# Tom's Of Maine: Tom Chappell

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2017-12-11
- Length: 36m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-12-11-toms-of-maine-tom-chappell

## Summary

Tom Chappell, founder of Tom's of Maine, explains how he used a $5,000 loan to launch natural personal care products in 1970, driven by a desire to integrate business with environmental ethics. He details the strategic pivot to toothpaste, the company's expansion into mainstream retail with help from Harvard MBA consultants, and a major product recall of deodorant in 1992 that caused significant financial loss. After selling the company to Colgate-Palmolive, Chappell founded Rambler's Way, a sustainable apparel brand, applying the philosophical lessons he learned at Harvard Divinity School to create a profitable yet values-driven business model.

## Chapters

- [0:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-12-11-toms-of-maine-tom-chappell#t=25) Introduction: Tom Chappell and the Origins of Tom's of Maine
- [6:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-12-11-toms-of-maine-tom-chappell#t=360) Early Days: Formulation, Dairy Equipment, and the Toothpaste Pivot
- [17:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-12-11-toms-of-maine-tom-chappell#t=1020) Scaling Strategy: Harvard Consultants and Mainstream Expansion
- [19:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-12-11-toms-of-maine-tom-chappell#t=1141) Philosophical Crisis and Harvard Divinity School
- [24:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-12-11-toms-of-maine-tom-chappell#t=1477) The 1992 Deodorant Recall and Financial Loss
- [27:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-12-11-toms-of-maine-tom-chappell#t=1642) Post-Sale: Rambler's Way and Sustainable Apparel
- [33:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-12-11-toms-of-maine-tom-chappell#t=1995) Postscript: Paul Kaster's Wooden and Carbon Fiber Bow Ties

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, companies scaling up, established companies

## Mentioned

- Tom's of Maine (company)
- Colgate-Palmolive (company)
- Rambler's Way (company)
- Booze Allen Hamilton (company)
- Mackenzie and Company (company)
- Dr. Bronner (company)
- Orgene Shampoo (product)
- Carbon Cravat (company)
- Crooked Branch Studio (company)
- Etsy (company)
- Kickstarter (company)

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- [087: Purpose is a Big Part of Consumer Product Success](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-08-04-087-purpose-is-a-big-part-of-consumer-product-success) (Product Startup)
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## Citing this page

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