547: Lessons from The Art of Shaving with Eric Malka

12/16/24 • 45 min

1 Listener

The How of Business - How to start, run & grow a small business.

Lessons from The Art of Shaving: starting, growing, and selling The Art of Shaving company.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/547-eric-malka-the-art-of-shaving/

On this episode, Henry Lopez is joined by Eric Malka, co-founder of the luxury men’s grooming brand The Art of Shaving and author of On the Razor’s Edge.

Eric shares his incredible entrepreneurial journey, from starting with just $15,000 to building a globally recognized brand that was ultimately acquired by Procter & Gamble.

Eric dives into:

The importance of starting small and thinking big.
How constraints can spark innovation and lead to success.
The critical role of branding and intellectual property in building value.
Why prudence, patience, and timing are essential for sustainable growth.
The role of luck and how to position yourself to seize opportunities.

He also reflects on key lessons learned from both successes and failures, offering actionable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners.

"Brands are more valuable than companies, and IP is the most valuable aspect of your brand." – Eric Malka

Whether you're just starting your entrepreneurial journey or looking to scale your small business, this episode is packed with insights to inspire and guide you.

This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run and grow your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Lessons from The Art of Shaving: starting, growing, and selling The Art of Shaving company.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/547-eric-malka-the-art-of-shaving/

On this episode, Henry Lopez is joined by Eric Malka, co-founder of the luxury men’s grooming brand The Art of Shaving and author of On the Razor’s Edge.

Eric shares his incredible entrepreneurial journey, from starting with just $15,000 to building a globally recognized brand that was ultimately acquired by Procter & Gamble.

Eric dives into:

The importance of starting small and thinking big.
How constraints can spark innovation and lead to success.
The critical role of branding and intellectual property in building value.
Why prudence, patience, and timing are essential for sustainable growth.
The role of luck and how to position yourself to seize opportunities.

He also reflects on key lessons learned from both successes and failures, offering actionable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners.

"Brands are more valuable than companies, and IP is the most valuable aspect of your brand." – Eric Malka

Whether you're just starting your entrepreneurial journey or looking to scale your small business, this episode is packed with insights to inspire and guide you.

Previous Episode

R504: Strategic Planning for Small Business

How to create a Strategic Plan for your small business. Use a Strategic Plan to set your goals, objectives and initiatives for your small business.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/r504-strategic-planning/

In this episode of The How of Business, host Henry Lopez dives into annual strategic planning - a critical tool for small business owners to achieve growth and long-term success.

Strategic planning helps you align your goals, allocate resources efficiently, and create a clear action plan for the year ahead.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

Why Strategic Planning Matters: Understand the benefits of having a focused and adaptable strategy for your business.
The Key Difference Between Strategy & Planning: Learn how a clear strategy drives your planning process and positions your business to win in the market.
10 Steps to Build an Effective Strategic Plan: A comprehensive framework covering everything from reviewing the past year to setting goals, defining KPIs, budgeting, and adapting quarterly.
Actionable Insights & Examples: Get practical tips to simplify your planning process, even if this is your first attempt at creating a strategic plan.

Free Resource: Download the Annual Strategic Plan Outline to guide you through the process from the Show Notes page for this episode.

Whether you’re an experienced business owner or just starting, this episode will help you focus on what matters most, measure your progress, and achieve success in 2025.

Next Episode

548: 2024 Top 5 Episodes

Highlights from 2024 Top 5 Episodes, based on unique listener downloads.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/548-2024-top-5-episodes/

Discover the most popular episodes of 2024, based on listener downloads, to help you start, run, and grow your small business. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned small business owner, these episodes are packed with actionable advice and insights to drive your success.

Top 5 Episodes:

Episode 510 – 7 Start-Up Mistakes Avoid common pitfalls that hinder small business success, from poor planning and hiring mistakes to ineffective marketing strategies. Learn practical tips to overcome these obstacles and set your business up for long-term success.
Episode 506 – Budgeting Fundamentals Master the art of budgeting with insights into financial control, planning, and performance measurement. This episode provides a step-by-step guide to managing expenses and achieving your financial goals.
Episode R504 – Annual Strategic Planning Explore the 10 steps to crafting a powerful strategic plan to guide your business toward sustainable growth. Gain best practices for aligning your goals, measuring success, and preparing for market changes.
Episode R1 – Ready to Be Your Own Boss? Assess whether you’re ready, willing, and able to start your entrepreneurial journey. This episode delves into the mindset, effort, and resources needed to take the leap into business ownership.
Episode 509 – Finding Your Identity Learn how to cultivate a balanced identity beyond your role as a business owner. Gain insights into delegating tasks, setting boundaries, and pursuing personal growth to achieve resilience and scalability.

Free Tools & Resources:

Business Expense Budget Tool: Monitor your annual operating budget with ease.
Marketing Budget Tool: Plan your advertising and marketing spend effectively.
Cash Flow Worksheet: Stay on top of your business’s working capital.
Annual Strategic Plan Outline: Build a robust strategic plan for growth.
Starting Your Business Guide: Assess your readiness to become your own boss.

Workshops & Courses:

Annual Strategic Planning Workshop Join Henry Lopez in this live online workshop to develop a roadmap for achieving your business goals.
Starting Your Business Course Learn what it takes to launch your small business.

Unlock the insights and tools that made 2024’s top episodes a hit with small business owners and entrepreneurs worldwide. Listen now and elevate your small business journey!