Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Irene Fernandez, Founder of Blooming Tree Soaps, located in The Woodlands, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Blooming Tree Soaps handmakes bath and body products with the goal of using high-quality ingredients that nurture the skin. Absolutely no fillers, phthalates, silicones, petroleum derivatives, or other ingredients that big companies use to cheapen their production costs and that ultimately hurt our skin.
Tell us about yourself
I started making soap 13 years ago to alleviate my skin "problems." I'd tried everything my doctor recommended to soothe my skin, and nothing seemed to work. If anything, it made it worse. I finally decided to investigate on my own and found a simple recipe for soap. I had absolutely nothing to lose, so I tried it out.
What a difference! Since the first use, my skin immediately felt and looked better. From there, my passion naturally evolved to other skin products, investigating what the best ingredients I could use to achieve beautiful skin minus the nasty allergies, rashes, dry spots, and everything else that comes from the use of cheap fillers in skin care were.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Creating my own formulas! It's very easy to follow a recipe, but the real pleasure comes from starting with a problem and developing solutions to it using the most natural ingredients. I can find often relying on ancestral knowledge to develop clean, skin-loving products.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
In my case, realizing that I couldn't spend all my time in the lab creating beautiful products. I also have to actually run the business: accounting, socials, marketing, and sales make up the majority of my time.
That, on top of being a mom, wife, and bodybuilder makes for very interesting days! But every time one of my customers comes telling me how good their skin feels...it makes it all worth it! Give me the sleepless nights if I can help others feel good!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Have clear goals on what you want to achieve. Don't just do things to keep busy, do things that move you towards your goals. This saves you time and protects you from bad investments.
- Take your time to build a business plan before anything else. It seems like a lot of work, but having one will guide you to success. Also, Profit First... is such a game changer in business finances!
- It takes a village to raise a child. It also takes a village to create a successful business. Surround yourself with people that will root for you, and most importantly, root for them. Collaboration is the name of the game.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Love yourself. Accept that you will make mistakes learn from them, and keep moving forward, eyes on your goals. There will be a lot of naysayers in your way, don't join their ranks. You got this!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.bloomingtreesoaps.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BloomingTreeSoaps/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloomingtreesoaps/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.