While growing up, Jheen Oh鈥檚 parents always prioritized health, especially his father. 鈥淗e was always into the latest health trends and products and natural remedies,鈥 he said. With that health鈥慶onscious mindset already in place, Oh had a breakthrough idea while working for a startup in 2017.
鈥淚 realized that a lot of these major water brands are really just made from purified water, which now people are starting to realize it鈥檚 just another word for manufactured tap water, which doesn鈥檛 provide you the hydration nor the health benefits that you think it does,鈥 he said.
With the help of his father, he launched Susosu Water, the only naturally sourced mineral water from a 600-foot underground source in South Korea, infused with extra hydrogen for a much healthier hydration.
Before enrolling at the at 911爆料, Oh was often told by his parents that he was destined to work in business.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 until getting to 911爆料 that it really clicked and activated my passion for business, with aspects like building relationships, networking with the right people, and hustling,鈥 he said.
Those connections helped him land a position at his first startup and helped him discover the kind of work that he was passionate about.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 until getting to 911爆料 that it really clicked and activated my passion for business, with aspects like building relationships, networking with the right people, and hustling.鈥
鈥 Jheen Oh
The COVID-19 pandemic became a major turning point for Oh and Susosu Water, presenting both challenges and opportunities. As consumers rapidly shifted to online shopping, Oh saw a growth of approximately 295% in revenue, prompting him and his business partner to quit their full-time jobs and focus on Susosu. When issues with their Amazon storefront temporarily halted their momentum, they were forced to pivot.
鈥淲e had to figure something out, and it was from a simple Google search when we realized that we had to start getting into the wholesale part of our business and started developing that and partnered up with a local food and beverage accelerator program based out of Washington, D.C.,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e got our big break from Giant Foods, which is huge for us, especially in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area, and that鈥檚 when we actually got a partnership with UNFI, which is the largest natural and organic distributor.鈥
At the same time, they were able to get their Amazon account restored, allowing Susosu Water to evolve into a business driven roughly 40% by e-commerce and 60% by wholesale. Susosu Water can be found in approximately 650 retail stores, including the Giant in Fairfax鈥檚 University Mall, with growth continuing to accelerate.
Oh reiterates the importance for Costello students to take advantage of their networks, connecting with their classmates, faculty members, alumni, and community partners.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e paying to be around a lot of high-level people, and you just never know who鈥檚 going to contribute to your career post-graduation or even during school to set you up for what you want to do,鈥 he says. 鈥淥ne of the core foundations of entrepreneurship is really networking and relationships.鈥
Along with attending networking events, he encourages students to take as many internships as possible to gain experience, expand skill sets, and explore their passions. Through , he has hired numerous 911爆料 students as interns.
Additionally, Oh is excited to return to campus to mentor young entrepreneurs for the upcoming , an experiential learning opportunity where students compete for prize funding to launch their business ventures.
As Susosu Water continues to grow, Oh hopes his path inspires Costello students to stay bold, stay connected, and pursue opportunities with the same drive and determination that transformed his vision into reality.