#25 - The Sh*tshow of Shaving with Mat's Beard Bar
Nov 21, 2023
This week the founder of Mat's Beard Bar is on to talk about his journey in creating a simple yet incredibly effective product to solve the problem of beard trimmings on your sink.
The Sh*tshow of Shaving: How One Guy's Petty Roommate Problem Became a Six-Figure Business
From Guyset Podcast - A Guy's Guide to What Should Be Talked About
Ever left beard trimmings all over the sink after shaving? If you're a guy living with roommates or a girlfriend, this probably hits close to home. What started as a petty solution to an annoying roommate problem has become a viral TikTok success story and thriving business.
Meet Matt, founder of Matt's Beard Bar—the simple tool that's solving the universal problem of messy bathroom sinks, one shave at a time.
The Problem Every Guy (and Their Partners) Know Too Well
We've all been there: you finish trimming your beard, and suddenly your sink looks like a barber shop exploded. You think you've cleaned it all up, but somehow there are still tiny hairs lurking everywhere. Your roommate complains. Your girlfriend rolls her eyes. You promise to do better next time, but inevitably forget.
This exact scenario was playing out in Matt's apartment during March 2020. Living with his cousin during COVID lockdowns, Matt found himself in the unusual position of being the one bothered by beard trimmings—a role that 80% of the time falls to women in relationships.
From Petty Roommate Revenge to Viral Success
The Birth of an Idea: Armed with a 3D printer and some antimicrobial foam, Matt decided to solve the problem himself. "I was being really petty," he admits. "I told my cousin he needed a visual reminder since he claimed he didn't see the mess."
The First Prototype: Matt's initial version was bulky and cumbersome—much wider and taller than the current sleek design. After testing with friends and refining the grip, he landed on the compact, ergonomic version that could clean around sinks with just a few fingers.
The TikTok Explosion That Changed Everything
The Viral Moment: After posting about 30 videos on TikTok, Matt hit the jackpot. "I posted a video on a Friday at 6 PM, took a shower, and came out to six orders from complete strangers," he recalls.
But the real surge came later:
October 2020: 500 orders that crashed his inventory system
November 2020: Black Friday video doubled October's orders
December 2020: Another video doubled November's sales
January 2021: One video generated 4,000 orders in a single month
The Numbers Behind the Success: At this point, Matt estimates over 50,000 beard bars have been sold, with each one personally touched by him during assembly and quality control.
The Entrepreneurial Journey: The Real Talk
The Sacrifices Nobody Talks About
Matt's candid about the dark side of startup success:
Physical and Mental Exhaustion: "I was burning out physically and mentally. I remember times I was just laughing at nothing, getting delirious."
Social Life on Hold: "No personal time, friendships were out. The only people I talked to were either at work or at Matt's Beard Bar with me."
14-Hour Days: Working a full-time remote job from 9-5, then making beard bars from 6 PM to 11 PM. Some days had 14 people in his mom's basement packing orders.
Financial Stress: Despite the money coming in, constant reinvestment meant frequent returns to "baseline of having nothing."
The Turning Point
After nearly burning out, Matt made the leap to full-time entrepreneurship in February 2021. Today, he employs 8 full-time staff with another 8-12 part-time helpers, many of whom are friends and family.
How Matt's Beard Bar Actually Works
The Simple Solution: After shaving, wet the flexible foam tool with warm water. The grooves pick up beard trimmings as you sweep around the sink. The V2 design is flexible, allowing it to bend around faucets and corners.
The Cleaning Process:
Rinse the tool in the included holder with grooved sides
Dump the dirty water down the toilet (never the sink)
Let it air dry—the antimicrobial properties kill bacteria when dry
Key Features:
Flexible design that bends around sink fixtures
Dense foam that prevents hairs from sticking
Antimicrobial and mildew-resistant when dry
Ergonomic grip requiring just a few fingers
The Business Behind the Beard Bar
TikTok Marketing Magic
100% Organic Growth: Matt has never paid for ads. TikTok has actually used his videos as ads, paying for the promotion themselves—equivalent to over $200K in free advertising.
The Secret Formula: "The most important thing is showing it being used. People understand what beard trimmings are, they know it's annoying. I show it cleaning, then wiping off the beard bar—that's it."
Product Development
Learning from Feedback: Version 2 incorporated customer suggestions: denser foam to prevent hair sticking and flexibility for better maneuverability around sink fixtures.
Patent Protection: Matt invested approximately $4,000 in design patents and trademarks, successfully taking down 20+ knockoff products.
The Numbers Game
100% Owner: No investors, partners, or mentors
Growing Team: 8 full-time employees plus seasonal help
Multiple Sellouts: The company has sold out 8 times
Viral Reach: Millions of views across TikTok content
Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Matt's Advice for Starting Your Own Thing
Don't Quit Your Day Job: "Hold on for as long as possible. I literally had no more time left before I made the choice."
Try Multiple Things: "This was my 18th venture. Try different things and get low skills—Shopify, suppliers, social media. Eventually, they all stack."
Take Action, Not Just Information: "I have friends who send me YouTube videos but do nothing with them. You have to apply what you learn."
Hook Your Future Self Up: "Limit things that aren't benefiting you. Spend time learning skills instead of just going out every weekend."
The Reality Check
Matt's success didn't happen overnight. Previous ventures included:
Multiple mobile apps
T-shirt company
Accountability app with 4 founders and 2-year commitment
Various side projects over a decade
The difference with Beard Bar? Timing + Simple Solution + Viral Content + Persistence
The Future of Matt's Beard Bar
With plans to outsource manufacturing and focus on development and marketing, Matt is positioning the company for its next growth phase. His goal remains the same: "Clean up every sink—not necessarily with a beard bar, but that's the best option."
Why This Story Matters
Matt's journey proves that:
Simple problems need simple solutions
Persistence pays off (18 attempts!)
Timing and luck matter, but preparation is crucial
Organic growth is possible in the age of paid advertising
Bootstrapping without investors is viable
The Bottom Line
Sometimes the best business ideas come from the most mundane annoyances. A petty roommate dispute became a viral sensation, proving that if you can solve a real problem—even a small one—for enough people, you might just build something extraordinary.
Matt's Beard Bar isn't just about cleaning sinks; it's about recognizing opportunity in frustration and having the persistence to see it through, even when it means sacrificing everything else temporarily.
For guys struggling with the eternal sink-cleaning battle: Your girlfriend will thank you. Your roommates will thank you. And honestly, you'll thank yourself for finally solving this annoying problem once and for all.
To hear the full interview with Matt and learn more about his entrepreneurial journey, listen to Guyset - A Guy's Guide to What Should Be Talked About. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms. Visit guyset.com for more content on entrepreneurship, lifestyle, and navigating your 20s.
Timestamps
4:34 How and why Mat made the Beard Bar
11:58 First changes to the product
12:59 managing a full-time job and Beard Bar
14:27 Mat talks about his failed ventures
16:37 Mat talks about quitting his job and doing Beard Bar full-time
20:53 Mat talks about the sacrifices and hardships it took to get here (This is my favorite part)
27:38 Mat talks about getting to a better place mentally
32:23 Mat talks about being a boss for the first time
35:10 He reveals how much of the company he owns
35:53 We talk about how to use the product
40:23 Mat talks about competition and knockoffs
43:20 We talk about the patents and trademarks
46:52 Mat tells us his marketing strategy
51:58 Mat’s recommendations for someone moving to the next thing
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