Women are ultra-creative, and for us, it's hardly a leap to consider launching a business based on a hobby we love. And as the population of like-minded women grows, the need for patience and drive increases in lock step. The challenges of slow but steady growth are not lost on 28-year old Christine Dassow, who has high hopes for Southern Soap Store, but also understands that the road from avid hobbyist to business owner is often a bumpy one. Here's a bit of her start up story.

To Have And To Hold

I am into any and all crafts, and always have been. But it wasn't until shortly before my wedding in 2004 that I learned to make soap. A friend suggested it as an inexpensive way to make wedding favors for a lot of people. Little did I know that once I tried it, I'd be hooked. Who wouldn't love the creativity involved?! As a funny side note, I made coconut scented white and mint green seashell soap for my wedding At least 10 different people took a bite out of the soap, thinking they were chocolate! I couldn't believe it! It was a great memory from my wedding day and for the soap that I love to make.

Once I made the soap for my wedding, I kept experimenting and people seemed to love it. I thought it was a unique segment of the craft industry that was not as popular as it could be. Taking all of these factors into consideration, and my desire to work from home as the owner of a business I love, I decided to start Southern Soap Store. I started working on it and incorporated in September 2005. I officially opened for business on May 10, 2006. 

The business is so named because I have always lived in the south. I grew up in South Florida, went to college in Gainesville, and then lived in Jacksonville. Once I married, my husband's job moved us to Pennsylvania. I was unhappy to move from my home, but was thrilled in 2005 when we were able to return to Florida. I am passionate about southern living and I wanted my business name to reflect this.

So Much To Do -- So Little Time

Southern Soap is a part-time gig for the moment, and I maintain my full-time work as a licensed child mental health counselor, working in schools with emotionally challenged children with severe problems. I  spend hours each night after work on getting my business growing. While I don't have much time for hobbies, when I do, I enjoy being on the Internet. I also do cross stitch and recently took up quilting. I like scrapbooking and taking pictures, plus I enjoy riding with my husband on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Now that I think of it, I have too many hobbies. One of the oddest is my love for rap and hip hop music. People get a good laugh out of that.

Getting Started Is Hard

I was lucky that I did not have to take out a loan to start my business. I put up about $2,000 to get things going, including buying soap base, molds, licenses and setting up a website. I use free services like PayPal for my shopping cart. I realize that this is not ideal, but it works for now just to get started. I do most everything myself, though my husband helps me review the finances sometimes. Other than that, I've done everything from building my site, to researching product items, applying for and obtaining licenses, selecting packaging and making mail runs. The most challenging issue I face daily is marketing and getting my name out there. It takes time and I find myself working very hard daily for months at a time, and I see few results. I plan to keep working at it until it is a success. Reading stories like the ones posted in this newsletter are a great inspiration since they let me know I'm not alone in my quest.

Beautiful Utility

I use natural soap bases make of 99.5% glycerin and pure deodorized double distilled coconut oil and Vitamin E. They have high transparency which allows me to color them to match any decor. The soaps I make are unique for their creativity and diversity. People can use my soap and benefit from them as a body care product or they can choose to display them in the bath. They make a room smell wonderful as well. My most popular product is my soap petals, which are silk rose petals dipped in soap. You use them to wash your hands in the bath and then can discard the silk petals.

It is extremely difficult for me to start with such basic items when I would like to offer so much more. For example, in addition to soap, I sell supplies so people can make their own soap. I buy soap base from a wholesaler and sell some of the base and use the rest to make my own soaps. I sometimes make special bars with flowers embedded, or my unique soap petals. Right now, my holiday lights in different colors are popular for guest rooms and baths. Loofah bars are nice as well, where a loofah is attached to a bar of soap. I offer fragrance oils, but would like to offer many more, and essential oils. I'd like to add more molds, different types of colorants, more soap bases. The list goes on, but I'm trying not to grow too fast. I hope to be able to get my soap in some tourist/specialty shops along the beach area. I love making beach- themed soaps and have contacted several salons and will continue to explore this route.

I Already Have Advice

Even though I'm still new at this, I can offer some advice. Keep working hard and it will come. This has happened in all other aspects of my life and I expect the same to occur with my business. When I put my mind to something, I do not give up and I think this is a key ingredient to success in business. Every business needs 110% of its founded to be successful -- at least at the beginning. Keep working and it will come.

I also love the Handmade Beauty Network. When I read about all the member services at the site, I had to join. I look forward to being able to attend a conference in the future, and also take some of the classes offered. There are so many benefits to being a member and I am proud to display my affiliation on my website. 

Favorite Books

The best book I have ever read on the soaping business is "Soapmaking For Fun and Profit," by Maria Given Nerius. It was the only business book I found that was specific to my business. I also found the "Dummies" books helpful for legal and accounting issues.