Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kianna Bosnell, owner of ManSoap, located in Gatineau, QC, Canada
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We create various all-natural products for people of all genders & skin types. We specialize in all-natural cold process soaps, all-natural beard care, shaving care, and hydration and aftercare products. Recently, we launched our very own candle line as well, souly soy wax-based, hand-poured. We also are very proud to carry Henson straight blade razors from Toronto.
All Mansoap.co products are handmade with a blend of raw ingredients to create rich, high-quality results. We try to work with as many local businesses as Brasserie artisanal Gallicus for our rich lather beer soaps and Brûlerie artisanal Brown Bag coffee grains for our coffee exfoliating bars.
Often you can find us at various craft shows & events such as https://www.613flea.ca/ every month. We love these events as it gives us the opportunity to meet our customers and give them the proper explanation of each product. You can also find us at 1910 Chemin pink suite 108 (Gatineau) to shop in-store!
Tell us about yourself
I have been a part of Mansoap since the beginning and simply fell in love. It started out as my two parents, sister, and I just playing around the basement trying to cure our never-ending skin irritations. Once we started the company, I was in charge of sales at all events. The face-to-face interactions, the explanations of use for the products we worked so hard to get into your hands, all of it I fell in love with. In 2020, I graduated from high school at seventeen in the middle of the confusion for the new worldwide pandemic. I knew I wanted to be part of the entrepreneurial world ( which I had loved for the past five previous years as my part-time job). When it came to looking at other schooling opportunities, none caught my eye.
To tell you the harsh truth, I'm not the greatest student.. :) I've always learned best from simply doing and learning from mistakes, so when my family offered me 70% ownership of the business, I felt it would be silly to refuse. I had taken the idea of a year off while owning an amazing company and seeing what happens from there. 2022 rolls around, and I am very proud to say that I am still working that very position at nineteen years old and couldn't be loving it more. Mansoap has had a lot of positive impacts as well, with someone constantly working away on it. I'm happy to announce that we have been having the busiest year to date with the largest variation of products that we have ever offered.
Along with Mansoap.co, this year I have launched yet another company called Bonghead.ca. Yet another cleaning product, but this one is not for the skin ;) We most definitely will be hitting a different target audience, but I hope to introduce both companies to both client lists.
Lastly, I have purchased a six needle/colour industrial embroidery machine in the hopes of making merch for all local businesses at affordable prices! If interested please contact me by email - kianna@stitchbitch.ca. I'm always looking for new custom projects! I have always been inspired by creating my own money and side hustles. What can I say? I love being busy.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I would say my biggest accomplishment is the way I help others with the same skin irritations as my family. People with extreme skin sensitivity or irritation levels know how challenging, upsetting and uncomfortable it can be on a daily basis. Not to mention how expensive it can become...It's honestly a pleasure to sell someone a bar of soap and have them email me saying it made a large difference in their skin and daily regimes. It gives you the sense that you're improving this person's day or life, which is truly just something to be grateful for.
Other than that, by far, it would be the people I've met. Not only the customer base but as well as the artisan community. There are truly some amazing people in your nearby community who wish the best for you and want to help. We are all in this world together, and through Mansoap.co, I've been given the opportunity to meet amazing, inspirational people who make me love what I do even more. Beyond grateful.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Creating a division between work and home. Often, I hear a lot of people say, "Oh, you work for yourself.. you can work whenever you want!!" which is very true, but I found myself constantly working because of it. It's simple; I love what I do, so I wanted to do it as much as I could. Shortly after, I had realized that it's just not the healthiest reality. I found myself constantly stressed or upset that things weren't happening as fast as I wanted them to, in the end, slowly burning myself out.
I had decided to take a month off of all things business to get my perspective back. Doing so, I realized that yes, my business is 100% me, but I am also not solely my business. I needed to step back to take time for myself to relax and get some peace of mind. I had also made the decision to get a workshop separated from my home, which really helped me change my mind space from home to work. Another small, simple change was to give me at least one day a week 'off ' to not think of Mansoap.co. These days, I do my errands, stay at home, chill, or hang out with friends. In other words, I give myself at least a day in the week to forget about my responsibilities and just enjoy myself.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Shoot for the stars, aim for the moon. That being said, expect greatness but don't expect it all to come easy. Take the time that is needed to create what you're working on; don't rush things. If something doesn't go the way you expected, don't just give up. Look at it from another perspective and try again.
Ask for help. A lot of people feel shame in asking questions or helping, but the artisan's community is very inclusive. If you need advice or whatever it may be, look to join small local artisan groups in your community on Facebook, that's how we started! We joined several soap-making forums for all our questions or inspiration. We joined all our local event pages to spread our name and have the opportunity to be a part of numerous events and craft markets. The support from others helped a lot to feel like you're not working alone.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website:
https://mansoap.co/
https://ottawaartisans.com/collections/vendors?q=ManSoap+Company
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mansoapcompany/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mansoapcompany/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mansoapcompany
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.
