This post is filled with nostalgia. I'm reminiscing about Bittersweet's beginnings, and middle.
We'll start with the beginning...
It's Christmas 1996 and a package arrives at my front door. I bring the brown wrapped package inside and set it on the table. I look at the label to see who had sent it and see that my Aunt Vivian was the sender. I tear open the top and open the box and as I open it, a soft aromatic bouquet fills the room. I unfold the tissue and carefully open it to reveal what' s inside. A note is attached and it reads: I made this goat milk soap in my kitchen and wanted you to enjoy its creamy lather and wonderful scent. I thought to myself this is the best gift I've ever received! My aunt Viv has always been a clever and crafty person! She's making soap! Wow! I must learn how to do this! All those thoughts and many more were present that day, and the seed was planted.
Share your seeds...
I quickly began searching for any information that I could find about soap making. Keep in mind, this was 1996 and the Internet was pretty much useless. It was slow and somewhat obnoxious! I began searching for books at my local library only to discover one book that touched on the modern-day soap maker. I can still remember how excited it was to open the pages and gaze upon the soap recipes and authors' instruction on soap making. Mostly, I was passionately intrigued and fascinated that my aunt had made such a beautiful and useful gift.
Soon after reading the book, my search began for collecting the soap making supplies and ingredients so that I could duplicate the silky bars that my aunt had sent me.
I soulfully recall stirring the ingredients and pouring the mixture into shoe boxes and covering them with quilts and placing them under my bed. Now I'd have to wait for twenty-four hours to see if I had done everything correctly as you must allow the soap to saponify before cutting into bars. In my years, and there's been a few, I've never anticipated anything with such excitement! From that moment, and the moments in between, it felt as though I had found my calling! Those feelings traveled deep inside my soul and filled me with even more excited after I uncovered the shoebox to discover that I'd made my very own soap!
My life was transformed at that moment.
My days of the bank manager and code enforcement were going to be a part of my past and my new life would be filled with amazing scents and herbs and tinctures and flowers and of course amazing soap! Oh wait a minute, I will need to make a living!
That smells amazing!
It doesn't seem so long ago when I was getting Patrick on the bus to go to school and once he was safely off to school I'd scurry to pack my wheeled suitcase with Bittersweets to travel over the hills to small boutiques and stores to sell my wares. The store owners were always hospitable and eager to see what I had to offer them. It was a completely different concept than what they were used to. Back then, and today even. store owners typically fill their stores with products that they discover at merchandising shows. These shows are usually hosted in a very large venue. Manufacturers and makers fill the arenas with their items and store owners or buyers shop for merchandise to stock their stores.
My concept was unique in that I was the maker, the sales rep, and the order filler. It was a one-woman show! Considering back then there was no Internet, I knew that there needed to be a way to get the word out about my newly formed apothecary business if it were to be successful. My thought was, what better than a store owner able to meet and build a relationship with the actual person that was making the items they offered in their shop. Those thoughts blossomed and my business quickly grew. My plan was successful. Isn't that always nice when a plan turns out to be a good one?
Each day I'd get Patrick off to kindergarten and pack my suitcase with Bittersweets. I'd map out a new town, store, and region even traveling out of state sometimes to gather more wholesale accounts. Soon I had a nice collection of wholesale accounts.
In between being a maker and sales representative I'd do a few shows. I knew that the more Bittersweet was seen the more it would become a successful business. A business that I could rely on to feed my family and pay my bills.
During this time I recall how fast everything was! Quickly do this, that, have you, did you, should you? It was a lot for one person to take on, and I often asked myself if I was taking on too much? It wasn't long before I realized that I was.
Sales Reps...
During the fall of 1998, our town was hosting their festival and I decided to participate with a showing of Bittersweet.
It didn't take me long to realize that shows were not my cup of tea. The loading up of all the merchandise, the merchandising display, if it doesn't look good it's not going to sell! The packing and unpacking the rain, the heat, the well, you get it!
The show ran Friday through Sunday as they usually do. It was Sunday and I was excited about that! About mid-day, a woman walked by my booth and commented on how she loved the look and appearance of our products. We continued to chat and she asked me if I had sales reps for my products. I laughed and said, yes, you're looking at her! She chuckled and then asked if I'd be interested in hiring her to represent my line of products. You know how when someone just appears and asks you a question that you've thought about but have yet to act on it resembles a moment that's kind of trapped in time. That feeling of relief along with apprehension and anxiety. That feeling...
A few days past as I pondered her offer. It really didn't take much thought to know that I was needing to make some changes. Some call it instinct. That's what I call it, and let me tell you, always trust it, because it won't let you down!
My new sales rep was a speedy Gonzalez! Orders were flying in and I was racing to make the inventory to fulfill the orders.
Did you know that there are levels of business?
Each level will either take you below or above. I have always been eager to climb the latter, not ladder, and head high. In reality, what's the point of reaching for the stars if only to get within arm's length?
Not to mention Passion with a capital P! We'll come back to that, later.
The days of wholesale and sales reps were taking a toll on my psyche. Soap makers were beginning to mushroom here and there, everywhere. The Internet was new and improved. During this time it also became clear to me that I was no longer the happy soap maker I once was.
There needed to be some changes...
But what kind of changes? I had to dig deep into my soul to find the answer. To my surprise, the answer came quickly. Who cares that there are three-hundred and fifty thousand soap makers in the Midwest? I'm one of the originators and my story goes back three generations! I love to make soap! Those soulful thoughts are imbedded deep within me and will never waver.! This I know to be true! Those tender thoughts lined the path and added structure to this new life I'd formed. It started to feel right!
I'll branch out and not only be a soap maker but a maker of pure and natural skincare. I'll make this and that, and each stitch, bar, creme, hat, dress, or piece of jewelry will be intertwined and wrapped with goodness and love. I'll make the things that I want! I'll focus on the idea that quality is King and that each item will fulfill your wildest expectations.
Yes, this is what I will do...
Keep the faith.
Jill
