I'm often asked about where the idea of making lotion for a living came
from? I've
admitted that I never thought about owning and operating a business, but after
my skin began to heal with the help of the lotion I made, I thought making
lotion for me and my family and friends would be a good thing. I could give my handmade gifts and make a little money too. That was the early thought but there was also something
gnawing at me and saying I could do more.
I began to
wonder about other products I could make and sell. I also knew I needed to
learn to make products from a more technical approach. I made inquiries to several different
outlets. I got a response from one
instructor and she really challenged me to think about why I wanted to make
lotion and what I would do with the products I would make. I explained to her the amazing healing I got
from the natural products I used and how that led to my consideration of starting
a body care business. I shared my heart
with her, and I also explained that although I am considered “disabled,” it
doesn’t mean that I am unable. The
response she gave me stopped the gnawing and lit the fire. I knew her company’s courses were what I
needed.
During the
first session of the first course I took, my instructor gave us statistics
about the body care industry that let me know that making lotion could be a
very good business. To hear that this industry makes over $70 billion dollars a
year worldwide blew my mind. What really
caught my attention was hearing that of this large number, less that $2 billion
is made here at home in the USA. Of that
small amount, the number of businesses like the one I was thinking to start is
substantially smaller. Hearing these statistics, learning the “how to,” getting
certified and then putting my lessons into action only fueled the fire. Making body care products became my
passion. Completion of courses 1 and 2
certified me as a Natural Body Care Maker.
I learned how to make over 21 different products and the vision of what
I could do began to take shape.
What began
as a need to heal my damaged skin transformed into SweetSavours Natural Body
Care Apothecary. The SweetSavours standard has always been “small batch,
handcrafted, natural body care products” made by a debt free company.
SweetSavours products are developed with the intent of meeting a skin care
need. Not only will SweetSavours make
products people can use and benefit from, it will also be the means by which I
support myself despite that label of “disabled.” Now is the time to make my vision a reality
and new goals have been set.
THE goal
is that SweetSavours Natural body Care Apothecary will make its public debut at
the Phoenix Public Market on November 29, 2014. With a new, full line of
products that will include the new formulations for body, lip, hand and foot
care products. The big hurdle I have to
cross now is that of funding. How does a
person on disability fund a new business?
Finding an answer to that question took a lot of research. The answer is “crowdfunding.”
The use of
crowdfunding was highlighted in 2012 when the JOBS Act was signed into
law. This law encourages funding of
small, U.S. business like SweetSavours Natural Body Care Apothecary by easing
various securities regulations.
Basically, crowdfunding is the opportunity for small businesses like
SweetSavours to utilize social media platforms and personal relationships to
raise money in exchange for rewards or “perks.”
This is the funding source I have chosen to use to raise funds for
SweetSavours and the "SweetSavours Gogo" campaign will being on the
Indiegogo platform on Wednesday, October 22, 2014. The funds raised will be
used to purchase the ingredients and containers for the new line of
SweetSavours products; increase social media and local publicity; and pay the
fees for the SweetSavours shop at the Phoenix Public Market. The goal is set and I am ready to work and
make my vision of operating a good natural body care business a reality.
In the new
few weeks on the blog, I will share more information about SweetSavours and
what’s coming up. In the next few days look for SweetSavours on FaceBook and
Google+. I’ll be looking forward to
hearing from you with anything you might want share or questions you have. I
really appreciate any support you may be willing and able to give SweetSavours
and Me. If you have friends who will be
willing to blog along with us, please invite them to do so.
I’ll be
bloggin’ again soon. I hope you have a
“sweet” day and that you “savour” every moment of it!
Sherri
