We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Allen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
One day our puppy, Bodie, began licking the top of my husband, Lonnie’s, head. So much so that it made us take notice. This resulted in an appointment with a dermatologist, and what turned out to be Basal Cell Carinoma. From that point on, it was never an option to skip sunscreen. Melissa works in the health and fitness industry, and so recognized the importance of preventative care, but always had a hard time finding sunscreen that felt good when sweating. Then one day Melissa got the idea to make a sunscreen for active people. But it would also need to be safe for the environment as well as the person wearing it, and not tested on animals. And that is how the concept for Kovr All Natural Sunscreen was born. 

What should our readers know about your business?
I started out as a self-employed personal training running a mobile personal training business, then transitioned to a brick and mortar health & wellness studio in the El Cajon area. So I was already experienced running a service business, and once my husband was diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma, I felt adding a product based business would only make me a more well rounded entrepreneur. I had a ton to learn, that’s for sure, but I was fairly tech savvy after establishing the health & wellness company and doing all my own website programming. This gave me a bit of an edge when starting an eCommerce business.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them paddling in San Diego Bay as it’s a great place for beginning kayakers to get their feet wet. We’d then grab some lunch at Liberty Station, formerly the Naval Training Center, in Point Loma. After that it would be time to head back home to East County where we’d shower up and change and have a little down time and relaxation. Then a nice dinner at Dulce’s in Rancho San Diego where they have a delicious white sea bass meal cooked to perfection. Then out for some drinks at the Press Box, Jamacha Junction, or another fun place where we could catch a UFC PPV fight.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My best friend, Dr. James Vahl of Vahl Chiropractic, for the encouragement, support, and mentorship throughout the process of getting Active Life Company up and running.

Website: https://theactivelifecompany.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.active.life.company
Facebook: https://facebook.com/activelifecompany