Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nancy Daiutolo, Founder of Organic Soak, located in Swedesboro, NJ, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I'm on a mission to revolutionize skincare and self-care, especially when it comes to bath, body, and home products. I make toxin-free and sensitive skin-loving bath and body products, as well as phthalate-free soy candles and skin-soothing body oil candles. If you have sensitive skin, skin conditions, or want to burn candles that don't turn your walls black or release harmful chemicals into the air, welcome to Organic Soak.

Tell us about yourself

As a teen, I struggled desperately with my skin. I suffered from psoriasis and a host of other skin sensitivities and allergies. This was all pre-Internet, too, so at the time, I had NO IDEA what I was dealing with or why I was (seemingly) the only person in the world who was dealing with it. It was definitely not the most confidence-boosting circumstances under which to experience adolescence and early adulthood :). What made my circumstances even more difficult were the limited choices in bath and body products for people with skin conditions like mine.

I was a girly girl. And I wanted to smell like the fancy scents that were dominating the era of my teenage and young adult life. Instead, my hair smelled like coal tar, and my skin was like melaleuca oil and calcipotriene. I didn't like it. There was no modern, fancy skincare out there for people with skin like mine, and if I dared touch the products that were so amazingly beautiful and scented, my skin would flare because it was so sensitive. At the time, I was stuck with what worked. And what worked (while effective) was boring.

We've come a long way. And today, there are lots of products that cater to sensitive skin. But they tend to not lather well and are unscented or overly 'earthy' scented. So I created Organic Soak. A bath, body, and home brand for people like me who need extra sensitive skin care, but want it to soothe, calm, look, and smell AMAZING, too. It's purposefully colorful and bold - a bit in your face - because so often, those who manage skin conditions or allergies feel the need to hide or cover up. I have known I did for a long time. So this brand not only delivers in quality but is also indulgent, luxurious, and loud. You see it on a shelf, just like we all deserve to be seen.

As I got older, I started developing sensitivities to scents, too, which put a full stop to my candle addiction. So I decided to curate my own soy candles that smelled wonderful, but were phthalate and toxin-free, didn't stain my walls, and were safe for humans and pets alike.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I think this is a common accomplishment, but I'm proud of it anyway :). I started this company when my youngest was nine months old, and my oldest was 3. I had a full-time job at work and at home. It took me longer to get where I am now, but I'm here. My mission kept me focused, and now this company is profitable and sustaining my family. I LOVE what I do, and I love my customers.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Objectivity was tough for me in the beginning. When I started this business, I was on a mission to create gorgeous products that smelled great and were of the best quality possible. Making products and designing labels was fun - and I was VERY attached to everything I created or curated. I always said Organic Soak was my third child.

But in business, you can't stay attached to things that the market doesn't support. You need to let go of scents or products that YOU love and think like a business owner. We exist to serve and create value for our customers, not create a bunch of products that only we personally love.
Additionally, running a business requires a LOT more than just making or curating great products. You're also the bookkeeper, supply chain and inventory manager, marketer, packer, shipper, and more.

If you don't have good systems in place, this will not only be overwhelming but will stunt your growth. Systems will enable you to grow your revenue as a solopreneur until you're actually earning enough to sustain hiring others.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Invest in personal development. We all have subconscious beliefs about our abilities, our worthiness, wealth, etc. If you're holding on to limiting beliefs about ANY of those aforementioned things, it will affect your success. Full stop. Get your house in order, and it will serve as your foundation - not just in business but in life. And no matter what happens, you will have unshakable faith in your capabilities and self-worth.
  2. Invest in professional development. I talked earlier about how many hats a business owner wears. It's illogical to think that any one person knows how to do all of them well. So reach out to the experts for help. It doesn't always mean you need to buy an expensive course or coaching program; it can be as simple as buying a book. The E Myth by Michael Gerber was instrumental for me in developing systems early on in my business, and I think it cost around $10.
  3. Have a powerful why. If you're starting a business simply to make money without any personal attachment to it, it's going to be MORE work and MORE stress than any full-time employee job. You need to be strongly aligned with your mission to make it through the myriad of things that happen you run a business - missed shipments, supply chain issues, sales fluctuations, insurance premium spikes, and the list goes on and on. Your mission will keep you going when you're screaming into the ethers in stress and will validate, support, and lift you up when it all goes right.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Surround yourself with a good network. My inbox is always open to other business owners - even if you do the same thing that I do - there's room for us all, and I don't believe in gatekeeping information. I want us all to succeed.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.organicsoak.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrganicSoak
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/OrganicSoak/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/organic-soak/

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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