I have enjoyed seeing Josie’s beautiful soap on the Bramble Berry Facebook page for some time. Right away, Josie showed immense talent and an eye for design. Josie began selling her soap on Ebay, and several weeks ago opened a brick and mortar store, Josie’s Beauty Boutique, in Grants Pass, Oregon. Josie creates both melt and pour and cold process soap, as well as body butters and lotions. Josie specializes in colorful, feminine designs including her gorgeous soap cupcakes. Read more about Josie’s soapy journey, including her tips for opening a store in the interview below! -A.M.
Josie in her store, Josie’s Beauty Boutique, located in Grants Pass, Oregon.
How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
I have been making soap for 11 months, I made my first soap November 14th 2013. I had an Ebay store and was tired of having a middle man to purchase my beauty products from. A lady that worked at my post office wanted to know if I would buy her soap and sell it for her on my ebay store, again was having the middle man and not making any real profit. So I decided to see what soap making was all about, never really thinking it would go anywhere. I actually watched all the soap video’s that Anne-Marie made on soap making, over and over and over again. 😉
I started researching more on the internet and purchased Soap Crafting by Anne-Marie. The next thing I knew I had Anne Marie in the kitchen with me when I made my first loaf of soap by way of my lap top :). I set my computer on the counter, turned on her video and went step by step with her. When I was done I thought “WOW that was so fun, and nerve racking at the same time.” I made melt and pour for about 2 months before I started tackling cold process soap.
What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
I have only been open for 7 weeks, but I would say to believe in yourself. If you are starting your own business and putting out a good product and it has been received well from the public already, then just believe in yourself! Look straight ahead and don’t let negative comments get in your way, tell yourself that you can do this. On the other hand, be open minded to suggestions that come from those who care about you. Even though you think you have it all together, you may not see what others see, so be a good listener to those who care about you.
The most important thing that has helped me since opening: find out the hours that people get off work in your surrounding area. We found out our 1st week being open that we closed at the same time everyone else was closing. Well…that doesn’t work well for customers to shop your store when they leave their workplace and see you have closed up also. So we are open until 6:00 PM every night all week because we found out that everybody gets off work around 5:00 PM. So even though I am staying open another hour longer, it has been well worth it. After all, the customers are the reason I opened my shop in the first place. So that has been key for me.
What have you learned from your first month of having a store?
I have learned people really like how I try to be as chemical free with my product lines. I didn’t know there were so many people that felt like me about chemicals in products. Just about every person that comes in is overly happy when I tell them that I try to go as chemical free as I possibly can.
I learned it’s really good to be diverse with my products. Not everyone likes heavily fragranced items. I learned this before going into the shop. So I decided that I would always have fragranced and unscented items. Because some people can’t handle fragrances, but can handle essential oils or some do not like anything fragrance at all. Even though my soapy cupcakes are adorable along with my pies and cakes, not everyone wants that. So I make my soap loaves scented and unscented, some with herbs and spices in them and some with chocolate, cherry, and coconut cream fragrance inside.
Before you open, make sure you have a little something for everyone, from the very natural bars of soap to the “WOW! What the heck? Is that soap?” I get that all the time. People say, “What the heck?? Is that really soap?” Haha, it is so funny. Its a kick. It takes lot of preparation getting a diversity but you will find it’s well worth it because everyone is so different. Their wants and needs are different. Williness to do special orders for people will also help increase your sales and your customers feel special too.
What is your favorite type of product to make?
My body lotions are one of my favorite products to create. But I think my #1 most favorite is my soapy cupcakes. They are tricky and challenging for me because most of the time I like doing 3 to 4 different colors when piping. I always seem to learn something new when making them. Plus the “WOW” factor in my shop when people see them is so hilarious. What I hear everyday is, “It looks so good I want to eat it!”
What inspires you to create?
My imagination is what inspires me, wanting to share all the designs that I have stored in my head that people have not seen yet. I have so many ideas that I have not yet created. I lay awake sometimes at night dreaming up my next soapy cupcake. Then sometimes I don’t know what I’m going to make until I get into the kitchen and start. I also switch gears right in the middle and change the whole thing into a completely different design than what I started out doing.
What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
Oh boy, that is a loaded question. Ok ALL!! Hahaha. I mean that. I have shopped with Bramble Berry from the very beginning. The fragrance lines are out of this world. When people come into my shop and try my tester lotions & body butters or smell my bath salts… they are really wowed by the fact that they smell so outrageously good. And the fragrances last and last.
Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself!
