What It's About
Two friends take advantage of the coconut pulling trend creating their own coconut oil mouthwash.
Business Model
Skills Required
Complexity
Profit Potential
Words of Wisdom
There are some other coconut oil mouthwash products on the market right now, but they generally just contain coconut oil and flavor, whereas YALA has clove oil and xylitol which are known to improve gum health and prevent dental decay, respectively. Also, their competitors use wasteful packaging (individual sachets) and cost much more than YALA, which gives a month’s supply for the same cost as theirs, which is a two week supply.
If you're concerned with competition, find ways to set your product or service apart from the rest.
Fun Fact
Daryl and Aaron met through mutual friends in Atlanta and quickly became close friends. They have a ton in common: Daryl is half Sri Lankan and Jewish while Aaron is half Indian and Jewish. They were born a day apart. They both played competitive tennis growing up in New Jersey and Long Island. They both played in rock bands. They both drive white Priuses. They even dated the same girl after college! And they both grew up with coconut oil in the house being used for everything.
Notes from Chris
Episode 179
Dentist Aaron Schwartz had heard a lot about oil pulling, an ancient tradition said to have originated in India thousands of years ago. It was part of the Ayurvedic medicine tradition, though details are hard to come by. Aaron thought oil pulling was great, but he also thought that he and his friend Daryl Weber, a brand strategist, could do it better. They finally decided on their current flavors, peppermint, and lemon, in a convenient toothpaste-like tube. The final formula is free of additives and artificial ingredients. Aaron and Daryl tested the formulas on groups of friends, and once they felt good about them, it was time to find a co-packer. Ever since YALA has been selling online to a whole mix of people around the country. Urban Outfitters reached out to them after seeing them on Instagram and asked for samples. They are now carrying YALA online and in many of their brick and mortar “Free People” stores around the country. Daryl and Aaron also sell the toothpaste online at tryyala.com. They launched this past December, and have seen steady growth and traction. They invested $50,000 in the business and pulled in $7,000 last month.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- YALA: Check out Daryl's line of coconut oil mouthwash on his website
- Blue Ridge Food Ventures: The co-packer that Daryl and Aaron ended up using to mass produce their products for YALA
- Shopify: Daryl and Aaron used Shopify to setup their website for YALA, and they're offering a 21-day trial and exclusive discount for all Side Hustle School listeners!
- ShipBob: The fulfillment company that Daryl and Aaron used to help them handle stock and orders for YALA
- Free People: The Urban Outfitters offshoot that carries YALA products in their stores
- Healthy Smiles Healthy Children: The charity that Daryl and Aaron donate a percentage of their proceeds to
- U.S. Co-Paker Directory: Are you reaching a point where you're outgrowing your own kitchen? Here's a directory containing co-packing companies in each state!
- Working With Co-Packers: Part 1 & Part 2: This two part series goes into what you should look for when selecting a co-packer and best practices for working with a co-packer once you've found one
- Shopify | Fulfillment 101: Everything you ever wanted to know about third-party warehousing and fulfillment
- Graphic Designer Turns Side Hustle into $80k Project: A longing for expression and self-love pushes one woman into a successful side hustle helping others live more fulfilling lives through the practice of breathwork
Resources
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