Q 1. Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans: Founded in 2008, Florida Skincare Testing performs analytical and clinical testing for the OTC, cosmetic, personal care, and protective clothing industries. FDA registered and inspected. With decades of directly relevant experience, the diverse team of professionals provides accurate independent research with remarkable turnaround speed.
Q 2. Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans: We are skin care professionals with degrees from a variety of Southeastern Universities – Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. Each member of the team has many business and technological accomplishments.
Q 3. What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)?
Ans: Florida Skincare Testing was created as spinoff of the Hawaiian Tropic suncare company. The SPF testing now operates independently and has diversified its services well beyond sunscreen testing.
Q 4. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: 1) Focus on what you know 2) Never give up 3) Adapt to what the industries need or desire
Q 5. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: 1) Perseverance 2) Creativity 3) Positive Attitude
Q 6. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: Key scientists – 8 hours
Q 7. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: Technical experience; fast turnaround; accuracy – FST has participated in COLIPA SPF studies evaluating the exactness of findings globally. This “blind” research was organized and analyzed by BIPEA, an independent French testing agency. With an average SPF value of 102% of the mean value, FST was found to be the most accurate of all participating labs for the 17 individual products tested. In addition, FST was closest to the mean value more often than any other participating lab.
Q 8. How do you go about marketing your business?
Ans: Build awareness through industry contacts (tradeshows, word-of-mouth, etc.)
Q 9. Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it?
Ans: Partners infused capital
Q 10. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Adjust to the market needs, maintain professional personnel, and stay focused on the current business while keeping an eye toward the future
Q 11. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: The business will grow to be a research center with more Quality Assurance services, bench chemistry and industry consulting
Q 12. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: Amazon, the ultimate disruptive player in each market in which it participates
Q 13. How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: Critical; skilled, technically-trained professionals are far more important than our equipment
Q 14. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: Until it becomes boring or lacks activity
Q 15. What motivates you?
Ans: Successfully executing great ideas; inspiring people to perform
Q 16. How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: Expand from experiences
Q 17. How do you define success?
Ans: Sustaining others in a profitable enterprise
Q 18. How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans: Performance every day; transparency; honesty
Q 19. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: Making other successful; seeing ideas become real and successful
Q 20. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: When I was made an officer of Hawaiian Tropic; breaking a 10% share of the US suncare business
Q 21. What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Ans: Creative mindset and commitment
Q 22. What kind of culture exists in your organization?
Ans: Casual professionalism; tone evolved naturally because working clinically with human participant requires at productive atmosphere that is safe, comfortable and enjoyable
Q 23. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans: Fun
Q 24. How did you decide on the location for your business?
Ans: Facilitates outdoor testing and convenient analytical services for Florida-based manufacturers
Company Detail :
Company name Florida Skincare Testing
Address 101 N. Bay Street
City Bunnell
State FL
Zip Code 32110
Tel No 386-492-2959
E-mail Id jack@surretteassociates.com
