Beardbrand
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Men's grooming |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Eric Bandholz, Lindsey Reinders, Jeremy McGee |
| Headquarters | Austin , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Eric Bandholz (Founder and CEO) |
| Products | Beard, hair, skin, and mustache care products |
| Website | www |
Beardbrand is a U.S.-based men's grooming enterprise headquartered in Austin, Texas, specializing in products designed for the care, styling, and upkeep of beards, hair, skin, and mustaches. In 2014, its founder and CEO, Eric Bandholz, made an appearance on the reality television program Shark Tank.
History
Eric Bandholz previously worked as a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch in Spokane, Washington, but left the company due to its strict "no facial hair" policy and subsequently founded Beardbrand. In 2011, he connected with Lindsey Reinders and Jeremy McGee during a Startup Weekend event. Together, they officially launched Beardbrand in early 2012 in Spokane. Alongside the product line, they developed supporting platforms including a Tumblr blog, a YouTube channel, and an online publication titled Urban Beardsman, a phrase Bandholz asserts he originated.
Starting with an initial investment of $8,000, the founders reinvested every dollar of profit for nearly ten months to fuel expansion. Bandholz gained recognition as a "beard expert" in The New York Times in January 2013, which significantly enhanced the company's profile. Beardbrand broadened its promotional efforts through YouTube, Tumblr, Reddit, and established an e-commerce website.
In 2014, the business moved its operations to Austin. On October 31 of that year, Bandholz presented his pitch on ABC's Shark Tank, requesting $400,000 in exchange for 15% ownership; however, none of the five investors accepted the offer. Despite this setback, Beardbrand saw a notable increase in sales following the broadcast.