Working for Men’s Beauty

Written by Bella Lin, #WakeEntrepreneur and Class of 2019

Located in the heart of downtown Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Fulton & Roark is a startup in a peaceful little office comprised of four full-time employees. This company, started by two college masterminds, was born right out of Winston-Salem (initially funded by seed capital from the Center for Entrepreneurship), and makes it their mission to make men’s grooming enjoyable and pleasant. From the early stages of experimentation in the kitchen to the flourishing of the Fulton & Roark name, quality ingredients are always at the top of their minds. Not only that, the designs are produced around the precise details that shape the lives of men, including the size of pockets in a pair of pants, to the needs of globetrotters that constantly seek comfort and ease. Integrating these requirements into everyday life is what has made Fulton & Roark such a competitive name among similar companies and has featured them on popular media such as GQ, Men’s Health, and more.

As a marketing intern this summer at Fulton & Roark, I am excited to see the backend of how a startup works and grows from a simple idea to a successful and flourishing company. It is interesting and intriguing to be able to be a part of making such important decisions that could potentially change the image of the entire business. I am excited to see how the projects and other ideas I work on throughout the summer can affect the company as a whole. I want to learn, I want to have fun, and most importantly, I want to be able to make an impact and be proud of the things I have done by the time this internship ends.

I chose an entrepreneurship internship because I have always been very interested in all aspects of business. I believe that entrepreneurship comprises not only marketing, but also finance, accounting, and many other areas. My parents recently started their own business and I want to be able to help them, so I thought interning with a startup could help me on that endeavor. Also, someday I want to start my own company. Last summer, I was a digital marketing intern in Sydney, Australia with a larger company that had been developed for quite some time. Even from having only interned two weeks at Fulton & Roark, I have noticed there are many differences between the two companies. I wanted to try something new, a newer and younger company, to get a new perspective on how entrepreneurship works, and I have to say, I am already learning so much.

I believe I can bring many skills, values, and experiences to Fulton & Roark. I have learned and become familiar with several valuable tasks including research and blog writing skills in the beauty, retail, and medical industries. I have learned and achieved certifications for Google Analytics, Adwords and Hubspot, which are fundamental abilities in the marketing and business world. And lastly, I have used Photoshop to slice, code, and send EDM’s and email newsletters to clients and customers through various social media platforms. I believe that these skills will absolutely come in handy as I continue as a Fulton & Roark intern.