Paul Jarrett
Paul Jarrett (born July 15, 1981) is an American entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Bulu Box[1] and he played football at Iowa State University during the 2000 and 2001 seasons under head coach Dan McCarney.
Early life
Jarrett was born to William "Bill" Jarrett and Corinne Jarrett (née Benes) in Lincoln, Nebraska. William Jarrett served 36 years in law enforcement, retiring in 2012 from his position as Lancaster County Sheriff's Chief Deputy; then joining the Lancaster County Treasurer's office as Chief Deputy for 3 years before retiring again in 2015.[2]
Jarrett began his football career young, playing in a number of children's leagues. He joined the Pius X High School football team. Jarrett played during the Pius X Thunderbolts’ Nebraska State Championship win in 1998.
College and Sports
Jarrett joined the Iowa State Cyclones football team in 2000 as a freshman, starting as a defensive lineman under coach Dan McCarney. That year, the Cyclones participated in their first bowl game since 1978 and won the program's first bowl game.
Jarrett played on the 2001 team but chose not to return to the team for the 2002 year due to concerns about aggravating existing injuries. Without his football scholarship, Jarrett transferred to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to finish his college career closer to home.
Career
In 2007, Jarrett joined BBDO, the most awarded advertising agency in the world, as an account executive. Nike and Lowe's were among Jarrett's clients during his five-month tenure at the agency. The agency experience was not wholly positive for Jarrett, who has indicated that the Bulu Box core value “Fire the Assholes” stemmed directly from his time at BBDO.[3] “Nobody likes working for, or with, a jerk.” Jarrett said in a 2013 Silicon Prairie News guest article.[4] However, in other interviews, Jarrett has attributed his extensive business network to connections he made while working at BBDO. Jarrett left BBDO in April 2008 to join Nebraska Book Company in launching their new brand, Neebo.[5]
From Neebo, Jarrett joined the startup Complete Nutrition in 2010 as VP of Marketing. During Jarrett's tenure, Complete Nutrition ranked #517 on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies in the US.
In 2012, after completing the San Francisco Half Marathon, Jarrett and his wife, Stephanie Jarrett, began working on the concept for their startup subscription box company, Bulu Box. Combining his personal trial-and-error experience in his efforts to lose 100 lbs after leaving the Iowa State Cyclones football team and professional experience at Complete Nutrition using the “spray and pray” product sampling method to obtain new customers, plus Stephanie's extensive marketing, strategy and design skills, the Jarretts launched Bulu Box in 2012.[6][7]
Bulu Box
Paul Jarrett and his wife and co-founder, Stephanie Jarrett launched Bulu Box from their San Francisco apartment in early spring 2012. Following a meeting with a potential investor, the Jarretts moved their business to Lincoln, Nebraska in time to ship the first Bulu Box subscriptions in June 2012.[6][7]
As Co-Founder and CEO of Bulu Box, Jarrett has received a number of accolades from the startup community and the state of Nebraska. Among his awards are Innovator of the Year from the Pipeline Entrepreneurs network (2013).[8][9]
In August 2017, Bulu Box was ranked No. 1899 on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately held US companies.
Personal life
Jarrett has been a member of Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler’s Recycling Committee from 2015 to present. With his fellow committee members, who include elected officials and prominent business owners, Jarrett consults with the city of Lincoln on matters of public policy.
In 2016, Jarrett was chosen to attend The Immersion, an invitation-only experience curated by Lululemon. Jarrett participated in the Immersion alongside Baron Baptiste and Gabrielle Bernstein.[15]
- ^ "Monthly subscription vitamin and supplement sample box | Bulu Box". Bulu Box. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ Star, Michael Bamesberger | Lincoln Journal. "Jarrett to retire from Lancaster County Sheriff's Office". JournalStar.com. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ "Paul Jarrett - Co-Founder/CEO @ Bulu Box | crunchbase". www.crunchbase.com. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ "From new Lincoln digs, Bulu Box launches subscription vitamin service - Silicon Prairie News". Silicon Prairie News. 2012-06-28. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ "Subscription Box Champion". Paul Jarrett. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ a b "Bulu Box Founder Paul Jarrett on #BangTheDrum". Silicon Prairie News. 2015-02-26. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ a b "Alumni Success Story: Bulu Box". Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ "LPED | News | Paul Jarrett of Bulu Box wins Pipeline Inc.'s 2013 Innovator of the Year award". www.selectlincoln.org. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ "Bulu Box Is Silicon Prairies Startup of the Year".
- ^ "Off of a fresh $500K+ in funding, Bulu Box offers a monthly subscription service that connects health conscious consumers with premium vitamin and supplement samples". StartUp Beat. 2012-09-10. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ REETZ, STORY AND PHOTO BY BRIAN. "Coffee with … Paul Jarrett, co-founder/CEO of Bulu Box". JournalStar.com. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ "Pipeline Roundup: Paul Jarrett, Bulu Box | Nebraska Entrepreneurship". www.nebraskaentrepreneurship.com. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ "Team". www.flyovercapital.com. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ writer, Cole Epley / World-Herald staff. "Already riding high, Lincoln-based Bulu Box secures $3.61 million in financing". Omaha.com. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ "the immersion". The Immersion. Retrieved 2017-08-29.