Dollars and Scents with Actor Lamman Rucker
by Quassan Castro on Monday, April 4, 2011
Leading man Lamman Rucker’s creative energy keeps ticking after many of us are tucked in. The actor recently launched his natural body care products, Forplai. The collection features a steamy assortment of sweet smells to condition skin for women, couples and especially the brothers.
A Carnegie Mellon University graduate, Rucker is most known for his onscreen charisma from “All My Children” to Tyler Perry’s “Meet The Browns” sitcom and the “Why Did I Get Married” franchise. We caught up with the Pittsburgh native to discuss the realities of being an entrepreneur and how he’s managing multiple career moves.
HEART & SOUL: We’re excited to hear about Forplai. What inspired you to create bath and body care products?
Lamman Rucker: Other celebrities are creating colognes and perfumes; I decided to go a different route and was inspired to create bath and body products. I met my co-founder Thai Morrison and was attracted to her spirit and vision for wellness products. I’m glad I was patient and waited for the right brand. I am involved on a day-to-day basis. I desired a product that I would not just be a celebrity face for. You have to be involved in your endeavor and have like-minded minded people around you who believe in the vision and growth potential. I am very much a part of Forplai.
H &S: How do you balance managing a company with your busy acting career?
Rucker: You just do it. I have my challenges some days with juggling and multitasking. It’s also easy when you are passionate about your business endeavors. I had a young lady run to me the other day and express how much she loved Forplai products. To know you are reaching people makes all the required hard work worth the time. I’ve always been involved with more than one project. I’ve never been just an actor or just a businessman. I’ve always managed different projects. I thank the Lord for my business partner. Your team is just as important as the product.
What’s the toughest lesson you learned while starting a business and your biggest tip for those looking to start new businesses?
Rucker: It takes money to make money. It’s good to have ambition and goals, but you have to be really patient about pursuing and actualizing your goals. You have to do plenty of research as it relates to your desired industry or product. You have to know about creating the product. You might be frustrated, but a business takes times to build. Save your money, have strong leadership and be prepared. You need to be able to pay for some of the early things that it will take to manifest your product or idea.
As men we sometimes are not the most responsible when it comes to our health. How important is health and wellness for black men?
Rucker: It’s highly important for black men to take care of our health and well-being; unfortunately it’s not as prioritized for men as it is for women. We have to care for our health and well-being.
http://www.heartandsoul.com/2011/04/dollars-and-scents-with-actor-lamman-rucker/
