Beardbrand men’s grooming and beard care … Eric Bandholz, Founder of Beardbrand, a men’s grooming company focusing on beard care, joins Pavan Bahl, Rob Sanchez and Marc Raco on the floor of the Innovation Center of the 2016 ECommerce Show USA in Atlanta, GA. This interview is sponsored by Alert Tech, a powerful tool for retailers to understand the performance of their retail stores and make better business decisions. Beardsmen and Shark Tank Bandholz talks on trying to change the way society views beard care, urban beardsman, whether there a limit to beard knowledge, what led him to beard care and beard competitions, the beardsmen leaders, their successful YouTube channel, developing education and advocating for community, the passion for trying to change way society views beardsmen and not just trying to sell product, enabling men to feel comfortable wearing things the way they want, and Beardbrand’s content publishing strategy and viewpoint, and the Blind Barber. He also shares his experience and insights on the “Shark Tank” emotional rollercoaster, how he got on the show, what happened afterwards, and whether the show accurately portrayed his experience. Beard Health, The Perfectly Trimmed Neckline, and Keeping Customers A discussion on how Beardbrand and its meaning changed over it’s lifespan so far, a whirlwind of growth, debtless bootstrapping, staying with the same vision, uniting urban beardsman, the company’s original position in lifestyle apparel, the company’s product development and manufacturing cycle, which is the number one product, moustache wax and beard oil, and Bandholz’s definition of entrepreneurship. Consideration of the long term health of beard in product development, how feedback from the customer base changed products and interaction with those customers, the fine line between listening to customers while knowing more than them, defining what is good beard care, exploring the subscription model, the role of collaborations with apparel manufacturers, why a surprise gifts equals exposure to new audience, and the importance of historical research and being Customer Number One. Plus, the lean startup model, and leather accessories and wallets of the past, advice on trimming a neckline, the best ecommerce solution out there, why direct to consumer business model allows lean inventory control, and whether Beardbrand’s customer service policy is risky. First Ladies with Beards Off the Grid Questions touches on mental toughness, positivity, grade-school sugar sales, weird Austin, immersive online gaming. And, first ladies with beards? References: Ben and Jack’s Steakhouse Shopify Nordstrom FedEx Gamecocks Half Life