short and long term.
Ideal experience for a customer/client?
We like to say you take EBOOST and you will FEEL GREAT & DO MORE. Our #1 goal is to make people more productive and optimize their health & well being. A common testimonial we get from our customers is that our product delivers on that promise.
How do you motivate others?
We try and align ourselves with those that share the same passion and commitment to our lifestyle around health & wellness. We motivate by leading by example and having high standards and expectations from anyone we work with.
Career advice to those in your industry?
Make sure there is a market for your product, you have a clear USP, you have a roadmap for success and build a team of experts or passionate do’ers that have the ability to learn and grow and will be in the trenches with you sharing the same passion and commitment to success.
