Episode 102: Tepi Naturals is more than skincare - It’s a family story with Brent Thomas

Speaker A: Foreign.

Speaker B: Business today where we feature prominent local and national family business owners. We also talk to top family business experts to discuss relevant topics including communications, business culture, family relationships, succession and estate planning values, as well as conflict resolution. Brought to you by the Tennessee center for Family Business. I'm your host, Greg Lewis. Our guest today is Brent Thomas with Tepe Naturals in Yorba Linda, California. Brent always had a desire to create something of his own. He just didn't know it would lead to Tepe Naturals. He uncovered his passion for chemistry during community college at a time when he wasn't sure what path to take. Drawn to the clarity and structure of the subject, he went on to earn his BS in Chemistry from CSU Fullerton and uh, later a master's in Organic Chemistry from San Diego State University. Through his experience in organic synthesis, Brent saw a major issue with synthetic materials. While they might solve one problem, plenty of others can quickly unravel. During his time as a quality control manager at a biotech company, he realized that he wanted to build something for himself, not for the future of another company. With a peaked interest from the studies his father shared with him and deeply rooted family ties, Brent saw the perfect opportunity to start a business where everyone could bring something unique to the table. Today, he's fulfilling his dream of creating clean, healthy and non toxic skin care products for all through Tepe Naturals. Hello, Brent.

Speaker A: Hello, Greg.

Speaker B: Hey. I am so glad that you could join me this this day for this edition of Family Business Today. I'm really excited to learn more about your family business, uh, Tapi Naturals.

Speaker A: And I'm really excited for, um, you having me on today. This is a really great experience.

Speaker B: Well, let's get started. So, um, Brent, can you tell us a little bit how, uh, uh, your family, uh, got started in this business and maybe a little history behind the company?

Speaker A: Yeah, of course. Um, the idea started in 2019 and it stemmed from my father who has been working in the coffee industry for over 36 years. Um, one of the biggest issues that the coffee industry poses is it produces a lot of agricultural waste during the roasting process. And coffee roasters on a global scale, um, they typically pay somebody to come pick up this byproduct and throw it away. Well, my father was seeing studies about this byproduct called Coffee Silverskin, or more commonly known as Chaff. And the studies were outlining the topical benefits of the extractions, um, for skin care. And my background, I'm, I have a formal education in organic chemistry. And he shared those studies with Me. And he asked, hey, son, is there anything to this? Um, my dad's always been entrepreneurial with his children, so he's given, you know, my brothers, um, ideas and projects that they could potentially build businesses out of. Well, back in 2019 he shared these studies with me and so I did a huge deep dive into all the literature available. Came, um, back to him. I said, dad, ah, this is, you know, has great potential in the skincare industry. Nobody's, um, using it. Let's see if we can build something that um, could be beneficial to the community. Um, so that's how it started back in 2019. Um, it took a bit of time to get, um, you know, decided that I want to put personal funds into benchtop lab equipment, start playing around with formulations, and, um, we kicked off from there. Um, we sold our first product in about the back end of 2020. Um, and then have been full time ever since, since 2021.

Speaker B: Well, that's great. So, uh, so there really is more, uh, to, uh, to uh, coffee, uh, beans and coffee than coffee grinds. Is that what you're telling me? Is that correct?

Speaker A: Oh, definitely, yeah. There's, there's a ton of applications for each of the components of the, the coffee plant, not just the beans and the chaff. Um, but we took the, we took the chaff for the coffee silver skin and turned it into something absolutely beautiful.

Speaker B: Oh, that's great. That's great. So, so, uh, so the, the product that you sell though is, is a skincare, ah, product. Um, so, uh, my question is, is then why did you decide to start Tepe Naturals as a family business instead of your idea to some existing skincare brands, which are a bunch of them out there.

Speaker A: Um, so as I earlier mentioned, my father always having that entrepreneurial spirit, um, he's built that into us since the very beginning, um, to build something of our own. And after my graduate studies, I worked in biotech for a couple years and I just always had this nagging thought in the back of my head that I'm building somebody else's empire when I have the education, the dedication and the desire to build something for myself, my family. So I think it really was ingrained early on and then continued to be nourished throughout my life to build a family business. Um, I remember when I was younger, my father would always mention that he one day would like to start his own company as well. And so we had this shared interest, um, throughout our lives and I think the timing was right. Um, we have a diverse skill Set within the family that collaborates, um, very well. And uh, with only four people we've been able to build a small product line that uh, people have been loving. We've been. Out of the five years we've been selling now, um, we've only received five star reviews. We have continual um, purchases online that we ship all across the nation. So it's been really well received and um, we're just, we have the shared interest. We're building a future for ourselves and it is going to be a company for generations to come.

