Making bath products is a magical experience for Stephanie with Cocoa Body Co. She started about 3 years ago to help with her depression, then started selling soap and skincare on Etsy and eventually her own website. Her business model is simple - she sells products that she enjoys making and her customers enjoy using. Get to know Stephanie below!
How long have you been making bath products, and how did you get started?
I started making bath and body products about 3 years ago. I was looking for a hobby to help cope with my depression and stumbled onto soap making. I watched all of Anne-Marie’s Soap Queen videos and bought a cold processed soap making kit. From there I was hooked and began learning how to make other natural bath and skincare products.
How long have you been selling your products?
I’ve been selling my products for 2 years. I started on Etsy thinking I would sell a few products here and there to cover the cost of my “hobby.” My hobby soon turned into a business and in 2020, I moved to my own website and formed a LLC.
What do you love most about making bath and body products?
My favorite thing about making products is formulating a recipe and then seeing it come to life. When you dream up a product and it turns out even better than you thought it would be, it's such a magical experience.
What inspires you to create?
The community of people that support me in this journey - family, friends, customers, etc. inspire me to continue to create products. Originally I was creating products for myself, but now I create for them and strive to make products that I know they will love.
You have a lovely variety of products. Which one is your favorite to make, and why?
Whipped body butter is my absolute favorite product to make! Seeing the raw butters and oils transform into a rich, creamy texture is so fulfilling.
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to get started?
To anyone just getting started I would say take your time and find what brings you joy. In the beginning I was trying to emulate what I saw from other soap makers, but as time progressed I found who I was as a maker and was able to bring that authenticity into my brand. Learn to let go of products you don’t enjoy making and focus on the things you are passionate about.
Who’s another maker you admire? What do you love about their work?
Desiree from Lilasuds is a maker I have admired since I began my soap making journey. Her work is phenomenal, it’s beautiful and artistic and she does an amazing job of storytelling through her products. I also love how she incorporates her background and culture into her work.
Have you experienced a fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
I have experienced many fails and have learned and grown from each of them. One of the products I struggled with the most with was salt soap. I could never get the timing right of when to cut them before they would crumble. I researched all the tips and tricks and in the end it just left me frustrated. I finally found a process that worked but realized it was something I didn’t enjoy making. That’s when I learned to stop investing time in things that don’t bring me joy.
What plans do you have for your business moving forward?
This year, I am focusing on growing my retail partnerships and I see that as the next big step forward for my business. I currently have stockists in 5 states and would love to see that grow to 50 in the future!
Stephanie's top Bramble Berry picks
- Sodium hydroxide lye - It's essential for cold process soap making.
- Purple Brazilian clay - I love the slip it gives to soap and it’s a beautiful natural colorant.
- Colloidal oatmeal - This is a perfect addition in my clay face masks.
- Red rose petals - They are beautiful and fragrant, I love to add them to bath products.
What’s your favorite Bramble Berry project?
My favorite Bramble Berry project is the Natural Bath Bomb Kit. I wasn’t originally planning to offer bath bombs in my shop. I purchased the kit for fun and ended up really enjoying making them. The first project I tried was natural cold processed soap. I was a little intimidated at first, thinking it might be too complicated but I immediately loved it!
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