No Try, Do: Founder Entrepreneur Offers Tips on Success
Serial entrepreneur Stacy Blackman co-founded Stryke Club.
Some entrepreneurs have a knack for turning personal needs into great ideas, and then turning those great ideas into huge successes.
Stacy Blackman, founder of Stacy Blackman Consulting, the Blacklight Channel and Stryke Club, is just that entrepreneur.
“Stacy Blackman, founder of @stacyblackman, the Blacklight Channel and Stryke Club, can turn personal needs into great ideas. #WomenEntrepreneur”
While she has been reaping professional rewards for two decades, early on, she was deterred.
“My bracelet business was shut down by the headmaster,” Blackman says, of her early ventures in elementary school in Los Angeles.
“I always had an interest in business and was a entrepreneur at an early age, hustling on campus selling my bracelets,” she says, even if the headmaster was not so thrilled.
After graduating from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1993 with a degree in economics and marketing, Blackman went to work in private equity in San Francisco.
“It was great and a great intro into business, I learned a lot and it gave me a backbone of knowledge,” Blackman says. “I am still good with Excel.”
Looking to expand her expertise in business and marketing, Blackman went to the Kellogg School of Business for graduate school at Northwestern University, graduating in 1999. While a student, she and two women partners from a class launched and sold an online registry business, that is now part of TheKnot.com, now expanded to a multi-platform business in 15 countries.
According to Fundera, the U.S. has 12.3 million women-owned businesses, generating $1.8 trillion a year in sales. Just 25% of women business owners seek business financing, and for those who do seek funding, women receive just 7% of venture funds for their startups.
“According to @fundera, just 25% of #womenbusiness owners seek business #financing, women receive just 7% of venture funds for their #startups. ”
As 40% of U.S. businesses are women-owned, women launched 1,821 net new businesses every day of 2019. There are 114% more women entrepreneurs than there were 20 years ago, Fundera reports, with 62% of women entrepreneurs citing their business as their primary source of income.
“@Fundera reports that there are 114% more women entrepreneurs than there were 20 years ago. #WomeninBusiness #GenderIssues”
Read more in Take The Lead on pursuing gender equity in startups
With one business already launched as a grad study, and apparently not busy enough doing all her homework to earn her MBA, Blackman also created an admissions consulting company, The Blacklight Channel.
The content is “shining the light” on the admissions process for people looking to attend business school, Blackman says, and has grown into content about business, continuing the relationship with people after they graduate.
“But I wanted to create something that was exciting and new and meaningful—a product,” Blackman says.
She looked to her own family, two daughters, and a teenage son. The idea was sparked at a lunch with mothers of sons in a talk about facial care and personal products.
“There were all these products for girls and for our boys, there was nothing that spoke to them. A few products were unisex, medicinal products, but there was nothing new, hip and cool. Nothing that was locker room worthy,” Blackman says.
She adds, “Why is there shame around boys caring about how they look?”
Stryke Club was born. Teaming up with partners including a dermatologist and a consumer product specialist, Blackman says they spent all of 2018 and most of 2019 experimenting with solutions for acne and personal care. The line has three products of a face wash, all over wash and a spot stick for breakouts.
“Blackman adds, “Why is there shame around boys caring about how they look?” This is how @ClubStryke was born. #FemaleEntrepreneur”
“At this point it is self-funded and we have been able to develop the formulation and the branding in a super scrappy way on a tight budget,” Blackman says.
Read more in Take The Lead on women funding women entrepreneurs
Launched in September of last year selling online, Blackman says, “Our sons love the shower wash, they say it is soothing and not drying.”
According to GrandView Research,“The U.S. personal care products market size was valued at $134.26 billion in 2016 and is expected to grow at a rate of 4.58%” through 2025.
Grand View reports,” The young generation tends to spend a high amount on the skincare, color cosmetics, and other personal care products for ensuring their appearance matching with their social media presence. Demand for personal care products is increasing due to increasing purchasing power.”
Blackman has a big vision for Stryke Club and hopes to expand the line. “I want these products to be in every boy’s bathroom, then go onto college and continue to use them, that is our mission to empower boys and change the conversation. So that boys can say they are vulnerable and that they should care for themselves.”
“Blackman has a big vision for @ClubStryke “Our mission to #empower boys so that they can say they are vulnerable and that they should care for themselves.” #InspirationalWomen”
As an extremely successful serial entrepreneur, Blackman has advice for anyone who is thinking of her own next big thing.
“Start before you are ready. You will never have the money or the time.”
“Blackman has #advice for anyone who is thinking of her own next big thing.:“Start before you are ready. You will never have the money or the time.” #Startup”
Blackman adds, “I love Yoda. Yoda says, ‘Do or do not. There is no try.’ I believe in that. Trying your best? I don’t believe in that. Just do your best.”
“Blackman says, “I love Yoda. Yoda says, ‘Do or do not. There is no try.’ I believe in that. Trying your best? I don’t believe in that. Just do your best.” #CareerAdvice”