Speaker B: That's, that's great. That's great. So uh, had you ever worked with your father before?

Speaker A: Not in a professional setting. Um, okay. We have a lot of history together. Um, you know, growing up he was you know, um, a leader in a lot of the activities that I was present in. Um, so. Such as soccer. He was the, the coach for our soccer team. He was also a leader in the Boy Scouts, um, group that I was a part of. Um, before that he was also, I think it's a little, um, a little tender on the PC area. But uh, he was also part of the Indian Guides and so he led our, our Indian Guides troop. So he'd always exemplified leadership and planning. Um, and so that's always been a, a good role model for me. Okay.

Speaker B: All right. So you have that shared interest and that collaborative um, uh, ah, part of it there. But you're a small organization of four people. Um, so uh, who reports to who? Does dad report to you or do you report to him or how does the structure of your company.

Speaker A: Honestly, we are all um, co owners in the company. Um, some of us have more um, shares within the company, but we report to each other. Um, I'm not quite sure how other family businesses are structured. Um, I would imagine some have a general hierarchy for us. We're all on the same playing field. We all bring diverse skill sets to the team and it relies a lot on trust. Um, and I can go into a little bit about each of our family members roles in the company. But um, I would say that my father has been instrumental in guiding us in a business sense. M. You know, he has a lot of experience in you know, executive roles. So he's, he's given us a lot of business guidance. Um, he's also, I'd imagine is not imagined but he definitely is the backbone of our relationships as well. Uh, you know, working with your father, he's always been the person that you know, provides support, direction. Um, he's, he's built the Family. So I. I guess he is, um, he is definitely the direction of the family as well.

Speaker B: Okay. All right. Well, thanks for sharing that. Well, working together in a family business, we always say that there's families, family and businesses and business, but never the two shall meet. Unless, of course, you work together in a family business. Uh, uh, so this short period of time that y' all been working together, um, less than 10 years, uh, what's been the biggest challenge and how have y' all overcome those challenges?

Speaker A: Say the biggest challenge for our family business was, um, communication.

Speaker B: Okay.

Speaker A: As something that we've. I believe we get better and better at it every single day.

Speaker B: Sure.

Speaker A: Um, when we first started, um, a lot of us were, you know, doing different things in our lives. Um, you know, I went off to college. I was gone for eight years. Um, um, worked in biotech, came back home, um, when this family business started up. And it was a kind of jolting, um, because we hadn't communicated that much for such a long period of time. It was almost like relearning how the family dynamics worked. Um, and we've continued to succeed in building our communication over the last couple years, um, working together. So I'd say that's the biggest hurdle for us, um, not taking things personally. Knowing that each of the individuals have a shared interest, desire, and want, um, to see us as a whole succeed is, I think, um, the biggest thing to take away from, um, working with family is we all have this shared interest. We all want to see each other succeed and remember that we're doing this for each other. So that is. That's one of the biggest hurdles.

Speaker B: Oh, good. Well, uh, the good news is, as family business advisors, we work with a lot of families. And usually the top three problems that we run across are communications, communications and communications. So, uh, I'm glad that you recognize that, and that's an area that y' all are continuing to work together on. But the other challenge about family businesses is, uh, usually there's trouble separating family and business from each other. So what. What have. Has been your. Your strategies, maybe your family's strategies to keep work at work and home at home? Um, um. And, um, sort of going along with that is. Is, uh, what do y' all talk about around the dinner table on Sunday when the whole family's together, or at night when you're just. Just at home with your family?

Speaker A: So the way we've structured it is Mondays and Thursdays are our family business meetings. Um, every other day of the week is personal. So we. We kind of keep it, um, more structured where we have specific days that we will talk about business. Um, during normal business hours, we'll talk about business outside of them. We, um, we keep it personal. Um, and you know, not everything's business too. We, we plan events with each other where business isn't involved. Um, I oftentimes go hit golf balls at the driving range with my father in the evenings. Um, mother, sister, love going out to, say, Disneyland or um, out to lunch. Um, and I'll join them on frequent occasions. But, um, yeah, there's. The structure is we have designated times throughout the week that um, we focus solely on business. Outside of that, we keep it more personal.

