Bim Bam Boo isn’t just a delightfully fun name. Tree-free, hypoallergenic, and lint-free, the product aims to be an eco-friendly way of treating your behind with a little more care. And if it’s up to Zoë Levin, it’ll become the next big thing in toilet paper.
With the help of a solar-powered panda, natch.
This is A Workday With Zoë Levin, CEO of Bim Bam Boo.
Tell us a little about your background and how you got to where you are today.
Zoë Levine and her fiancé, Nat (shot at soona).
Who would have guessed, I would grow up and run a toilet paper company! But looking back now, I was training for my entrepreneurial moment my entire life.
I started my first business when I was seven years old selling “Barbie restoration services” door-to-door to all the kids in my neighborhood. It wasn’t very successful at a quarter a pop, but it was fun!
I started my career during the great recession. And no surprise — it sucked. It taught me to work twice as hard for companies that were twice as lean. I jumped in the ad industry and worked at a few small shops here in Minneapolis — a great lesson in providing real value and wearing many hats. But I knew deep down I wanted to make a bigger impact.
Then, one day, I was completely blown away. I was reading the newspaper and learned 27,000 trees are flushed down the toilet everyday… and that’s just in the United States! It inspired me to build something better. What if we could save forests with our butts? Bim Bam Boo was initially created to help wipe away deforestation with our tree-free toilet paper. But as I learned more about the toxic-TP industry and how formulas were harming people’s health, I quickly pivoted our mission to better serve those with skin sensitivities. I doubled down talking to experts and teaming up with labs to develop our hypoallergenic formula.
What time do you rise and shine?
I’m a big advocate of honoring my body’s natural biorhythms. I don’t use an alarm clock. My wakeup time is variable — usually between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.
What do you usually eat for breakfast?
Coffee with a ton of cream with a side of light reading of my self-improvement books.
What’s the first work-related task you tackle each morning?
Sitting down with my journal and mapping out my day. I always ask myself, when will I need a break to recharge? What are my top priorities? What is the one thing I can do for myself?
What is your workspace setup?
Zoë’s WFH workspace (with 12-year-old rescue, Franklin, chilling out under the table).
I’ve been sheltering-in-place since March 13 and I’ve never missed my office more. But in the meantime, I’ve transformed my dining room into my work space.
What’s the most interesting/fun/meaningful thing on your desk?
My solar-powered dancing panda! I got him at a panda rehabilitation center in China after visiting our factory. It reminds me to find joy as we build Bim Bam Boo.
What’s one piece of tech you can’t live without?
My MacBook Air. I use it to run my entire business.
What do you need to get done before lunch to feel like you had a productive morning?
Understanding exactly what my team needs from me to be successful.
What are you listening to these days?
My fiancé surprised me with the vintage vinyl LP of “Einstein on the Beach” by Phillip Glass. That and Robyn have been on the turntable a lot as of lately.
What is your current TV obsession?
“Normal People” on Hulu.
What book would we find on your nightstand?
I’m a HUGE reader. Cycling between six to eight books at a time (some new, some re-reads). On my nightstand currently is: “Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find – and Keep – Love” by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller, “Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die” by Chip Heath and Dan Heath, “Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Messages So Customers Will Listen” by Donald Miller, and “: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself” by Melody Beattie.
Cats or dogs?
Dogs.
The best part about living in Minnesota is…
Knowing Prince came from the same place as me.
How do you fend off the post-lunch lull?
Walking meetings!
What do you use to stay organized during a hectic day?
I’m old school — my notebook is my absolute favorite companion in staying organized. Every evening, I sit down and create a page for tomorrow. It has the date on it, my to dos, notes, and also a section for meetings.
What’s the last work-related thing you do every day?
Because our factory is in China, work floods into the late-evening hours. From 9 p.m. to 12 a.m., I’ll often be on the phone or video-chatting with manufacturing team overseas.
How do you decompress at the end of a long workday?
Turning off and/or removing myself from all technology. Cooking a delicious meal from scratch.
Anything new with Bim Bam Boo?
Yes! GO BUY BIM BIM BAM BOO! We recently launched our first eCommerce website and are now taking orders!
Photos courtesy of Bim Bam Boo.
If there’s a community thought leader or founder who you’d like to see featured in our “A Workday With—” series, contact us on Twitter @TECHdotMN or email info@tech.mn with the subject line “A Workday With— Submission.”
Need even more inspirational fuel to work through your day? Check out one of our other locals featured in our “A Workday With” series!
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A Workday With Quyen Balter of Peach Mindfulness
