Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Roshan Richards, Founder of Soaplicity LLC, located in Pleasant Grove, UT, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Soaplicity is a manufacturer and retailer of truly all-natural skincare, bath, and body products. We handcraft our products with only the finest sustainable ingredients available and in concentrated formulas, so our customers can control on a daily basis how hydrated they want to be while saving them money by not having to pay for water in their products. Our unique way of formulating allows us to keep our products free from harmful preservatives and offer the best in skincare that can instantly be seen and felt. Our customers are people who are looking to reduce the chemical load of their skincare, bath, household, and body products or those who are dealing with difficult skin issues.
Tell us about yourself
I happened onto this beautiful process by accident over 10 years ago. My family and I had a lot of skin issues and allergies to traditional commercial products. I came to believe that the closer to nature we could keep a product, the better our bodies would respond to them, but despite thorough attempts to locate truly all-natural products, there was just nothing out there. They always had artificial colors or fragrances, formaldehyde, sulfate, paraben, or chemicals that you can't pronounce. I started researching everything I could get my hands on about natural ingredients that are good for the skin and formulated my first soap (Oasis) for my son, who had psoriasis. It was so successful that within 3 days, his psoriasis was gone. I then started formulating other products for my family, and they made such an instant, drastic difference that I realized that other people were probably wanting them, too. We began selling our products that summer, and we took off so quickly that within 9 months, I had to choose between my regular job and developing Soaplicity full-time. We made the leap and have never looked back. Now we have a business on Main Street where we make all of our products and sell them online all over the country and into Canada. I love what I do. It makes the more challenging days worth it when a customer comes in or emails us, telling us how much they love what our products are doing for their skin.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Owning a business always has many accomplishments along the way. I would say one of our biggest accomplishments has been the local and broader awards we have received for our products and service. It means a lot when your customers and peers vote for you.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Being a business owner brings many challenging days and constant fires from technical issues, regulations, employee training, container sourcing, and product development. One of the most difficult issues is finding and educating our potential customers on how we are different from others in our field. It is important to do so; otherwise, people will think we are like everyone else when we definitely are not. It is a challenge monetarily speaking with advertising costs, reach, and effectively portraying our fun business personality. It is easy to nickel and dime yourself right out of business with all of the so-called needed apps and advertising. Finding the right path to reach our right audience is something we continue to refine and develop.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
It is vital to do your research. Know your "why." Know what you are doing and who you are doing it for. Figure out the best places to offer your products or services, then find that growth pace that doesn't wear you out or kill your company. Also, keep those wonderful customer emails and notes and read them on the days that it is hard to keep going. It reminds you why you started doing this if the first place and who you are doing it for.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.soaplicity.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Soaplicity/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soaplicity/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/soaplicity
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.
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