Speaker B: Yeah. Talking about holidays, playing golf, uh, uh, uh, kids, um, sports, whatever happens to be going on in life there. Well, great, great advice to offer some of our listeners here. So, um, so. So you. You've worked outside of the family business, uh, uh, before you got in the family business. Um, so. So from your experience, what's been the most rewarding part of contributing to a family business, uh, versus your time, other than money, uh, other than, uh, when you were working in the private sector?

Speaker A: I know my family is going to be with me until the end. Um, and so I think the, the greatest thing about working in a family business is fostering those relationships. Um, you know, friends will come and go, bosses, co workers, they, they don't have a shared interest in our lives as family does. So I think that that has been the. The greatest thing for me is to continue to foster these relationships, um, build a business together that is supporting us and our family. Um, I think it's absolutely beautiful.

Speaker B: Very good, very good. Well, um, yeah, uh, you're early on in your career. Um, are, um, you thinking about collaborating, uh, with other, um, uh, people that make, um, uh, skincare products? Or are you pretty much going to stay focused, uh, on uh, expanding what Tappy Naturals makes?

Speaker A: You know, we are. We're open to collaborating with other skincare companies. Um, I think the, the. The sector that we most likely collaborate with, um, are laboratories that have equipment that we might not have access to. Um, makes sense. So we'd be looking for more, uh, smaller access or smaller family businesses to work with, um, because we understand the importance of building those small family businesses as we're going through ourselves. Okay.

Speaker B: All right. Well, it may be just a little bit early yet to be thinking about it, but I can't help but think about, uh, uh, some of the great leadership, uh, coaches and uh, begin with the end in mind, uh, from Transitioning is concerned there. But um, are there any next generation family business family members there that uh, uh, may be in training as, as far as sweeping floors and maybe possibility of uh, uh, continuing on the business in the future?

Speaker A: Um, our intention is to keep it within the family. Um, at this current point in time. I do not have any children, um, but I do have brothers outside of the company that are um, that I'd love to have be part of the company one day. Um, when I, when I do eventually have children, they, my intention is to have them involved. Um, and I, that's I guess with the assumption that they would like to be involved. But um, at this point in time, um, we do intend on keeping it in the family, but we'll need to start building new generations.

Speaker B: Sure, sure, I understand that part. I understand that part. Yeah. Well that's great. Well, um, so you're working uh, with several family members in business and you've learned things. You've already told us about some of those. But communications is important, uh, about separating family and business conversations, uh, at the dinner table. What advice would you give to our audience, uh, members who are thinking of starting a family business?

Speaker A: If I was. The advice that I would give, um, somebody who's considering starting a family business is understand your family's strengths and weaknesses. Um, not in a sense that you would take advantage of weaknesses, but know where the pitfalls might be. Um, if you can overcome the communication, you can really overcome anything within the family business. Um, especially if your family has the same desire to build the company. Um, everybody will adapt. There's been so many times where um, somebody else has taken over a responsibility. Um, you know, when it, when a family member becomes sick or is out of town. Um, work with, work with people that you can trust, um, to take over when know things get rough or when they might not be able to. Um. I trust my family entirely. So I've been very fortunate to grow up in a family such as mine where I can trust each of the individuals, trust their expertise, um, trust that they will give an extra helping hand when needed. I think that that's the biggest piece of advice is work with your family if you know you can trust them. Uh, sure. Outside of just responsibilities, um, you know, we, we're all involved with decision, um, making finances, business direction. Um, we are open to hearing each other's opinions. Um, and be able to take criticism as well. Um, you know, if, if somebody gives a piece of direction that you know, you might not agree with, be able to talk that through so work with your family if you know you can trust them.

Speaker B: Sure.

Speaker A: And um, I've been, been fortunate to trust my family.

Speaker B: So there's a, there's a, there's really uh, it's important to have a vision uh, for, for the family business and for any business for that matter. And obviously creating this company, uh, you have a vision for, for what it is, what is. But tell, tell me though. I uh, know in talking to some, some uh, families especially have been in business for a number of years. Uh, uh, what is your goal for, for, for the next year? And they say as well we want to make more money than we made last year or we want to sell more than we uh, did last year. How important is it and how do y' all go about setting goals, uh, that everybody in the company can buy into and, and be working towards rather than it just being whatever's next coming uh, up, down the line.

