Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in skincare but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Anita Lam, founder of Butter & Soap Co., located in Georgina, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I do handcrafted natural soaps and body care products. Most of my customers are new moms to 55-year-old women who want quality living and care about what to use on their bodies and family.
Tell us about yourself
Hi, this is Anita, an artisan soap maker. After receiving hand-made body butter as a gift from a friend of mine, as a lover of nature and living as green as possible, I was amazed by the texture and smell of the product and how well it worked for my skin so much, so that I started to think about making my own.
I found an online soap-making business diploma course during my research and decided to enrol. After learning about soap history, theory, methods, and how to run a business, I successfully made my first batch. I was amazed by the results after using it and received positive feedback from family and friends. From then on, I vowed to “never use a commercial detergent again.” From there, Butter and Soap Co. was established.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment was setting up my online store, producing products on my own, and started selling! Yup, that's a big achievement for me.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
As a business owner, I would say the hardest thing for me is marketing. How you can effectively advertise your products with a limited budget is challenging. There are so many ways to promote your products, packaging, social media, search engine, print or digital advertisements, etc. Of course, you cannot do every channel because of the time and budget, so I think this is one of the hardest things for me.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be enthusiastic about your work. Love what you are doing and your customers, then you will do things great.
- Find a successful example as your mentor. Learn from them, not copying but inspiring.
- Being creative not only on your products but also in marketing skills. Keep an eye on any business opportunities around you in order to grow your business.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Just like a quote said: If you try, you might fail, but if you don't try, you will never succeed.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://butternsoapco.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/butternsoapco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butternsoapco/
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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