SelfMade Stories

Danny Taing is the founder and CEO of Bokksu, a monthly subscription service that delivers curated boxes of Japanese snacks and teas to your door. Danny was the first guest of SelfMade Stories back in October of 2018. Almost a year later he’s back to share how he has scaled his business to 7-figures without Venture dollars and built an even better product without changing the price. In 2019 they raised $1 million, expanded to Amazon, and built an engaging Facebook group of over 1,000 customers.

He’s made some key hires that were essential to his growth and has really shifted his focus to telling the story behind Bokksu to his community of fans. Check them out on Instagram @bokksu or online at bokksu.com. Keep an eye out for all of the new and exciting things Bokksu has on the way and order yourself a box before they finally raise the price.

Brittany Carbone is the founder of Tonic CBD. Tonic uses the power of CBD combined with adaptogens like ashwagandha to ease stress and anxiety and naturally elevate your mood. Brittany discovered the formulation for Tonic after years of self medicating with marijuana. She wanted something that would give her the same effect without the high, that’s when she started researching CBD. While working as a personal trainer she created the first formulations for Tonic. After seeing amazing results with both her and her clients she became intent on giving more people access to the clarity and ease CBD was giving her.

She quit her job as a trainer and moved upstate with her husband to convert her family’s small plot of land into a hemp farm. After getting the proper licenses and acquiring the ideal CBD strain from the Crawford brothers they began producing and distributing Tonic. Brittany is meticulous about the quality of her product and still does all the formulations and bottling in house. Her commitment to quality and her community has allowed Tonic to grow into the robust business it is today.

This episode is full of fascinating information around CBD and how it works with our bodies, the power of community for growing your business, and how to think about scaling responsibly.

Brittany Carbone is the founder of Tonic CBD. Tonic uses the power of CBD combined with adaptogens like ashwagandha to ease stress and anxiety and naturally elevate your mood. Brittany discovered the formulation for Tonic after years of self medicating with marijuana. She wanted something that would give her the same effect without the high, that’s when she started researching CBD. While working as a personal trainer she created the first formulations for Tonic. After seeing amazing results with both her and her clients she became intent on giving more people access to the clarity and ease CBD was giving her.

She quit her job as a trainer and moved upstate with her husband to convert her family’s small plot of land into a hemp farm. After getting the proper licenses and acquiring the ideal CBD strain from the Crawford brothers they began producing and distributing Tonic. Brittany is meticulous about the quality of her product and still does all the formulations and bottling in house. Her commitment to quality and her community has allowed Tonic to grow into the robust business it is today.

This episode is full of fascinating information around CBD and how it works with our bodies, the power of community for growing your business, and how to think about scaling responsibly.

Metta Murdaya is the CEO and co-founder of JUARA Skincare. Juara uses the Indonesian philosophy of Jamu by using ingredients found in traditional herbal medicine to create formulations that work for all skin types. Founded in 2005, JUARA initially followed a traditional retail model but after they successfully faring the recession, Metta realized she lacked a connection with the people buying her products. She pulled out of retail completely and went to a direct-to-consumer model so she could ensure the story behind JUARA accompanied the products. She does this through education and a direct selling strategy that allows her evangelist customers the opportunity to become JUARA Guides and share their love for their products with friends and family.

Metta’s investment in her brand’s story paid off and she’s since successfully scaled her e-commerce presence. Brian and Metta discuss the power of direct selling, LTV:CAC and the role email can play in moving those numbers, and how vital it is to build community and know your customer first hand. Metta’s commitment to the community that’s supported her brand to grow and evolve over the past +10 years is something all entrepreneurs can find inspiration in.

Metta Murdaya is the CEO and co-founder of JUARA Skincare. Juara uses the Indonesian philosophy of Jamu by using ingredients found in traditional herbal medicine to create formulations that work for all skin types. Founded in 2005, JUARA initially followed a traditional retail model but after they successfully faring the recession, Metta realized she lacked a connection with the people buying her products. She pulled out of retail completely and went to a direct-to-consumer model so she could ensure the story behind JUARA accompanied the products. She does this through education and a direct selling strategy that allows her evangelist customers the opportunity to become JUARA Guides and share their love for their products with friends and family.

Metta’s investment in her brand’s story paid off and she’s since successfully scaled her e-commerce presence. Brian and Metta discuss the power of direct selling, LTV:CAC and the role email can play in moving those numbers, and how vital it is to build community and know your customer first hand. Metta’s commitment to the community that’s supported her brand to grow and evolve over the past +10 years is something all entrepreneurs can find inspiration in.

