Maker of the Month: Mainland Vintage

Sara from Mainland Vintage discovered the art of soapmaking after stumbling across Bramble Berry YouTube videos, and the rest is history! Today, she runs a successful small business with a production studio and several employees. Meet Sara!

How long have you been making bath and body products, and how did you get started? How long have you been selling your products? 

I came across Bramble Berry soap making videos while looking for a new hobby in 2020, and after watching about 15 hours worth of Anne-Marie making soap that first week… I was hooked. It unlocked creativity and inspiration for me in a way very few things have done before. I decided to start selling my soaps so I could continue to expand and explore the ideas I had for new collections.

What do you love most about making bath and body products? 

Every Mainland Vintage product tells a story, which means there’s a way for customers to identify with our products in a way that's deeply personal. There’s something for everyone— gifting someone a soap that reminds them of home, supporting a cause they believe in, or loving the high quality ingredients we use.

Where do you find inspiration? 

My collections are designed around locations and historical eras, so I find my inspiration in the beautiful landscapes across the US and in cultural moments from the past. There is nostalgia in memory and that sense of home, but that is different for everyone, so I’m always looking for ways to tap into that joy regardless of where you live, travel, or come from.

What is your favorite part of the creative process?

Creating new collections is so fun. Figuring out how to design a soap so that the look matches not only its scent but also the product name—and the whole thing fits into the overall theme of its collection—is so rewarding. It feels like a puzzle, and I never get bored with it!

You manage a team of several employees, tell us a bit about your experience scaling your small business and hiring additional help?

My first employee offered to help for a few hours a week during the holiday season in 2021, but I stayed busy enough that she never left! Recognizing that I needed to start outsourcing certain tasks so that I could focus on production, creating new product lines, marketing, and running the business overall was such an important decision to make, and one I have to keep making as the business grows.

What has been your biggest challenge to navigate as a business owner?

I made the decision last month to move out of my home kitchen and into a production studio! I’ve had my eye on studios for over a year, but have been hesitant about ‘the right time’ to make a change like this as it will change everything about my day to day. But my business has been steadily growing (especially on the wholesale side) and I knew as I’m heading into the busy holiday season that I needed to scale my capacity to meet this year's demand. It's been a mix of scary and exciting, but it will allow me to continue to grow and expand my team and business.

What advice would you give to makers looking to start their own small business from home?  

I am a huge advocate for having a strong brand identity. It will make you stand out, help guide product and design, and make something lasting that is truly yours. Create something that you are passionate about instead of just following trends, and you’ll have a business that feels authentically yours.

Mad Sass Soap - They have such a beautiful style, their photography and color palette are unique in a way you can always tell whose photo you’re looking at. As someone who appreciates a strong brand identity, they’ve inspired me for a long time
Lustful Bath - They’re a few years ahead of me as far as the size and scope, so following them feels like getting to watch a big sister grow and succeed. The moves they make for their business feel achievable for me in my near-future, so I can take inspiration from that growth without it feeling daunting or overwhelming.
Bonita Fierce - The way they have made their culture and heritage a cornerstone of their brand makes it so unique and powerful. You can always tell how personal each product is, and it inspires me to put that care into my own product lines, branding, and overall business identity.