Hardware Podcasts

EO Products: Susan Griffin-Black & Brad Black

How I Built This · 15 Jul 2019 · 59m

What this episode covers

Susan Griffin-Black and Brad Black, founders of EO Products, explain how a chance encounter with essential oils in London inspired them to build a $50 million natural body care company without venture capital. They detail their scrappy early years, including manufacturing bath salts in a garage and securing a pivotal order from Bloomingdale's that led to the brand name 'EO'. The episode covers their strategic decision to avoid VC funding to protect product integrity, their divorce in 2007, and their unique decision to remain business partners. They also discuss launching the 'everyone' brand to enter mass retail channels like Walgreens and Walmart.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
EO Products, Neil's Yard Remedies, Bloomingdale's, Whole Foods, Mervyn's, TJ Maxx, Barnacle Foods, Esprit, Maniac
Products
everyone

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