Here at The Kerplunk, we had a chance to interview mogul Davis Abanto. Davis is a leading social media expert and consultant with expertise in the supplement industry as well with his company Apu Nutrition Inc. He created a brand that enabled him to stand out from the rest.  Take a look at the interview below with our editor-in-chief, Shazir Mucklai, and Mr. Abanto.

SM:What keeps you going when things get tough in your business?

DA: I remind myself my mission, which is to help others live a better and optimum life through my supplements.

Another thing that keeps me going is the ability to give back to my community in Peru whenever possible since a percentage of every sale makes this a possibility.

SM: What 3 things does anyone starting in your industry need to know?

DA:

1. The supplement industry is a very saturated industry where the competition is fierce. My personal take on this is to create a brand that people can relate to and stand out from the rest.
2. Don’t just” know” your target audience, know them better!
   When it comes to launching a successful nutritional supplement/product, having a basic idea of who your target customers are isn’t always enough. You have to do your homework and learn more about your customers every single day.
3. The regulations and paperwork to start a supplement company are not fun but they are required. So before you start, you have to educate yourself, learn more about the type of documentation you will need for your specific brand and market.

When I started, it took me almost a year to get every certification, paperwork, and everything compliant to be able to import my products to the United States since my manufacturing facility was in Peru. The process took me that long because it was a very new industry for me and I did everything by myself. I had to research, learn about the process, fly multiple times to Peru but even when the entire process was complicated and very stressful, it was worth it.

SM: What would you do differently if you were starting in your industry now?

DA: I would hire someone to take care of the paperwork for me! Haha.

Well, not really. I learned to enjoy the entire process and I believe that’s what makes me love my brand even more.

SM: Which people or books have had the most influence on your growth and why?

DA: For many years I was “lost” in my path and I wasn’t sure about what to do.

About 5 years ago I met my first mentor and great friend, Jason Stone a.k.a. @millionaire_mentor. He changed my perspective of life and helped me grow as a person. Even until this day, he’s always giving me the best advice possible and I will be forever grateful for that.

SM: What would you say is the #1 key to success in your business?

DA: The number one key to succeed in this business or just anything in life its passion. IF you don’t love what you are building or creating, if you are not passionate about what you are creating, sooner or later you will crash because you wouldn’t have the drive and dedication to overcome any adversity that will come across in this amazing journey.