Speaker A: So you, I mean all companies are going to have their long term, medium and short term goals. Um, money is always going to be the bottom line that keeps the business afloat. Um, our, our current medium um term goals are to develop additional products to have available for our community. Um, we obviously uh, want to put our products onto store shelves. Um, one of the shorter term goals were um, developing our Amazon account. So that is something we're putting a lot of focus into so that we can grant ourselves a larger audience. Um, but we want to maintain our dedication to sustainability. We want to upgrade our packaging into more um, environmentally friendly packaging, um, where we can um. I feel like I missed the back end of that question and I might be going off.

Speaker B: Yeah, thank you very, it's very good there. What, what's next Forum. It's new products. Ah, uh, store shelves, developing an Amazon account, environmental friendly project. All those are all very, very good, good things there. Uh, so, um, uh, you got any new products that you might be willing uh, to share right now that uh, be coming out here soon or is that still sort of a behind the curtain thing until a little bit later on?

Speaker A: Oh, definitely. Um, I have a couple of theoretical formulations in place for a face cleanser and exfoliant. We're um, trying to build out a like an all in one package for our clients, um, who are looking for know, a full face routine. Um, outside of that I guess, um, product category we'll also be developing products that are for hair. So shampoo, conditioner, um, soap, um, exfoliants for the body. So we plan on essentially building out everything, bath and body with you know, the environmental fermi aspect in mind. Um, all of our products, I'm not sure if you're aware of this but they're all plant based. So. Okay. We're, we're focused on clean um, green body care products.

Speaker B: Very good.

Speaker A: And, and that was, that was the essence of starting with coffee. Um, silver skin as a, as the focus ingredient for our skincare products.

Speaker B: Oh, very good, very good. Well I'm, I'm a uh, vegetarian and I use plant based products myself. So it's, that's good. Great to hear that. Great to hear that you're doing that. So you, you talked about some things that you're developing on. But so our listener says, well I want to, I want to feel touch use some of your uh, tipping natural products right now. Working at List listeners, learn more about your uh, company and where can they purchase your products at.

Speaker A: So they can do all of that on our online store@tepinaturals.com um, if they happen to be in the Southern California region, um, near Huntington beach and Newport Beach. We do shows, um, farmers market shows every single weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Um, another place that they can learn more about us is on our Instagram page. Um, the handle would be epinaturals and they can see what's coming up in the company, what we're doing. We also post our show schedules every Thursday so all of our locals know where to find us. So online on social media. Um, we also have our contact page if they want to reach out directly. Uh, we have an active um, email and phone that um, they can speak with us personally at.

Speaker B: Very good, very good. Well uh, we could talk on for quite a while here but um, boy, I just want to wish you all the greatest success in your company and um, uh, you're working with your family and uh, someday your brother's joining uh, you in the company. And uh, just say to keep working on communications and, and uh, staying focused on, on the brand and the value uh, propositions you're bringing to your, your customers. And it sounds like you're doing some great things there for that. What are your final thoughts Sabrina, uh, that you'd like to share with our listeners today?

Speaker A: I feel that I haven't had as much enjoyment in any other activity in my life than building a family business. And if you have the opportunity to, and you have a diverse family, I say go for um, will build your relationships. It will give you direction for the future and something to work for. I feel like at a fundamental level it gives me more purpose and, and so I couldn't be happier doing what I'm doing now.

Speaker B: Well, that is great. So just an enjoyment in building a family business and it brings joy into your lives, uh, by working together with your siblings, uh, parents and cousins and anyone else, uh, that's there, but it's in building a family business. Well, we want to see more and more family businesses be built, uh, and grow and prosper and really build legacies that last on for multiple generations here in the United States and around the world.

Speaker A: So.

Speaker B: Well, Brent, we wish you and your business continued success. Uh, to learn more about Brent or Tepe Naturals, visit their website@www.tepinaturals.com. that's T E P I naturals.com to our listeners. Thank you for joining us for the Family Business Day podcast brought to you by the Tennessee center for Family Business located in Nashville, Tennessee. Our passion is to help families create a positive environment where the family thrives, the business performs and working together, they create a lasting family legacy. Whether you're a business owner looking to grow your family business or you're wanting to prepare to someday sell or transition the business to the next generation, check out our free resources on our website@www.bncfb.com. um, if you want to talk to a family business advisor about your specific family business needs, schedule a 30 minute no cost call by sending us email to info cfb.com if you want to talk, we will listen. So until next time, thanks for joining us.