Stryke Club Founder Stacy Blackman's #1 Rule: Begin Before You're Ready
Stryke Club makes acne fighting skincare products for the unique issues teen boys face. Developed by a board certified pediatric dermatologist, our super power formulas help unzit, undirt and unstink any guy. We are four moms who wanted to create incredibly effective, clean, cruelty-free formulas with cutting edge ingredients, cool packaging and boy approved scents. We felt our boys deserved better that an outdated 80's product or something borrowed from the girls and decided to create that product!
I stay motivated by… my son and my desire to change the conversation around boys and self-care. To show boys that it's OK to care about their appearance and to provide them with the very best products to do that.
Three adjectives that describe me are… curious, driven, growing
If I could have dinner with one person would be… Queen Elizabeth because she was the first female influencer! In her position she has influenced for decades and has seen the world change drastically under her reign. She has adhered to her principles and traditions while also adapting and embracing change.
The most exciting innovation to me is… the smart phone. Having my favorite books, videos, podcasts and photos all in one small device is mind blowing (and at the same time very addictive!)
Do you have a fixed work routine? Is it important to have one? Any tips for our readers?
I do not have a fixed routine as every day is completely different. However, I know exactly what each day will look like before I go to bed the night before. I plan out what I want to accomplish and make sure to schedule time to get it done. I am addicted to my calendar; it's truly my greatest productivity tool.
What do you think is the biggest obstacle for female founders? How can we overcome it?
Being afraid or intimidated and not believing that you have enough knowledge, resources or intelligence. I can tell you that no one truly understands what lies ahead and is fully prepared for an entrepreneurial journey (this includes the founders of companies like Starbucks and Nike…read their books!).
Just take the first step and then the next. You don't need to see the whole path; just take one tiny step at a time.
How do you generate new ideas to stay relevant on the market? Is it important to innovate in your space?
Innovation is essential. The only thing we can count on with certainty is change. I generate ideas by listening hard to the consumer and truly processing their feedback and inputs. They can tell you what they want and it is up to us to innovate and create solutions.
If you were a book, which one would it be and why?
I'd be an unpublished book with chapters still unwritten. I never want to close the book and live happily ever after. I want to always be learning and growing up. I don't know what my next chapter is but I know it will be an adventure and I am very excited to write it!
What is one thing you find to be true that most people would disagree with?
Begin before you are ready. I find that a lot of entrepreneurs spend far too much time analyzing and often talk themselves out of a good idea. They waste time creating overly robust business plans, trying to secure all of the necessary funding, listening to the skeptics and making sure they have enough time in their schedule to do the job. I am a big fan of just diving in, before you feel ready, learning as you go, and being willing to fail and pivot and stumble your way to success.
What are some pros and cons of having (OR not having) entrepreneurial parents?
My husband and I are both entrepreneurs. Pros of this for my children are getting to see us struggle and work and build something of our own. My kids are genuinely proud of me and it feels good to share my journey with them. I also love the idea that I am fully in command of my own schedule and my children benefit from that as we can spend time with them whenever we want and work virtually if needed.A con is that an entrepreneur never turns off. Just because we are home does not mean that we are not working. I've had to learn to be present with whatever it is I am doing and switch gears quickly between work and family.
Frequently Asked Questions about Stacy Blackman & Stryke Club
What is Stryke Club and why was it started?
Stryke Club is a skincare brand that makes clean, cruelty-free, and effective acne-fighting products specifically for teen boys. It was founded by four moms, including Stacy Blackman, who felt their sons deserved better options than outdated products or things borrowed from the girls. The brand's mission is to change the conversation around boys and self-care, showing them it's okay to care about their appearance and providing them with great products to do so.
What is Stacy Blackman's top advice for new entrepreneurs?
Her single most important piece of advice is to begin before you are ready. She believes too many entrepreneurs get stuck in "analysis paralysis"—wasting time on overly robust business plans, trying to secure all funding upfront, and listening to skeptics. She is a big fan of diving in, learning as you go, and being willing to stumble your way to success.
How does Stacy Blackman recommend overcoming imposter syndrome?
Stacy's advice for overcoming the fear and intimidation of entrepreneurship is to recognize that no one is ever fully prepared for the journey—not even the founders of iconic companies like Nike or Starbucks. Her solution is to stop trying to see the entire path ahead. Instead, she advises to just take the first small step, and then the next, building momentum and learning one step at a time.
How does Stryke Club stay innovative in the skincare market?
For Stacy, innovation is essential because change is the only certainty. The brand's strategy for generating new ideas is simple but powerful: listening hard to the consumer. She believes that customers will tell you exactly what they want and what problems they have; it is the company's job to truly process that feedback and innovate to create the solutions.