I let my hair go completely gray last year. I cut off all my hair which was down to the middle of my back (I had like 3 different colors in it always). I got tired of doing my hair all the time and decided to let my gray hair take over. I use purple shampoos on my hair to keep the yellowing away, but I don’t like all the chemicals that are in the shampoos. So I made a shampoo bar that is violet in color, and I use it in-between the Dark purple shampoo I get from the beauty supply, so I am doing something good for my hair in-between.
What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
In the spring/summer here in Oregon, my awesome husband Dale (who by the way has supported me in this from the very beginning, when I told him in our front room one night, “Dale, I’m going to start making soap”). Anyway, Dale and I love to go boating. We have a large bright yellow pontoon boat that we named Cove Hoppin, because that is what we do when we go the endless amount of lakes in our area. We are fully stocked on board to spend days out on the water. It is something we look forward to every year.
What is your number one soaping tip?
This tip would be for those who are making melt & pour soaps. If you are doing layers in your design, don’t forget to spray your layers with alcohol each time before you pour your next layer. If you are placing embeds into your soap, spray with alcohol also along with the layer you are placing them in or on. I use to forget to do that sometimes and end up with peeled layers separating. When you are going through all the time and effort to do layers it pays to spray, spray, spray! Be careful not to have your soap pour through the next layer, so pour into a large spoon and let that spill over on to the soap layer.
Have you ever experienced a horrible soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
This would be my soapy cupcakes. Not too long ago I was making cupcakes and I didn’t let the soap batter set up enough for the pipe. I started piping about 6 to 8 cupcakes. Everything seemed to be going along fine, or so I thought. I looked back at my cupcakes I had finished, and the cupcakes I piped were all leaning. When I tried to touch them they were in a very melted like state. I did not wait for the batter to thicken up enough.
So what I did was I took a large spoon, and scooped all the tops off of them and put it back into the bowl I started with. I took my stick blender to it again, but that wasn’t helping which I know it can, but not this time. Well I didn’t have any fragrance in this part of the batter at all. I wanted a white topping and didn’t want to use vanilla stabilizer in this recipe, so I grabbed some of my Bramble Berry Cherry Almond Fragrance Oil that was in the bottom of the cupcakes and poured it into the batter.
It started getting thicker right away, yay! Saved! I knew this fragrance oil would make it accelerate. I was able to put it back into my piping bag and pipe away without any more problems. Some of the paprika bottom got mixed into the topping when I used the large spoon to scoop the tops off, so instead of white topping I ended up with a very light peach like color. They smelled great and wash wonderful. Sometimes when you are in the moment and you don’t have time to figure out what the heck you’re going to do, you just have to do something quick!
What do you love most about creating bath and body products?
I just love everything about it. Everyone tells me, “Josie you finally found your nitch.” I would have to agree. What I love is seeing the lil’ soapy treasures when they are finished. Its so gratifying. And when someone uses one of my bars of soap and loves it. Oh man, it is just so fun for me to know that I have made someone happy with something I have created.
Find Josie’s Beauty Boutique
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Ebay
Hi Everybody! This is Josie Sundell Owner of Josie’s Beauty Boutique.
I took 5 days away from making product for the shop and made an informational website for the shop which has 18 pages of product, prices & ingredients.
http://www.josiesbeautyboutique.com
Please feel free to check it out and call the shop with any questions you might have for me.
Thank you
Josie Sundell
Thanks so much for the link Josie! Can’t wait to check it out. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
This is still one of my favorite blog posts! It’s so inspiring to read about someone with a similar hobby and to see it go so well! It’s partly inspired me to start my own business! I hope I can be as successful one day!
Hi Leanna!
I’m so glad you like this post! It’s so inspirational to see stories like Josie’s. Also, good luck with your business! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hello Josie!
Have always loved the process of making and creating pretty much about anything. Have been kicking around the idea of soap making. I accidentally came across this article and what an inspiration you are!! I’m in my early 50’s and stuck if it’s a tad late in starting up a new prospective business or stick with the ‘work for someone else til retirement’. Your products are beautiful and wish you bunches of success and will check out your shop on Facebook!!
Happy soaping!
Quinn
Hi Quinn!
Thanks for your encouraging words for Josie, and I’m glad you liked to article! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thank you very much Oralia!. You comment means a lot. Josie
Congratulations madam!!!
Your story is very inspiring and your shop is simply beautiful!!!
Hi Oralia!
So glad you enjoy this post! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi Elisa, I do not have a website, running my shop I am working 6 days a week so I don’t have time to do a website also. For now anyway. What I tell people is to go to my Facebook page, take a look at my Photo area of my products, if there is something that sparks you eye you would like I can see if I still have it in stock on my shelves in the shop. I have a paypal swipe so I take all major credit cards. Thank you Josie
I would love to buy some of your products how would I go about doing this ?
Thank Elisa
Hi Elisa!
