Who are those Gals: Megan Hayes and Kimberly Reilly, Co-Founders/Owners of Everybody Water

Names: Kimberly Reilly
Pronouns: She/her
Ages: 48
Occupation: Co-Founder, Everybody Water
Currently living in: Cohasset, MA
Hometown: Braintree, MA
Currently reading: 1491; History keeps things in perspective and always offers learnings
Favorite workouts: Barre, Yoga and Peloton
I never leave home without: my lipstick

Name: Megan Hayes
Pronouns: She/her
Age: 52
Occupation: Co-Founder, Everybody Water
Currently living in: Cohasset, MA; Kim and I are neighbors (and not just neighbors in the same town, we live on the same street across from each other!)
Hometowns: That is a question I have a hard time answering since I grew up in Switzerland, France, Thailand, Egypt. In my teens, I lived in the U.S. I travel, especially in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, the smells and sounds make me feel like I am home.
Currently reading: We Came, We Saw, We Left; It’s about a family who took a gap year. I love reading books that take me all over the world and bring me home in a way to the places I grew up and have traveled to.  I love the different perspectives and it also feeds my love of travel.
Favorite workouts: Peloton but not in the traditional way. I have never been good with workout classes and so instead, I set my own pace when I ride while listening to blogs and books. It feels more productive and takes my mind away which I love.
I never leave home without: A small Petoskey rock in my wallet — my good luck charm. Kim and I gave them out in our first meeting with a vendor in Michigan that we really wanted to partner with. It was a pivotal moment, and we knew it was a long shot. Petoskey rocks are unique and can be found in Michigan. It broke the ice immediately and they’ve been our partner ever since!

Let’s start with the basics. What made you want to become an entrepreneur? 

KIM: I’ve always had a driving force inside to create something of my own. I have a background in design and love the power of aesthetics in branding and communication.  I always knew I had the determination to start my own company and build something big. 

MEGAN: I have loved building teams from the ground up, and wanted to build in a much bigger way.  Everybody Water feeds that desire to build, be forever learning, and make an impact globally through a cause I believe in. I grew up as an expat, and Everybody Water feels like I have come full circle and can finally give back. The unexpected was how it has made me feel close to my mom who passed away when I was a young girl. She loved living all over the world, traveling, and giving back. Now I can walk “hand in hand” with her, and she feels close.

You have very diverse backgrounds - Talent Management and Design Architecture. Can you tell our audience what made you pursue a significant career change to focus on providing clean, sustainable water to women and young girls?

 Kim: I enjoyed the process and success of creating a high-end design collection and brand, but after years of doing that, I felt the desire to use my talents to reach a broader audience and with a simple, accessible product/brand with a meaningful purpose behind it. Having young daughters, I wanted to set an example that we all have the power to make a difference for others.  And personally, I wanted to find more fulfillment in my work.  But what to impact when there are so many needs in this world? 

 My heart was most drawn to people’s most basic needs. When I realized the impact that accessible clean water could make on so many levels, particularly fostering the basic ability for women and girls to thrive. I knew this was where I wanted to focus.  It was of unusual good fortune to find Megan inspired by this same cause for her own reasons.

Megan: What I’ve loved about my career in talent management is that it was always anchored in people—making a match and then watching them soar. But, I reached a point where I wanted to ultimately make a larger impact on lives globally, and show my daughters that every day each of us can make a difference in the lives of others.  

 The magic of Everybody Water emerged after moving across the street from Kim, first finding a friend and then business partner who shared the same values, and we took the leap together. Having grown up overseas, I saw the walk for water first-hand, but I had never made the connection to the life-changing impact it had on women and girls. We decided that “water for water” made perfect sense, but weren’t sure where to begin given our backgrounds and the male-dominated industry. We have learned so much along this journey, and continue to learn something new every day.

 Our husbands and girls have been with us on this journey, supporting and believing in us.  You have to be very resilient as an entrepreneur, and I have found that having a mission behind the company makes you push through all of the obstacles that come your way daily.

How did you come up with the idea for your entrepreneurial venture and how did you start your business?

