Sean Busch: Lessons from Bootstrapping to Big-Box Retail // #62

What does it take to scale a business from a $20,000 launch to over $100 million in revenue? In this episode of Forward Obsessed, entrepreneur Sean Busch takes us through his incredible journey—from a small-town kid flipping car parts in high school to founding and selling the household cleaning brand Puracy. Along the way, Sean shares how he leveraged Amazon’s early days, built a direct-to-consumer powerhouse, and navigated the challenges of big-box retail.

 

Sean opens up about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, including the moment he was fired just before Christmas, the brutal cash-flow struggles of expanding into Target and Walmart, and the pivotal decision to exit his company. He also shares key lessons on craftsmanship vs. commerce, the importance of customer obsession, and why having the right CFO can make or break your business. Now, with his newest venture, Dad Mode, Sean is applying everything he learned to build another game-changing brand.

Whether you're a founder, a business leader, or just someone fascinated by the journey of building something from the ground up, this conversation is packed with invaluable insights.

 

🔎 Find Out More About Sean Busch

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seantbusch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stb416/
Dad Mode: https://godadmode.com/
Puracy: https://puracy.com/

 

Chapters

00:00 - A First for Forward Obsessed
03:15 - Sean’s Early Hustles & Entrepreneurial Roots
10:45 - From Car Detailing to Medical Sales
18:30 - The Leap Into E-Commerce & Building Puracy
25:50 - Cracking the Amazon Playbook
32:15 - Scaling to Retail: The Target & Walmart Challenge
40:05 - Surviving Cash Flow Nightmares
48:20 - The Emotional Toll of Entrepreneurship
55:10 - The Exit: Selling Puracy
1:02:30 - Lessons Learned & Advice for Founders
1:10:00 - Sean’s Next Venture: Dad Mode

 

🔗 Other Links & Resources

The Honest Company by Jessica Alba (Book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1609619110
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries (Book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307887898
Amazon FBA: https://sell.amazon.com/fulfillment-by-amazon
Singer Automotive: https://singervehicledesign.com/
Seven Generation (CPG): https://www.seventhgeneration.com/

 

🔴 Support & Connect

Forward Obsessed Website: www.forwardobsessed.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/
TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/forwardobsessed/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/forward-obsessed/

 

#entrepreneurship #startups #businessgrowth