Introduce yourself and your business.
Hello friends! My name is Jennifer and I’m the creative hands behind the soap shop Milk & Honey Soapery!
How did you launch your business & what made you want to start a small business?
I launched my shop on Etsy in 2017 after dabbling in soapmaking and getting positive feedback from family & friends. I began soaping because I grew concerned with the amount of toxic chemicals my family was being exposed to on a daily basis. I wanted to help give my children a more toxin-free lifestyle. Regular, commercial soap has lots of hidden ingredients that are quite unhealthy. My handcrafed soap is full of nourishing, healthy oils and I scent my soaps with only 100% pure essential oils for added health benefits.
What are some struggles you had starting your business and how did you over come them?
One of the main struggles I found was that there are a lot of handcrafted soap shops on Etsy, so competition is high. Getting my name out there and building a client base took time. I had the wonderful support of some green beauty bloggers who tried my soap and featured it on their blogs, which helped to get my name out there. They have since become personal friends.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
I have always enjoyed working with my hands & being creative. I get inspiration from nature and beauty around me and sometimes the ideas for new soaps just ‘pop’ into my head!
What motivates you as a maker?
Providing a healthy, quality product that people can trust and feel confident using.
What is a goal you set for yourself as a maker/artist and how did you achieve it?
A goal I set for myself was to always get better at what I was doing. I do this by learning new soaping recipes, ingredients and techniques to provide the best product possible for my customers.
What is your favorite part of being a maker?
I love the creative process of making soap (it’s so fun!) and receiving positive feedback from customers on a product I’ve created makes me so happy!
Do you have any tips for new makers/ small business owners?
Keep learning and getting better at what you do, network and get your name out there. Craft shows and open houses are great ways to showcase your products!
What are some hobbies or interests you have outside of your small business?
I love to decorate and I am very hands-on with my family in school & church. I also love to garden and bake as well!
My husband and children have been such a great support to me in this journey and I’m so grateful for them. My husband surprised me and bought all my soap molds and materials to help me get started!
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I think I enjoy organizing and cleaning a little more than the average person! Sitting down in the day is difficult for me - I’m always moving - and I love dark roast coffee! Maybe that’s why! Lol!
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