Meet Tom Henkenius | CEO, Henkey’s

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

Hi Tom, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Henkey’s started as both a professional observation and a personal interest. Back in 2014, I began teaching a course at FIDM in its Bachelor of Science in Beauty Business Management program. We used men’s grooming as a case study for how a “signal” becomes a “trend.”

Fast forward ten years, I was now chairing that same degree program, and we were preparing to shut down the college. I met with the professor currently teaching the course, and she shared a startling update: the men’s grooming market had grown from $5.7 billion to $46.5 billion.

So I did what I always tell my students to do: I went into the field. I went to Ulta, but the men’s section was tiny, and I was the only guy in the store. I went to Sephora and couldn’t get any help. Then I started searching online and discovered dozens of incredible indie brands for men – with great products and strong ingredient stories – but no real way for customers to find or compare them.

That’s when the lightbulb went off: men need their own Sephora. A destination built for them: curated, educational, and confidence-driven. About a year later, Henkey’s launched to fill that gap.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Henkey’s is a modern grooming retailer built for men. We’re often called a “Sephora for men,” but what truly sets us apart is the philosophy behind it. Everything stems from one word: confidence.

Every product we carry meets what we call The Henkey’s Standard: built with solid ingredients, proven to perform, and chosen to help men look sharp and feel confident.

The idea came from years spent teaching and researching the beauty business. I saw firsthand how the industry elevated women’s experiences but left men guessing, standing in aisles unsure what to buy or why it mattered. I wanted to change that. Henkey’s brings together exceptional indie and established brands but pairs them with context: what it does, why it works, and how to use it. It’s confidence through clarity.

Getting here wasn’t easy. Henkey’s was born in the middle of a career pivot, forced on me because the college I worked for closed. There were MANY moments of doubt, building a new business from scratch, bootstrapping it, and stepping into a new role after years in academia. But every challenge reinforced what I teach others: clarity, consistency, and curiosity always win. You just keep showing up.

What I’m most proud of is that we’ve built something that feels human. Our customers don’t just buy face wash; they discover a a product or routine that fits their lifestyle.

If there’s one thing I want the world to know, it’s that Henkey’s isn’t just about grooming. It’s about what happens when you take care of yourself: you build self-confidence, and then you start showing up better for everyone else. That’s the Henkey’s Standard.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting for a week, we’d spend it revisiting our greatest hits and mixing in a few new discoveries. We’re both from LA, so this trip would be equal parts nostalgia and catching up.

We’d start with dinner at the HMS Bounty in the Gaylord on Wilshire, the kind of old-school spot that feels frozen in time, with red booths, martinis, and the perfect amount of patina.

Another meal would have to be ChoDang Tofu House in Cerritos, for comforting bowls of soon tofu, something we’ve both loved for years.

One night we’d go downtown for dinner at Factory Kitchen so she could finally try their mandilli di seta. It’s a perfect, pillowy pasta in a mild pesto sauce that somehow tastes both indulgent and refreshing.

Hopefully the weather would cooperate, because we’d treat ourselves to a box at the Hollywood Bowl, where the sushi is surprisingly good. There’s nothing quite like live music under the stars with a bottle of wine and the hum of summer in the air.

We’d wrap up the week with a beach cookout at Bolsa Chica. My family has an old recipe called Sioux City Fried Chicken that we make in a cast-iron Dutch oven right in the fire pit. A day at the beach surrounded by friends and family, ending with fried chicken and a sunset: that’s perfection.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
If I had to credit one person, it would be my grandfather, John “Henkey” Henkenius. The brand carries his name for a reason. He was a mailman who showed up for people, and especially for his family, every single day. No flash, no shortcuts. Just quiet consistency and pride in doing things the right way.

With my grandmother, he raised six kids. He worked three jobs and still found time to be present as a father, a neighbor, and a friend often at the expense of caring for himself. That selfless, steadfast way of living became the foundation for everything I’ve built.

Henkey’s isn’t just a business; it’s a tribute to him and to the belief that confidence isn’t given, it’s earned. You build it by showing up, day after day, for yourself and for others.

Website: https://www.henkeys.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/henkeys__/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/henkeys/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576245351618&mibextid=wwXIfr