To purchase Josie’s products, you can visit her Facebook page! I’ll include a link below. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Josie’s Beauty Boutique: https://www.facebook.com/JosiesBeautyBotuiqe
Hi Josie
congratulations on following your dream and may it continue. Your shop looks so inviting and I can tell you are passionate about your products. I’m so pleased your husband is very supportive in your business, it will mean such alot for you and your success.
The saying behind a good woman is a good man.
Hi Lynn!
Thank you for your kind words for Josie! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thank you for the wonderful comment to me Teresa! Wow that was nice to hear. Been making soap for almost a year this coming November 14th was my first soaps. Wow again I really appreciate your comment. Please befriend be over on my facebook the link is down below. Thank you Josie
I can’t believe Josie’s only been making soap for a year; these are some of the most gorgeous soaps I’ve seen! Congratulations to her for following her dream and opening up a store. I wish her much success with it!
Hi Teresa!
I agree, I am totally impressed!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
The Cupcake soap is always nice 🙂
Great set-up!
Thank you much Carlos
Hi Carlos!
I just love the cupcake soaps! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
AWESOME, THAT’S MY GOAL ONE DAY. HOW MUCH , WILL I NEED TO SAVE JUST AN ESTIMATE TO REALLY OPEN A SMALL BRICK AND MOTAR SHOP.
Hi Manasa, Well it really can all depend on what type of furniture you choose to use in your shop for displays. I think that has been my most expensive cost is displays. I have spent close to $10,000 after all is said and done, that is including all the supplies to make everything for the shop, because I buy in bulk I spend a lot of money at one time so that has been a big cost, the furniture, and dishes to display everything on also. So I shop at Ross and Antique shops around my town because I like displaying my lil treasure on old pieces. But!!! I also hit the dollar tree for lots of display pieces as well. But don’t let that figure I gave you scare you off, because…. a couple of Merchant friends of mine on the same street I’m on said that is not bad for starting up a shop. I wish you a lot of great success Manasa. Take Care and thanks for the compliments. Josie
Hi Manasa!
Josie has some great advice!
Also, we have a lot of great blog posts about starting a soaping business. Those posts discuss all the things to consider and steps to take. I’ll include them below. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
5 Tips to Take Soaping From Hobby to Business: http://www.soapqueen.com/business/5-tips-take-soaping-hobby-business-slideshare-presentation/
So You Want to Sell Your Soap (Part One): http://www.soapqueen.com/business/so-you-want-to-sell-your-soap-part-one/
Part Two: http://www.soapqueen.com/business/so-you-want-to-sell-your-soap-part-2/
Part 3: http://www.soapqueen.com/business/so-you-want-to-sell-your-soap-part-3/
Good luck with your store. I hope it grows and grows far beyond your initial goals!
Thank you much Sue! 🙂
Hi Sue!
Thanks for your kind words for Josie! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
That’s awesome Josie – I love your pink cash register 🙂 If I ever make it down from Portland I’ll stop by and say HI.
Hi Michael!
Isn’t that cash register cute? I loved it too. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi Michael, Thanks about the register 🙂 🙂 My husband and I were looking for cash registers and knowing I wanted the shop to have pink accents all around My Dale bought that for me along with a pink stapler and pink calculator. The lil cutie pie! He is my #1 Fan. So yeah that register is because of him.
This article is wonderful, and just what I needed to get my soap spark back!
Reading this article I swear we are living parllell lives. I left teaching behind after 8 years and decided to make my hobby a business and I opened a brick and motar bath & beauty boutique store in which I make almost the same products you sell. Back in 2011 I too have self taught myself from watching all of Anne Marie’s videos and books. I started selling my soapy cakes and cupcakes on Etsy but found it was too cluttered with so many talented artists in order for me to make a good profit. My husband have been so supported throughout my journey. He paid for all my start up costs to start my business. Just this year my husband lost his job and we have fallen on some really hard times. Against my husband’s wished I was really thinking about closing my store at the end of this year and go back to teaching elementary education for our main income. Reading your article has made me realize why I started my business in the first place and why I need to set some goals to grow my business further. Thanks for sharing your story. It really inspired me to be better for my business.
Hi Tracy!
Thank you so much for sharing your story. Your hard work, determination and passion is so inspiring.
Keep up the great work, and congratulations on your success. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi Tracy, Thanks for your story. I wish you the best of luck with your shop. If you love what you are doing as much as I do, I think you could do nothing but have great success because people can see when you a passionate about what you do. So I wish you lots of good fortune and have a good time at what you do with your lil treasures. Josie
Thank you for the kind words Josie, and I wish you all the best with your business. Your boutique looks AWESOME! 🙂
Congratulations! Your storefront looks fabulous. I wish you every success!
