We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rin Gamache a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Rin, appreciate you joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
Bare & Beards was founded in 2018 as a men’s skin and wellness clinic. I chose to concentrate on the male demographic and create a clinic and products specifically for men. I developed a strong passion about the topics of skin and whole body health, so any opportunity to share I am more than willing.
Now that I am a year out from graduating from my doctorate program, once I become a licensed Acupuncturist, I plan to open a men’s health care clinic that will go beyond just skin. I plan to dive into treating sports injuries, erectile dysfunction, help with mental health, etc. The beauty of working in the state of California is that Acupuncturists are considered primary care providers (PCP). Acupuncture is not only a great alternative to Western medicine, but integrated with it to enhance the effectiveness of treatment and/or side effects of treatment. This is exciting for me to introduce this medicine to my clients. I want men to start taking their health seriously and getting regular checkups as a preventative measure. They should feel comfortable speaking about things going on with them so it can be addressed sooner. I want to be a part of the movement. Men want nice skin and health too!
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
You know I don’t like to live with regrets and believe in Amor Fati. That means that everything in life that happens to us or we choose to go through wins, losses, trials and tribulations are meant to be. They are preparing you for the next phase. Plus, I met so many amazing and gifted individuals within the beauty and barbering industry I could never go back and change my course. So the answer is Yes. I would choose the same profession, specialty. My esthetics background was imperative in getting me to where I am now. I just didn’t know it then.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start?
All of my starting capital was out of pocket, but a lot came from cashing out my 401K. It covered the costs of getting my clinic set up, working with a co-packer to collaborate on a formula for my very first and best-selling product Bare & Beards 4-in-1 Daily Cleanser and marketing. My husband has a background in construction and carpentry so that saved me money on remodeling my clinic space, plus he afforded me the ability to focus on getting my business off the ground by holding down the fort. I did not need to work as much as I was before, and this was all before we even got married and were just dating. There is nothing better than a partner who believes in you and helps you achieve those goals.
Due to losses I took during the pandemic, I was lucky enough to receive a couple of business grants. I used part of the grants to get my e-commerce up and running, plus formulating new products. I spent time and effort into building up my business credit so that by the time I am ready to reopen my new practice, my business credit should be eligible for a business loan. This along with the remainder of my grant money will allow me to have something special for my San Diego community. I’m excited!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bareandbeardsclub.com
- Instagram: bareandbeards
- Facebook: barenbeards
- Linkedin: Bare & Beards
- Twitter: barebeards
- Youtube: Stay Tuned
- Yelp: Stay Tuned