We were lucky to catch up with Oceanview Brand recently and have shared our conversation below.
OceanView, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea for OceanViewBrand came from our personal experiences growing up in Mississippi. Darius, Kevin, and I have always embraced having waves and taking pride in keeping our hair well-groomed. Back then, there were really only a couple of products we relied on, but the options were limited.
We’ve always been connected to the culture of maintaining waves and hair care—it’s a part of who we are. While catching up one day at a bar, we started brainstorming about the lack of options for wave and hair care products tailored for men like us. Kevin, being a barber, brought valuable insight into the challenges people face when trying to achieve that perfect wave or lay their hair down just right.
OceanViewBrand was born out of a desire to create high-quality products that not only work but genuinely reflect the care and attention we’ve always put into our own grooming. We’re not just selling products—we’re part of the culture, and we’re passionate about delivering results that help others achieve their desired look.
OceanView, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
We are the team behind OceanViewBrand, a Black-owned company rooted in a deep love for hair care and grooming. Growing up in Mississippi, we’ve always taken pride in keeping our hair healthy and stylish, particularly with waves—a staple of our culture. That pride and passion led us to recognize a gap in the market. For years, there were only a handful of products available to help men achieve and maintain waves or keep their hair laid just right. We wanted to change that.
OceanViewBrand provides premium products designed to help men take their hair care to the next level. Our line includes wave products that promote hydration, manageability, and definition. Whether it’s keeping your waves fresh, locking in moisture, or maintaining those smooth, laid-down styles, our products are made to deliver real results.
More than just offering products, we solve the problem of accessibility and quality in men’s grooming. Our goal is to empower our customers by providing effective solutions that work for their unique needs while celebrating the culture that inspires us.
What sets OceanViewBrand apart is our authenticity and deep connection to the culture. We’re not just a company selling hair care products; we’re individuals who live and breathe this lifestyle. Our creativity and collaborative approach as a team operates like a single unit, brainstorming, and refining ideas together to create unique and effective products. This synergy allows us to stay innovative and deliver solutions that resonate with our audience.
We’re most proud of being a Black-owned business that brings representation to an industry where it’s long been lacking. It’s not just about filling a gap; it’s about creating a brand that truly resonates with our community and offers real solutions to hair care needs. We’re also incredibly proud of the brand we’ve built and the products we’ve created. Each item we offer has been personally tested by us, ensuring it meets the highest standards. We use our own products because we believe in their quality, and we’d never sell anything we wouldn’t use ourselves. That commitment to excellence is the foundation of our business.
The main thing we want people to know about OceanViewBrand is that we genuinely care about our customers and their outcomes. We’re here to empower individuals to feel good about themselves through effective and high-quality grooming products. OceanViewBrand isn’t just a brand; it’s a commitment to elevating the culture and providing tools that work for everyone who values looking and feeling their best.
Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.
When we first conceived OceanViewBrand, our initial plan was to manufacture the products ourselves. However, as we began to scale and the demand grew into the thousands, we realized that producing such large quantities on our own was a daunting task. The challenges of maintaining consistent quality while handling bulk production led us to consider partnering with a professional manufacturer.
In today’s global market, finding a reliable supplier is more accessible if you know how to conduct thorough research. We embarked on a journey to identify a manufacturer who could replicate our unique formula and produce it at scale without compromising on quality. After extensive searching and vetting, we found a supplier capable of mass-producing our products to our exact specifications.
Throughout this process, we learned several invaluable lessons about manufacturing:
Quality Control is Paramount: When dealing with suppliers, rigorous quality control is essential. Without it, you might receive shipments where a significant portion of products are damaged or not up to standard, which directly affects your bottom line and reputation. We implemented strict quality assurance measures to ensure every product meets our high standards.
Understanding Lead Times: Manufacturing timelines can vary greatly depending on the supplier’s location and local events. For example, manufacturers overseas may have extended holidays like the Chinese New Year, during which factories shut down for weeks. This can extend lead times significantly—from an expected two months to potentially four months. Anticipating these delays is crucial for planning and inventory management.
Building Strong Supplier Relationships: We believe in fostering strong relationships with our suppliers. Regular communication and renegotiation not only keep them engaged but also build trust and ensure mutual understanding. This approach has helped us maintain consistency in production and navigate challenges collaboratively.
Adaptability and Research: The ability to adapt and continuously research is key. The manufacturing landscape is ever-changing, and staying informed about new technologies, suppliers, and best practices allows us to improve our processes and products continually.
By learning from these experiences, we’ve been able to scale our production effectively while maintaining the integrity and quality of our products. Our journey taught us that while manufacturing can be complex, with the right partners and a commitment to excellence, it’s possible to bring your vision to life successfully.
We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.
Yes, we’ve been on Amazon for over seven years, and it’s our main platform. We also sell on Walmart and Shopify, and we’re excited to expand to other platforms in the future.
Stepping into e-commerce is both a bold and rewarding journey. Many people doubt that you can build a career or business by selling online, even though we all use the internet daily. In this space, success requires more than just a great product—you have to sell yourself and master the tools and platforms available.
For us, the greatest reward is bringing our ideas to life. Taking a concept, brainstorming it with our team, and turning it into a tangible product that solves real-world problems is one of the most creative and fulfilling things we’ve ever done. Through OceanViewBrand, we’re not just selling products—we’re solving problems and creating solutions for people around the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Oceanviewbrand.com
- Instagram: Oceanviewbrand
- Facebook: Oceanviewbrand
- Linkedin: itspeedyrocket
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/16E07583-AAF8-4D1C-9B8A-62AA02BE366E/?_encoding=UTF8&store_ref=SB_A02449311ZSFD45Y7DWOR-A0545211274NLZXMYT6YH&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aaxitk=dac1fb76d8a28f9668bfe89baa96a466&hsa_cr_id=0&lp_asins=B07D7MW12T%2CB09R1CCH29&lp_query=oceanview&lp_slot=auto-sparkle-hsa-tetris&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_lsi4d_ls&pd_rd_w=G8bIW&content-id=amzn1.sym.8591358d-1345-4efd-9d50-5bd4e69cd942%3Aamzn1.sym.8591358d-1345-4efd-9d50-5bd4e69cd942&pf_rd_p=8591358d-1345-4efd-9d50-5bd4e69cd942&pf_rd_r=3M4A3F3R9BD6F3R5KMT2&pd_rd_wg=yBTwE&pd_rd_r=489ec4eb-2f7e-47dc-b1bb-9100f2bf289a
Image Credits
Darius Johnson
Troy Taylor
Kevin Roberts-Church