Hi Lesli!
Thanks for your kind words for Josie! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi Lesli, Thank you very much appreciated.
This is such a great interview….Congrats
Hi Azar!
I’m happy you enjoyed the post! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thanks Azar, It was nice of Bramble Berry to be interested in me like this. I feel very grateful.
Good job on the interview and keep having fun doing what you love!
thank you Blair
Hi Blair!
So glad you like this post! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Wow, nice work! Even more because you made your first soap just a year ago – and now you even have your shop…
Hi Annemeike!
She’s definitely an inspiration for other soapers! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Oh, and one more question for Josie: how do you get rid of ash on your soaps since they have such beautiful tops (lavender buds…)?
Thank you!!
Hi Martina!
There are several great tricks to get rid of soda ash on your soaps. For instance, you can spray that soap with 99% isopropyl alcohol.
If soda ash does form, you can use an old pair of nylons to gently scrub it away. We have a blog post that has more great tips that I’ll include below. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Explaining and Preventing Soda Ash: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/explaining-and-preventing-soda-ash/
Hi Martina! Yep that is just what I do, 99% isopropyl alcohol. Spray at least 2 times for the first 90 minutes after making your soaps.
Josie, those are sooooo gorgeous!!! Just beautiful!! It’s the pictures of the soaps like that, that inspired me to try it too. Good luck with your new store!!
I would love to know how you got those stripes in the last picture (the bottom part- pink and brown)? That’s cold process, right? I can get horizontal striping, but not vertical like that, and that matches the idea I have for something. Thanks!!
yes lavender buds
Hi Martina!
I’m so glad you like this post!
You can get those great vertical lines with our vertical wood mold. You can see how to use it, and how to make a bright citrusy soap, in our Sunshine Soap Tutorial. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Making Sunshine Cold Process Soap: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/making-sunshine-cold-process-soap/
Vertical Wood Mold: https://www.brambleberry.com/Vertical-Wood-Mold-P4927.aspx
Great interview Josie. You do an awesome job, its great that you can do something that you love.
Hi Dale!
It was so much fun talking to her! She’s very talented. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Josie,
I am so very proud of all you have accomplished. I love the products you have sent me and plan on purchasing more, I love the lemon lotion so much.
The new body bars you were just talking about sound like I need to order lots of those.
Keep up the good work we are all very proud of you.
Love you,
Lynda
Hi Lynda!
It was so much fun to talk to Josie. Definitely inspiring. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Wow! What an inspiration! I hope to one day be as successful as Josie!
Still working on mine, haven’t gotten my product line refined yet, but this certainly give me hope that my hobby can become a business!
Hi Lianne!
I’m so happy this helped inspire your journey! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Love your shop set up! I will have to show Lilly tomorrow when she is awake. So pretty! Your products are amazing!
Hi Stacey!
Isn’t it adorable? Her cupcake soaps look really great in her shop. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Congratulations Josie! Your shop looks so perfect! And your designs are amazing! I am encouraged by your story. I have been soaping for a couple of years now and my dream is to open my own brick and mortar shop in the mountains of NC when I retire from corporate America. I wish you great success!
Thank you Jennifer, if that is something you want to do than go for it!! Doing what you are passionate about is something that will help you be a success. 🙂 Good luck and thank you for the compliments.
Hi Jennifer!
We loved her cute shop too! Also, good luck on opening your own store, that sounds like a lot of fun.
We have an article about taking your soap from hobby to business that may be helpful for you. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
5 Tips to Take Soaping From Hobby to Business: http://www.soapqueen.com/business/5-tips-take-soaping-hobby-business-slideshare-presentation/
I want to thank Anne Marie once again for the wonderful interview and post you have done for me. You have been my inspiration from the start. I love your products and that fact that you are out there for those of us who are just starting out. I hope to continue on a long road of soaping as you have. Thank you again.
Josie Sundell
Josie’s Beauty Boutique
Hi Josie!
Thank you so much for talking with us! We loved hearing your inspirational story. Your hard work is truly paying off. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Great article and I am so happy for you. We have made Bath and Body products for years and I can tell your passion will take you places. Keep up the good work.
Thank you Ellen that is encouraging to hear. Thanks Josie
Hi Ellen!
I’m so happy you like the article, and thanks for your encouraging words for Josie. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Josie Congrats! This is such an inspiring story!!!! I wish her the best of luck (like she needs it)
That is so sweet to say Pam Thank you much!
Hi Pam!
I’m so glad you like it! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
That’s my Josie Po. I’m so proud of her.
Dad
Awe Thanks Dad & Mom! 🙂
Hi Leo!
Your daughter is such an inspiration! We were so happy to be able to interview her. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
You guys are so sweet Kelsey.