It started with a reaction to baby laundry detergent: Jessica Alba built The Honest Company as a new mom
The actress who founded a baby and household products brand after reacting to a detergent marketed as baby-friendly. It took years to launch. Lessons on patience and accepting mistakes.
Say the name Jessica Alba and many people think of the actress first. But she’s also the founder of a baby and household products brand, and it started with something small that many new moms have probably been through.
How did it start?
Quick Answer: She had a reaction to a laundry detergent marketed as suitable for babies around the time her first child was born in 2008, which made her start wondering what’s actually in everyday products.
Once she started wondering, she didn’t let it go. She began researching the chemicals in household products, and that became the idea for a brand making products moms could use with peace of mind.
How long from idea to launch?
Quick Answer: Several years, from when her child was born in 2008 to the launch in 2012.
CNBC reported that she launched with 17 products and made about 10 million dollars in sales in the first year. But she also said there were many stretches along the way when she felt very alone. Moms running a business on their own will probably be nodding along at that.
How does she see mistakes?
Quick Answer: She says the most valuable lessons often come from mistakes, but making the same mistake again is something to watch out for.
What can we moms take from this?
Our businesses don’t have to be anywhere near this big, but we can take the thinking behind it and use all of it. Start from a question you really run into while raising your kids, give it some time, and don’t be afraid of making mistakes when you start.
If you want to start but can’t yet picture where to begin, try finding an income idea that suits you.
Take these with you
3 lessons for moms who want to start
- 01
A small doubt is a good place to start
She started with the question of what's actually in everyday products. Questions like this, the kind moms ask every day, can become a business idea.
- 02
Be ready for it to take time
From idea to launch took several years. A mom's business doesn't have to be fast, but it mustn't stop.
- 03
Mistakes are fine, repeating them isn't
She told CNBC that the most valuable lessons often come from mistakes, but making the same mistake again is the problem.
Questions parents ask
01Why did Jessica Alba start The Honest Company?
CNBC reported that she had a reaction to a laundry detergent marketed as suitable for babies around the time her first child was born, so she started researching the chemicals in everyday products, which became the idea for the brand.
02What year did The Honest Company launch?
It launched in 2012 with 17 products.
03What lessons does Jessica Alba offer moms who want to start a business?
Start from a question you run into in real life, be patient with the time it takes, and see mistakes as lessons, not reasons to quit.
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