Starting a business from the ground up comes with its own set of challenges — limited resources, building a customer base from nothing, and navigating the uncertainty of uncharted territory. What does it take to succeed as a first-time founder? What lessons can new entrepreneurs learn from those who have been through the process? In this interview series, we are talking with startup founders who can share insights on the unique challenges of launching a business from scratch. As part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kelly Wong and Van Hong — Mint Tools.
Kelly Wong is an engineer-turned-beauty-innovator with over two decades of experience manufacturing professional tools for the beauty industry. Van Hong is a veteran stylist, educator, and salon owner with a passion for empowering professionals through functional, ergonomic design. Together, they co-founded Mint Tools, a premium hair tool brand created by hairdressers, for hairdressers.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Kelly: I graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering and moved to Silicon Valley to begin a career in tech. A month later, 9/11 hit, and I was laid off. While traveling the world and attending trade shows, I stumbled upon the beauty industry at a time I least expected — and found my first client at a beauty trade show. The rest is history.
Van: I took a gap year from college to save up for a car, and my mother suggested hairdressing. Though it was far from common for young men at the time, I fell in love with the challenge and creativity of it. That passion led me to open my own salon, appear on national TV, teach future stylists, and eventually partner with Kelly to launch Mint Tools — a brand rooted in both passion and purpose.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Kelly: I once attended what I thought was a trade-only show with samples, only to realize it was a consumer-focused, cash-and-carry event. I had nothing to sell. It felt like a bust until a major beauty brand discovered our tools and placed a huge order. What seemed like a mistake became our breakthrough.
Van: On the way to my first major hair show, I spilled cough syrup all over the crotch of my white pants. I had to wash and dry them in a public restroom, half-dressed. But once I was on stage, I forgot the embarrassment. That day taught me the value of staying present and focused, no matter how messy the lead-up.
Can you tell us a story about the hard times that you faced when you first started your journey?
Kelly: I was targeting big clients like Remington with cold calls, emails, and holiday gifts,all while living off savings. It took a full year before I landed that first client, but it changed everything.
Van: I was juggling a salon, a hair school, and a new tool brand while trying to learn Instagram from scratch. It was exhausting, and for years I saw no financial return. But I kept going because I believed in the vision, and that belief fueled my resilience.
Where did you get the drive to continue even though things were so hard?
Kelly: I’ve always stayed optimistic. I knew if I stayed consistent and thought creatively, the right opportunity would come.
Van: In reality, what I went through was tough, but nothing compared to what others, especially my parents, have endured. My parents escaped Vietnam during the war with my brother and me. We were just three and four years old. They came to Canada not speaking a word of English, with only $20 in their pocket. Their work ethic and humility shaped me and gave me the strength to keep going.
So, how are things going today? How did grit and resilience lead to your eventual success?
Van: Things are going really well, and we’re proud of the progress we’ve made. We’re lucky to have amazing distributors who truly believe in us, and we’re incredibly grateful for their ongoing support in helping us grow. We are also incredibly moved from all the support we receive from stylists sharing the Mint Love on their social media platforms!
We’ve learned that building a successful business doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time, patience, and a lot of resilience. Instead of getting caught up thinking too far ahead, we focus on how we can do better each day. That mindset keeps us grounded, motivated, and moving forward.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
Van: There are a lot of tool companies out there, but what makes us different is that we’re not corporate guys making decisions from behind a desk. We’re hands-on and out in the field, whether it’s attending trade shows, visiting our factories, stopping by salons, educating sales consultants, or connecting with hairdressers on social media.
We love staying in touch with industry trends, the beauty community, and most importantly, our stylists and customers. We’re also extremely detail-oriented. We don’t settle. We make sure every tool is something we’re 100% proud of before bringing it to market. We believe that even millimeters can make a difference in how a tool performs and how great it feels in a stylist’s hand.
Before launching anything, I personally test the tools on my clients. We also send them to some of the busiest, most respected salons so they can use them behind the chair every day and give us real feedback. If something’s not right, we go back, make improvements, and don’t stop until we’re completely satisfied.
That level of care and connection is what sets us apart! It’s what drives us every day.
Can you share a tough decision you had to make as a founder that had a lasting impact on your business?
Van: I sold my hair school, even though it was thriving. I knew I couldn’t give everything 100%. That decision freed me up to focus fully on Mint Tools, and that’s when we really began to grow.
What marketing or sales strategies were most effective in getting your first customers?