 After identifying the issue of clean water access worldwide, we asked ourselves, “What business can we build that will generate widespread awareness while funding clean water infrastructure projects to make a measurable impact?” We ultimately agreed that educating and engaging people on the topic while they’re purchasing their own water was most viable. It took a couple of years to put all of the pieces together before we actually launched the product, as we had to select and secure a nonprofit partner, sustainable packing, and product quality. Our first order of five truckloads of water was placed in January 2019. What started as a grassroots effort thanks to passionate support from small businesses has since evolved into positive media attention and established partnerships with household brands that believe in our mission and are eager to join us in making an impact.

Can you tell our audience more about Everybody Water and its mission?

 Everybody Water Inc. sells premium water in a 16.9 oz. carton disrupting the packaged water market with social impact at our core. Our mission is to help fund clean water infrastructure projects that bring running water into people’s homes for the first time, dramatically impacting the lives of women and girls so they no longer have to collect water, and instead have the time to attend school, earn incomes and thrive. We partner with customers who believe in our mission and the importance of making a statement about what matters, and who also want to support a small women-owned business.

“Water with a heart.” What is the meaning behind this statement and where did it originate from?

 Water with a heart is our slogan because compassion is at the heart of our brand.

With so many new water brands and/or variations hitting the market, what makes Everybody water standout? What do you see as big opportunities in this industry?

 There are many differentiators that our customers are drawn to: The refreshing taste; the aesthetically beautiful design in a more eco-friendly carton; Moreover, the statement Everybody Water makes and our ability to highlight our customers' intentionality in the products they choose. By choosing Everybody Water, customers are able to demonstrate their commitment to carton packaging, social impact that is focused on uplifting women and girls globally, alignment with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals for clean water for all, and sourcing from a women-owned small business.

What has been the most difficult thing about building a consumer brand from scratch?

 There are so many directions you can go, so keeping things simple is an ongoing challenge, but always the goal. You have to be willing to dive into all aspects of branding, finance, legal, supply chain, and marketing—and learn a lot. It takes time to evolve the look and messaging to exactly where you want to be, but if you aim to iterate and refine, you will get there in time.

How do you find your encouragement or what do you do to be motivated?

 Having the opportunity to travel and see how these projects are executed firsthand, while meeting local people in the communities along the way, is one of the most motivating aspects of our work. Nothing drives us more than knowing that our business is changing lives and generations forever by bringing clean water directly into people’s homes.

How do you personally define business success? Is it money? Freedom? Influence? Creative expression and innovation? Something else?

 Creating a brand from scratch that others positively respond to is incredibly gratifying. Knowing that our business success can also improve the lives of others is our true definition. Also, knowing that we may inspire others to help solve global issues is part of our success.

What have you found to be the pros and cons of being female entrepreneurs in 2021?

 There’s a lot of support for women-owned businesses these days, especially from other women. While the food and beverage industry is still very male-dominated, being unique has always helped us operate differently and separate our brand from others in the market.

Any insights or words of encouragement for someone thinking about a substantial career change and/or starting their own business? 

 For those looking to enter a new industry or entrepreneurship, we recommend asking lots of questions and having as many informative conversations with relevant people as possible to help guide your path. A business with a social impact component is very rewarding and motivating. However, it is important to stay close to your cause and offer complete transparency to your customer base to stay authentic.

What are the biggest challenges and biggest rewards of what you do?

 Scalability is our biggest challenge, but also extremely rewarding to honor our growth and recognize how far we’ve come.  Knowing our impact is growing is so exciting!

How do you balance your careers and your personal lives? 

 It’s a juggling act and we wouldn’t be able to do it without the cooperation and support of our husbands and our children. Everyone steps in to keep things running on a daily basis.  Having a startup is an all-consuming endeavor, so we try to find the joy in all the new experiences, wonderful people we meet, and exciting places we get to travel to.

 

What’s next for Everybody Water? What’s next for you each personally? 

 This year, we plan to expand our national footprint and distribution channels. Next year, we hope to take our youngest daughters to visit water projects and communities in Honduras to see the need and success of the impact firsthand.

Everybody water seems like an incredible mission-driven social impact brand. Can you tell our audience where they should go to get involved or contribute to your crowdfunding initiative?

https://www.startengine.com/everybody-water

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