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

Randy , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea for Five O’ Clock Co. was born from a place of frustration, curiosity, and deep care. After trying countless beard products filled with artificial fragrances and unnecessary chemicals, I realized nothing on the market truly aligned with my values natural, clean, effective, and made with intention. As someone who already enjoyed growing herbs in my Baltimore garden, I saw an opportunity to take matters into my own hands. I started experimenting with my own blends infusing herbs , and other healing botanicals into natural oils. I wasn’t trying to launch a business at first I just wanted a product that worked for me. After three months of using my handmade formula, the difference in my beard was undeniable: fuller, softer, and healthier. When I shared it with a few friends, the feedback came pouring in they saw results, they loved the scent, and more importantly, they felt seen.

That was the moment I realized this was bigger than just beard care. I was solving a problem that many people didn’t even realize they had products made without care, without connection, and without us in mind. Five O’ Clock Co. became a way to fill that gap, offering a unique approach rooted in authenticity and wellness. I knew it would work because I lived the need myself, and I watched others respond to something that felt personal and powerful. What excited me most wasn’t just creating a balm or an oil it was creating a ritual. A moment of self care. A brand that honored craft, culture, and community. Five O’ Clock Co. is more than a product line it’s a movement grounded in nature, nurtured by intention, and grown with love.

Randy , 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?

My name is Randy Lewis, and I’m the founder, creative hands, and heart behind Five O’ Clock Co. I like to say I’m equal parts plant zaddy, self-care advocate, and Baltimore born maker. I started this brand because I was tired of using grooming products that didn’t reflect who I was or where I came from products filled with artificial scents and ingredients I couldn’t pronounce. I wanted something honest. Something handcrafted. Something rooted. So, I started with what I had my hands, my garden, and a desire to take care of myself better.

I grow herbs in my own garden lavender, calendula, chamomile, rosemary and I infuse those plants into body loving ingredients to create grooming and wellness products that speak to real needs. Five O’ Clock Co. started with beard oils and balms, but it’s grown into a full line of small-batch skincare and lifestyle goods, including body butters, sugar scrubs, bath soaks, solid colognes, whipped oils, pet balms, air-plant art, and handmade accessories. Everything is made with care, intention, and clean ingredients crafted for those who care about what goes on their skin and the story behind it.

Our products solve more than dry skin or brittle beards. They create a space for self respect and self expression especially for folks who don’t always see themselves reflected in traditional wellness or skincare spaces. We focus on holistic, plant powered healing while keeping the culture close. We source locally when we can, hand-label everything, and build in community through pop ups, farmers markets, retail kiosks, and collaborations with fellow makers.

What sets Five O’ Clock Co. apart is the energy. It’s not just in the products it’s in the soil, in the storytelling, in the scent memory each item creates. I’m not just selling balm. I’m offering a ritual. A reminder to pause. To reset. That’s why we chose the name “Five O’ Clock” it’s that golden hour of the day when you shift gears and reclaim your time.

What I’m most proud of is how this brand has become a reflection of growth my own, and the people around me. We’ve bounced back from setbacks, opened shop at Baltimore’s Harborplace, showed up for countless vendor markets, and built something that people feel when they hold it in their hands. That means everything to me.

If there’s one thing I want people to know, it’s that Five O’ Clock Co. is real. It’s handmade, it’s plant rooted, and it’s built for you. Whether you’re stepping into self-care for the first time or you’ve been on this journey for years, we’re here to support that ritual with products that don’t just smell good they do good.

Have you ever had to pivot?

One of the most defining moments in my journey and one of the hardest was when I unexpectedly lost my production studio in January 2025. It wasn’t just a workspace; it was where I built, mixed, poured, labeled, packaged, and dreamed. Losing it felt like someone pulled the rug out from under me. I remember standing in the empty space thinking, What now? It was emotional. It was overwhelming. But it was also the exact moment I learned how deep my commitment to this work really was.

I had two choices: pause the business and figure things out later, or pivot immediately. I chose to pivot.

I moved production back into my home where it all started. I reorganized every corner to function like a studio. I leaned harder into my creativity and started rethinking how to show up more intentionally, more visibly, more everywhere. That’s when I really expanded back into vending events, pop-ups, local markets, and started preparing for what would become one of my proudest moments: opening the Five O’ Clock Co. kiosk at Harborplace in May 2025.

What felt like a devastating loss became the push I didn’t know I needed. That pivot reminded me why I started because Five O’ Clock Co. wasn’t just about having a studio or shelves full of product. It was about being rooted in purpose. About being adaptable, resourceful, and deeply connected to the people who support this brand. I turned what felt like a breakdown into a breakthrough, and it taught me that the foundation of this business isn’t a physical space it’s resilience, intention, and community.

That pivot made me better. And more than anything, it made the brand stronger.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

In the early days of Five O’ Clock Co., all I had was an idea, a little garden, and a whole lot of faith. There was no big investor, no grant, no business loan waiting in the wings. Just me, a vision, and a savings account I had been building slowly over time. I knew that if I wanted this to be real, I’d have to bet on myself and that meant using what I had, even if it wasn’t much.

I emptied a good chunk of my personal savings to buy my first batches of shea butter, essential oils, jars, labels, and packaging and equipment. Every dollar felt sacred because I knew it came from years of hard work, discipline, and trust that this would all lead to something greater. It wasn’t just a financial decision it was spiritual. I prayed over every step. I reminded myself that purpose and provision walk hand in hand. And even when I wasn’t sure what the next move would be, I had peace in knowing I was building something with meaning.

There were moments when I was afraid afraid I wouldn’t make that money back, afraid people wouldn’t understand the brand, afraid I was risking too much. But faith kept me grounded. I believed in the power of nature, in the healing energy of the herbs I was growing, and in the community I knew would show up once they experienced what I was creating.

Using my savings wasn’t just about funding the business. It was about putting my belief into motion. That decision taught me how to walk boldly, trust the process, and stay obedient to the vision even when the road got rough. And now, looking back, every jar, every bottle, every balm sold is a reminder that planting seeds both literally , will always bear fruit when you lead with intention.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fiveoclockco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fiveoclockco