We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Kreis-Stephens and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, what’s your definition for success?
I love this quote about success, “Sucess is never owned. It is rented and the rent is due everyday,” Rory Vaden. That really defines what the climb is like. Climbing the ladder of success is tangible, unpredictable and bold and you find out just exactly what you are made of during it. It is taking charge of the future of your brand. I define success as a hustle that grows into something worth devoting your life to, that you are completely passionate about and vested in and that will continue to support you and your family for years to come.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
In 2004, we created a business from a high school classroom science experiment-an herbal remedy for poison ivy. Our desire for adventure salves and clean skincare products drove us to create 21 sku’s that include cleansers, masks, toners, oils, moisturizers, body scrubs, wipes and lip slicks.
We are most proud of Raising the Bar for organic skincare, in our own way, by not formulating with water or any chemical preservatives. We have earned 10 awards to date that include Best Organic Skincare Company in Tennessee and the esteemed American Choice Best Brand Award.

We started the business and kept our day job until we had accrued about 3000 customers. We took every opportunity that came our way to promote the business; every magazine article, every event, thousands of festivals, anything and everything that promoted the brand withOUT a big expense. We are EXTREMELY thrifty!!!

Business is never easy and especially one that you know will be a game-changer one day! The challenges, oh we roll with the punches, baby!

We never chase customers or retail stores. We put our brand out there and if we are a good fit, both customers and stores will come to us! We had to learn that the hard way though.

We want the world to know that we built this business from the ground up. We never had Capital until year 20!!! We worked hard and believed in Tomboy from the beginning. We are the real deal, no one gave us anything. This little grassroots company is making a difference in our community. This year we broke ground on our first manufacturing facility & attached spa. That is a big deal in Appalachia!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This scenario has played out year after year because almost all of my friends are whitewater paddlers. They come here to paddle Clear Creek, the Emory or the Big South Fork. We usually hang out after at the Lilly Pad Hopyard Brewery for food and drink with the very exciting Del & Marte Scruggs. We are also climbers and Lilly has some great climbing. Locally, that is Deer Lodge on the Cumberland Plateau, we have community dinners at the Weidemann Hotel and Abner Ross Community Center.

My good friend Tiffany Brooks owns RM Brooks Store in Rugby, a great place to eat. In Wartburg, MoCo Brewing Project owned by Matt & Emily Graber is a fun place to hang, have a coffee or a beer! Also, Tanner’s has reopened thanks to the Morgan County Tourism Alliance, and you can sit down and grab a bite there.

The hiking and biking is outstanding here. There is flora and fauna here that is not found anywhere else. And Tomboy is at home in Deer Lodge, so soon you will be able to climb, paddle or hike and get a massage or a facial designed just for the outdoor crowd and hit the sauna!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a big SHOUTOUT to our customers who believe in us and have been there since we were hungry!

My children who continue to love & support me, but always have something else to do when the batch needs to be made!!! lol

And to Jim & Katha O’Hatnick whose mentorship is taking us into a new realm of business!

Website: https://www.tomboyskincare.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomboyskincare/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-kreis-stephens-91851960/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomboyskincare

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCTbl0c57uuVK67qUrOJkIQ

Image Credits
Stacy Spriggs Studios

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutTennessee is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.