Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in skincare but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kate Poole, founder, and co-owner of Essential Apothecary Alchemist, located in Troy, ID, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I make farm-to-bottle skincare and hygiene products by hand in small batches. I am not a large manufacturer; my customers know how much work and love goes into each product. My small and loyal followers care as much as I do about what they are putting onto and into their bodies and the environment.
Tell us about yourself
I love the alchemy of creating. It starts with tending and nourishing the soils where we grow our botanical ingredients. We use the floral waters made from distilling the plants for our products' "water" portion. When I started EAA nearly a decade ago, there were not many truly natural products on the market. I looked very carefully at the ingredients lists and what was being sold was not truly natural. I wanted to create products with minimal processing and ingredients that were truly plant-based and as clean as I could find. I wanted to keep them in recyclable glass bottles that are brown to protect them from UV light that damages the contents, and I wanted to use minimal plastic.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
To be in operation for a decade in a very competitive market is a huge accomplishment. To continue building and have a loyal following is very important to me. Having a farm to grow our botanical ingredients has been a great blessing.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I am not tech-savvy, so I must depend on outside help to market EAA and keep it in the collective consciousness. I have made many mistakes and literally gave away thousands of dollars to marketing agencies that did nothing to earn my hard-earned dollars.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Do it for the love of doing what you do, don't let profit be your motivation. Do it to offer something of value to your customer and to make their lives better.
- Know what makes you different/better from all of your competitors.
- You can't do it alone, have a good team that you can depend on.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
A good work/life balance is important if you are building a business for the long haul. It is easy to become totally work-driven when you are self-employed, and burnout is inevitable. Taking time to play, rest, and create something just for yourself is as important as work. Remember to be generous with the people who are supporting you. Find ways to give something of value to your community.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://essentialapothecaryshop.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/essentialapothecary/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.