Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care products but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nick May, inventor and founder of REMAY® Shave Bar Club, located in Ottawa, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

REMAY Shave Gel Bars. Our customers are health and eco-conscious customers who shave. We create innovative personal care products to help people look and feel their best and get on with their day. Those who live busy lives, who want quality, efficient and minimalistic convenience for their everyday beauty routine. My flagship product is the REMAY Shave Gel Bar, a premium shave gel that fits in the palm of your hand for many quick luxurious shaves.

My vision is to have men and women fall in love with their beauty routine through a sustainable and innovative brand they feel GOOD about using. Our unique and easy-to-use applicator allows consumers to look & feel their best while knowing they are doing their part to become zero waste consumers. My mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable consumable products with the Zero Waste Shave Club™.

Tell us about yourself

When I was 14 and I first started to shave, I realized it would be something I had to do for the rest of my life. I would put this foam all over my face, and I found it so unnecessary. It would clog my razor, and I couldn't see where I was shaving; it smelled strong, the can rusted my bathtub, it fell off while in the shower, there was aerosol in it as well as many other powerful ingredients. I figured there had to be another way, and if my family/friends and I were going to shave our whole lives, I could make something better/healthier for all of us.

When I was in high school and University, I was learning chemistry and biology. I found the textbooks very fascinating. The amount of useful information in there had me locked in. I wanted to apply what I was learning and bring it to real life. So, I interviewed friends in-between classes, and I set out to make my idea of the perfect shaving cream. REMAY Shave Gel Bar came to be.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Officially receiving a patent for my invention and successfully bringing it to market felt like a great accomplishment. I never knew I could (or couldn't), being only one person against CPG companies with over 80,000 employees. As one person running every department, I was able to be #1 in the category on Amazon. And still have plenty of time for my friends, family, and sports.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

All the little pieces and details involved in setting up your business so that you can get to market can take longer than you think. Everything is all on you, but I feel that learning a lot of the steps and pieces along the way is critical for future success, so enjoy the ride!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. There are easier ways to make money, but probably not as fun! It's easy to be passionate about something you started. It makes you look forward to getting up every day.
  2. Don't quit your day job until you get all the pieces ready to get to market. There are some things you just can't speed up. You might need to be a chameleon for a while as you learn all kinds of new things. Find experts online to help you save time and money on mistakes and technical integrations as soon as you can. Use online automation software that has already been built to help grow your own customers.
  3. Don't trade your business over your family and children. If you had the best business in the world, all you would probably want is more time with your family and children.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

The businesses of the future will use a lot of automation, have an impact, and give back to the planet. Consider building a purpose and impact into your business plan.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.remayshave.com/
Instagram: @remayshave
Facebook: @remayshave

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.