Featured Entrepreneur: Kristin Fraser Cotte, CEO and founder The Grapeseed Company Inc.

How did you become an entrepreneur?
It’s been a lifelong process for me. I started my first business at age 14, teaching swim lessons in my backyard pool. With the help of my dad, mom and sister, Fraser Aquatics grew to over 250 students within 5 summers and ultimately provided me with the cash to leave Boston in a 30-foot sailboat with my boyfriend, Peter. During the long ocean passages, I studied botanicals, aromatherapy and formulating natural personal care products. When we arrived in the Caribbean Islands, I observed local women turning their plentiful supply of coconuts into lotions and soap. After our 2-year sailing adventure, Peter and I settled in Santa Barbara and began to learn about wine. I started formulating scrubs with grape seeds, a byproduct of the winemaking process. A spark went off when friends tried the products; I combined my passion with a local resource and The Grapeseed Co. was born.

What is the nature of your business What kind of product/service to you provide?
The Grapeseed Company creates botanical beauty from wine. Our organic vinotherapy spa & skin care products are hand blended with certified organic and local ingredients, pure essential oil based fragrances, and are 100% paraben, sulfate, and phthalate free. In addition, we produce a line for keeping your pets clean, green and sweet smelling, called Dirty Dog Organics. We sell retail through our website, wholesale, and back bar spa products for professional use- we are currently found in 30+ states across the USA. The Grapeseed Co. also formulates custom and private label lines for spas, boutiques and wine tasting rooms.


Why do you love what you do?
I firmly believe if you do what you love, you will love what you do!

How long have you been in business for yourself?
I started The Grapeseed Co. in 2004.

How do you attract clients?
We have a strong web presence and 80% of our wholesale and retail customers find us online. The rest are word of mouth. Twitter, GreenSkincareBlog.com and above all, excellent customer service have been integral in this. Our press features have helped too.

Share any information that helps to further describe your business including any publications, awards you have received or shows in which you have participated.
We have been featured in a number of great publications like Natural Solutions Magazine, Yoga Magazine, The Denver Post, EcoFabulous.com and Newsweek’s blog. I’ve been named a Top Health & Beauty Blogger by Alltop and WellSphere and also just wrote my second magazine article as a skin care expert.

Contact Info:
www.thegrapeseedcompany.com
www.dirtydogorganics.com
www.greenskincareblog.com
twitter @grapeseedco