Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer Purcell: How the Beekman 1802 Founders Went From Self-Funded Soap Shop to a $300M Brand

Season 2

Ep. 5July 21, 2026

The greatest competitive advantage in business isn't always your product. Sometimes, it's the community that believes in it.

When Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell first arrived in Sharon Springs, New York, they weren't looking to build a skincare brand like Beekman 1802. They simply fell in love with a historic farm and the quiet charm of a small community they hoped would become their weekend escape. But when the 2008 recession upended their plans, their neighbors helped them discover an entirely new future.

In this episode of Becoming Self Made, Mike Michalowicz sits down with the founders of Beekman 1802 to explore how kindness, collaboration, and a shared commitment to their community became the foundation for one of the most beloved lifestyle brands in America. Brent and Josh share how Sharon Springs shaped their entrepreneurial journey, why they chose to invest in the people around them, and how that same spirit helped transform not only their company, but an entire town.

Together, they discuss what it means to build a business that creates opportunity beyond its own walls, why supporting fellow entrepreneurs can strengthen an entire local economy, and how growing "neighbor by neighbor" became more than a philosophy, it became a blueprint for sustainable success.

The greatest competitive advantage in business isn't always your product. Sometimes, it's the community that believes in it.When Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell first arrived in Sharon Springs, New York, they weren't looking to build a skincare brand like Beekman 1802. They simply fell in love with a historic farm and the quiet charm of a small community they hoped would become their weekend escape. But when the 2008 recession upended their plans, their neighbors helped them discover an entirely new future.In this episode of Becoming Self Made, Mike Michalowicz sits down with the founders of Beekman 1802 to explore how kindness, collaboration, and a shared commitment to their community became the foundation for one of the most beloved lifestyle brands in ...

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Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer Purcell: How the Beekman 1802 Founders Went From Self-Funded Soap Shop to a $300M Brand

Season 2

Ep. 5July 21, 2026

Listen Now >

The greatest competitive advantage in business isn't always your product. Sometimes, it's the community that believes in it.

The greatest competitive advantage in business isn't always your product. Sometimes, it's the community that believes in it.When Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell first arrived in Sharon ...

BECOMING SELF-MADE GUEST

Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell

Co-Founders, Beekman 1802

Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Dr. Brent Ridge are the Co-Founders of Beekman 1802. The pair founded Beekman 1802 in 2008 after purchasing the historic Beekman farm in Sharon Springs, NY, where they started making goat milk soaps. Today the company is recognized as one of the leading skin health brands in America by Nasdaq, Inc Magazine & The Wall Street Journal using the nutrients of goat milk to build and maintain the skin barrier. Their products can be found at ULTA, QVC, and fine spas throughout the world.

BECOMING SELF-MADE GUEST

Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell

Co-Founders, Beekman 1802

Top Takeaways

01
Go where your competitors aren't. When Brent set out to sell Beekman 1802 soap, he didn't set up at a farmers market like every other artisan brand. He loaded a picnic cooler, took the train to New York City, and cold-called the beauty buyers at Saks, Bloomingdale's, Barneys, and Henri Bendel. One buyer gave him a shot: a three-by-three table on the floor, every day for eight consecutive weeks. He left the farm at 5am, drove three and a half hours each way, and got home by midnight—until the product proved itself.
Lesson: The obvious channel is obvious because everyone else already chose it. Look at where your product category doesn't exist yet. That absence is the opportunity.
02
Put community before customers. When early orders started coming in, Brent and Josh couldn't afford to pay anyone to help fulfill them. So their neighbors in Sharon Springs showed up at their dining room table and wrapped soap for free. Then they bought the soap to take home, because they wanted the company to succeed. That table is still in the farmhouse. It's why every Beekman 1802 customer is called a "neighbor" to this day.
Lesson: Show up for the people around you before you need anything, and they'll become your most loyal customers before you've ever run an ad.
03
Always lead with kindness. Beekman 1802 didn't start with a business plan. It started with a neighborly gesture. When Farmer John left a note on their door asking if they'd take in his goats, Brent and Josh said yes, even though they'd never run a farm. That decision became the product, the brand, and the business philosophy. Today, every Beekman 1802 product literally lists kindness as an ingredient.
Lesson: Put as much care into the customer experience as the product. Build kindness into how you hire, how you talk to customers, and what you put on the label.

Transcript

This is an AI generated transcript. Please excuse any spelling errors.

Dr. Brent Ridge: [00:00:00] It wasn't until we lost our jobs during the recession where we truly started to understand the power of community.Josh Kilmer-Purcell: This town has 547 people, and so we ...

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Work hard, never quit, and always help your neighbor.”

Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell, Beekman 1802