Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Edward Oliver. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Edward, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?

I remember summer 2017 I was feeling discouraged with my business and I was honestly ready to quit. I had a talk with my Uncle Marco and he put some things into perspective for me and to think about how much I accomplished in at the time only 3 years in business and to keep going. despite my feeling I did what he said and kept going literally a month later my business randomly goes viral via twitter and it was an influx of new customers interested as well current and older customers praising the product. That sparked an influx of orders I never experienced at once it was overwhelming to a point after 3 days of crazy orders I had to shut my site down just to fulfill orders which made people even more interested so when i reopened it kept going. The orders the followers it was crazy to see how in 30 days I’m down in the dumps to 30 days later I had more business in one day then I’d get in one month it was crazy in an amazing way. Just to show you to keep going even when times get rough or moral get low continue to work your move and you’ll be rewarded in ways you’d never think

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Edward “Ed” Oliver’s is the creative force behind EBO Beard Butter, a brand dedicated to providing top-notch beard grooming products. Edward started making beard butter a year after graduating from college. Inspired by his mother who has a history in making skin care products, he began experimenting with different ingredients and scents to create a product that would moisturize, condition, and style beards [
EBO Beard Butter is made with all-natural ingredients such as shea butter, vitamins, and a special blend of essential oils. The product helps promote healthy beard growth, gives beards a luxurious shine, and keeps the hair soft and manageable. Edward’s dedication to quality and customer satisfaction has earned EBO Beard Butter rave reviews and a loyal customer base across the U.S. and around the globe.

One of my proudest moments in business all time is when my product was able to help my god daughter’s hair grow back. At the time a big patch of her hair fell out due to her alopecia at the time. I remember talking with her mom and she was telling me about it and I said try my Beard Butter. At the time she tried everything and nothing was working until she began using my products.That moment seeing her hair go from a bald patch to now completely filled in,full and healthy made me proud. I still keep those before and after pictures in my phone as motivation to keep this going. Moments like that mean more to me than anything. Honestly just seeing any of my customer get the results they want in their hair, beard, etc using my products is a humbling experience in a good way. People trust me and trust me products and I’m grateful for that type of support

I just want to all my customers to know that even after 10 years doing this, I’m just as hype and excited about business as i was when I started in 2014. I’m looking forward to creating more products, new scents, great experiences as time goes on. I want to thank every single person who has supported me on this journey. Grateful to see how things have flourished and I plan to continue bringing you quality products and customer service.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I started my business with about $300 dollars at the time. My mom had some extra jars and tops she gave me so I didn’t have to buy any to start out. All I purchase were all the ingredients with the $300. Me and mom sourced all the items I needed. I put in and order and when everything arrived I put together a batch of items and just gave it a shot. I was using money I generated from another business I had at the time selling Hair Extensions. So I’d take money from that business to keep it going while investing whatever profit I had left into E.B.O Beard Butter. I always laugh because people don’t believe me when I tell them I started with $300 but it’s a true story. I didn’t have a lot but I used what I had and made things happen.

How did you build your audience on social media?

How I built my audience was by utilizing the people who were around me that supported me. I’d take pictures with my friends and family holding my product and used that advertise different people having my product. Seeing various people posted on my page with my product sparked curiosity and made other people want to try it. Slowly but surely more people would purchase and I’d tell them to send me pictures so I can feature them on my socials, because who doesn’t want new followers and things. It helped because now people may see a familiar face on my page which would make them trust the product more. My college network of friends were a huge help because having friends in different cities posting my product helped grow a following in those different locations as well. Utilizing people and word of mouth has always helped me. My customers show me a lot of love and speak highly of my products and me as well which takes you further.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.Etsy.com/shop/ebobeardbutter
• Instagram: Ebobeardbutter
• Facebook: EBOBeardButter
• Twitter: Ebobeardbutter1
• Youtube: EBOBeardButter
• Other: TikTok
  @ebobeardbutter

Image Credits

God
My parents
Grandma & Pop Pop
All my Siblings
Family
Friends
All my customers around the world
Norfolk state
Washington DC

Me Myself & I