How did the idea for your non-toxic tallow skincare brand come about?
We had a double date adventure canceled due to snow and ended up talking Tallow over tacos and the idea of AK Tallow was born. It was actually Allie’s husband who first suggested introducing our product at scale in response to her sharing how she sells it to local friends and family.
What was the process like in developing your first product?
Allie has been making Tallow Whip for her friends and family for some time, developing our Tallow Creme was a fun adventure looking to create a custom blend of oils and tallows that work together against fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin tones.
What were the biggest lessons learned during the first year?
Katie: The biggest lesson I have learned in the last year was learning to be brave. I was afraid of putting my product, my brand… me… out there. Allison calmed down my anxiety, built me up after failure, and was my biggest cheerleader, she modeled risk and bravery and navigating entrepreneurship. Now, I’m all about jumping in!
You’ve now got 16 products—how did you decide what to launch first and how did you approach your product range?
Allie: When we first started, we really wanted to focus on a handful of foundational products that reflected what we personally use and love—things we felt confident sharing because they’ve worked for us and our families. So we launched with a basic, nourishing tallow balm and a whipped moisturizer and a few essential oil blends that were versatile and simple. We wanted our lineup to grow slowly and intentionally based on feedback from customers, seasonality, and what felt like a natural next step. Every product is rooted in ingredients we trust—grass-fed tallow, organic oils—and designed to be multi-purpose and family-friendly. It’s always been important to us not to overwhelm people, but instead offer staple products they can really rely on.
What do you attribute your success in becoming profitable within the first year?
Allie: A lot of it comes down to staying true to our values and focusing on quality over quantity. We’re small-batch, and we are hands-on with every part of the process, from sourcing local ingredients to packaging. People can tell when something is made with care, and I think that builds trust and loyalty. Also, being based in northern Colorado, we’ve had so much support from the local community, markets, and word-of-mouth. We approached it with realistic goals, knowing that consistent, authentic connections—whether at a farmers market or through social media—would naturally lead to growth. We didn’t try to scale too fast; instead, we kept things manageable and sustainable, which helped us stay profitable without getting ahead of ourselves.
What challenges did you face when it came to scaling your business?
Katie: It’s so hard to grow in an instagram world where you see other brands with funding or fully time teams skyrocket and we find ourselves wishing it was us. But I wouldn’t trade our 23% customer return rate for a billion one-time buyers any day of the week, it’s the community that makes this so sweet.
What’s been the response from your customers so far?
Allie: The response has honestly been incredible and so humbling. Our customers are the reason we keep doing what we do. People love knowing exactly what’s in their products and that they’re made locally with real, nourishing ingredients. We’ve gotten so many messages from customers who are excited to find something simple, clean, and effective—especially folks who’ve struggled with sensitive skin or are trying to move away from synthetic ingredients. It’s been rewarding to see so much positive feedback and to watch people come back again and again because they trust what we’re creating.
Can you share any memorable feedback or stories from customers who’ve used your products?
Allie: Oh, there are a few that really stick with me! One that always comes to mind is a mom who reached out to say our tallow balm was the first thing that finally helped soothe her baby’s eczema after trying so many other products. That really hit home for me, being a mom myself—I know how important it is to find something that works, especially for your kids. I’ve also had customers tell me they’ve swapped out their entire skincare routine for our products and feel like their skin has never been better. It’s those personal stories, the little wins, that mean everything to us. It reminds me why I’m so passionate about keeping our products simple, clean, and effective.
What are your long-term goals for the business?
Katie: one year is a blink of an eye and I love how much our community trusts us and our products. Since the beginning, we have been about finding non-toxic solutions for mamas and their families and as long as there is a need, we will work to meet it! We are also underway with our first wholesale account and hope to continue to grow in the hospitality space.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs starting a business?
Allie: Don’t overthink it—just start. It’s so easy to get caught up in perfecting every detail before launching, but honestly, a lot of the learning comes from doing. Start small, stay consistent, and really listen to your customers. Also, stay true to your values. People are drawn to authenticity, and if you build something you genuinely believe in, that passion shows through. And give yourself grace—you’re going to make mistakes, but they’re all part of the process.
Katie: Keep your head down- you know your mission, vision and how you want to help people. Don’t let the folks selling you marketing courses, expanding into warehouses or getting massive brand deals stop you from trying your best, creating the best product and sharing your story.
What has this journey taught you both personally?
Allie: it’s taught me patience and flexibility—both with the business and with myself. I’ve learned to trust my instincts more and lean into the seasons of growth and slow periods without panicking. It’s also been a reminder that balancing family, business, and personal goals is always a work in progress, and that’s okay. You don’t have to have it all figured out at once.
How has starting a business together impacted your lives, individually and as friends?
Katie: We are sisters from different misters, for sure! There’s a lot of trust and mutual respect that has to be there when you’re running a business with someone, and I feel like it’s strengthened our friendship because we’ve learned how to communicate and support each other in new ways. It’s also been great to have someone who understands the ups and downs of entrepreneurship—you’re never alone in it.
Any best, funny or unexpected moments from your first year in business?
Allie: One that still makes me laugh is when I was making a batch of tallow soap at home, and my little one and husband decided they wanted to "help." My husband, trying to be helpful, cranked the heat up way too high on the tallow—and before we knew it, it started popping and shooting tallow everywhere! Luckily, no one got hurt, but our kitchen was a mess, and we all ended up laughing so hard. It kind of felt like we were little scientists experimenting (with a few explosions along the way). It’s moments like those that remind me how much of a family effort this business has been, even behind the scenes.
Katie: We introduced ourselves at a local fundraiser and got to meet our customers face-to-face. One family, recently transplanted from humidity, were struggling with the aird climate of Colorado. Their little one has unsoothable rashes and nothing seems to work for them- till they tried our Tallow Whip. Now, one of our first customers is a regular who lives down the road and is a mama just looking for the best product that works well for her family. I thought it was such a blessing to meet exactly who we are trying to serve on the very first day of selling.