Claire and Erica are the founders of Of A Kind and the authors of Work Wife. They met in college at the University of Chicago and quickly connected over their love of fashion and discovery. 9 years ago they founded their company Of A Kind which combined the two passions that brought them together. They feature various artisans and designers and their one of a kind creations on their e-commerce platform Of A Kind. They bet big on content and invested in Tumblr, something no one else was doing at the time which got them the traction they needed to build a healthy business they eventually sold to Bed Bath & Beyond, who gave them the financial means to expand to other growth categories.

They decided to write their book, Work Wife, about the importance and role their friendship played in their ability to build a scalable business. They also interview other Work Wives about the importance of maintaining friendships and professional relationships. Claire and Erica speak with first-hand knowledge about the necessity for vulnerability in the workplace and the role camaraderie plays in both effectiveness and productivity.

Their story is the stuff of dreams for co-founders everywhere. Check them out on Instagram @clairemazur and @ericacerulo. You can shop Of A Kind online at ofakind.com or on Instagram @ofakind. Their book is available for purchase on Amazon and their podcast, A Few Things, is available on Apple Podcasts and online.

Claire and Erica are the founders of Of A Kind and the authors of Work Wife. They met in college at the University of Chicago and quickly connected over their love of fashion and discovery. 9 years ago they founded their company Of A Kind which combined the two passions that brought them together. They feature various artisans and designers and their one of a kind creations on their e-commerce platform Of A Kind. They bet big on content and invested in Tumblr, something no one else was doing at the time which got them the traction they needed to build a healthy business they eventually sold to Bed Bath & Beyond, who gave them the financial means to expand to other growth categories.

They decided to write their book, Work Wife, about the importance and role their friendship played in their ability to build a scalable business. They also interview other Work Wives about the importance of maintaining friendships and professional relationships. Claire and Erica speak with first-hand knowledge about the necessity for vulnerability in the workplace and the role camaraderie plays in both effectiveness and productivity.

Their story is the stuff of dreams for co-founders everywhere. Check them out on Instagram @clairemazur and @ericacerulo. You can shop Of A Kind online at ofakind.com or on Instagram @ofakind. Their book is available for purchase on Amazon and their podcast, A Few Things, is available on Apple Podcasts and online.

Mark Shami is the founder and CEO of The M Jewelers, co-founder of SHAMI OFFICIAL and LAVAL, and an all-around hustler. Mark grew up in a family of jewelers learning how to cast and make jewelry as a kid in his grandpa’s studio. He spent his 20s touring the country with his band. He stepped away from the stage in 2014 to start his own company with a focus on customizable jewelry. He got his start on Instagram, finding influencers to send free pieces to in exchange for a post. He put every cent of profit back into social and retargeting with an uncompromising belief that it would help build his business. 5 years later and he’s been featured on Forbes 30 under 30, he's built his Instagram following to 1 million, broke 1MM in revenue and has gained profitability.

Brian and Mark discuss the importance of hard work and belief in your product as well as retargeting strategies. Mark’s story is inspiring for entrepreneurs at any stage of their business. You can check out The M Jewelers on Instagram @themjewelers or online at themjewelers.com.

Mark Shami is the founder and CEO of The M Jewelers, co-founder of SHAMI OFFICIAL and LAVAL, and an all-around hustler. Mark grew up in a family of jewelers learning how to cast and make jewelry as a kid in his grandpa’s studio. He spent his 20s touring the country with his band. He stepped away from the stage in 2014 to start his own company with a focus on customizable jewelry. He got his start on Instagram, finding influencers to send free pieces to in exchange for a post. He put every cent of profit back into social and retargeting with an uncompromising belief that it would help build his business. 5 years later and he’s been featured on Forbes 30 under 30, he's built his Instagram following to 1 million, broke 1MM in revenue and has gained profitability.

Brian and Mark discuss the importance of hard work and belief in your product as well as retargeting strategies. Mark’s story is inspiring for entrepreneurs at any stage of their business. You can check out The M Jewelers on Instagram @themjewelers or online at themjewelers.com.

Megan Auman is the designer and maker behind her jewelry line, Megan Auman, and the founder of Designing an MBA, an online business course specifically for artists and makers. She graduated with a masters in metalsmithing and naturally made the transition into making and selling her own jewelry. After successfully scaling her practice, she founded her online education course to provide artists and makers with the tools necessary to become profitable and build a healthy business.

You can check out Megan and her jewelry on Instagram @meganauman or online at meganauman.com or designinganmba.com.