Van: Relationships we built through trade shows gave us a head start. Later, we leaned into Instagram and pivoted to online sales during the pandemic, which expanded our reach and helped us grow fast.
Which tips would you recommend to other Fresh Founders about how to develop the relentlessness and “stick-to-it-ness” needed to keep a new business going?
Van: Don’t cut corners. Believe in what you’re offering and stay customer-obsessed. And when you mess up — and you will, treat it as a lesson, not a failure.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
Van: Absolutely. I couldn’t have done any of this without my parents, especially my mom, who saw something in me early on and encouraged me to pursue a career in hair. She believed in me before I believed in myself.
And of course, my wife. She’s my biggest supporter and has always been there through the ups and downs of running a business. In the moments when I’ve felt discouraged or uncertain, she’s been the one to lift me up, give me confidence, and remind me why I started. I couldn’t have done this without Kelly, my partner and the co-founder, we fulfill one another’s strengths and weaknesses.
The word “Mint” means different things to different people. To most, it’s known as a fast-growing, hearty herb, refreshing and used in everything from home cooking to fine dining. Similarly, our company is one of the fastest-growing tool brands out there. Our tools are built to last, using the latest technology, and are designed for both salon professionals and home users.
“Mint” can also mean something that’s fresh, cool, or in perfect condition, just like how we want our tools to feel in the hands of stylists.
But for me personally, the name is also a tribute to my mom. Growing up, she used a lot of mint in her cooking… especially in dishes like salad rolls. As a kid, I always complained that there was too much mint. It wasn’t until I had my own garden and realized how quickly mint grows that it clicked: she didn’t want to waste anything, so she used what we had. She was a brilliant cook, and I miss her and her food dearly. Naming the brand “Mint” is my way of honoring her.
Can you share a few ideas or stories from your experience about how to successfully ride the emotional highs & lows of being a founder”?
Van: Embrace the process. Do as much yourself as you can early on, it teaches you resilience. Celebrate the highs when they come, but know the lows won’t last forever.
What are the 5 biggest lessons you’ve learned on this journey, and how did you learn them? Please share a specific experience or challenge that shaped each lesson
1 . Kelly: Quality — top most priority. People remember brands that last forever, and also brands that only last a week. Which one do you want to be remembered for?
2. Van: Only create tools with real purpose. We never jump on fads or gimmicks. As a stylist myself, I know the industry sees through that quickly. We focus on tools that solve real problems and improve the stylist’s daily work. That’s what builds credibility.
3.Van: You’re not designing just for yourself. Just because I love something doesn’t mean everyone else will. That’s why we have diverse people test every product: different hands, different preferences. It ensures our tools work for the majority.
4.Kelly: Feedback is gold. During testing, we want to hear what needs improvement. We don’t take it personally, it helps us get better. For example, my hands are larger than my wife’s, so how a tool feels to her is completely different. Ergonomics matter.
5.Van: Let your product do the talking.If your product is great, people will spread the word for you. In salons, once one stylist brings in our curling iron, others try it, love it, and soon the whole team wants one. When people feel the difference, they understand why so many stylists love our tools.
How did you approach funding your business in the early days? Did you bootstrap, seek investors, or take another approach? Please explain why you took that course of action.
Kelly: We used our own savings. We did everything on a shoestring budget. Basically, we did anything that we could ourselves: from testing and giving feedback to improvement of products to doing all the marketing, book keeping, customer communication, finding new dealers.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about starting a business but is afraid to take the leap?
Van: Talk to business owners in your field, or even in complementary fields. Ask them honestly what it’s really like. Then ask yourself: Are you ready to make the sacrifices it takes to achieve success and fulfillment in your career?
If the answer is yes, then start small. Set a budget, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and take it one step at a time. Most business owners have gone through the struggle and are happy to share their lessons with new entrepreneurs. You don’t have to do it alone.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Van: When I was starting out, I had to learn so much through trial and error. And when I began building Mint Tools, I had to learn things I knew nothing about, like social media and branding, while juggling everything else. I know how overwhelming that can feel.
I’d love to create a space where experienced professionals can share what they’ve learned, whether it’s how to price your services, build a personal brand, or stay motivated during tough times. It could be as simple as utilizing social media or short lessons and real talk about what it really takes to grow in the beauty industry.
The goal wouldn’t be perfection. It would be about progress, community, and giving people the tools, not just physical tools, but mindset tools, to thrive.