Page 63 - Demo

Sherry Peschong Ninneman
A Misty Dimness Soap LLC Watertown, SD
Q: How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
A: I have been making soap for 4 years and in business for 3 years.
soaps have developed DOS. I don’t want my customers to experience that, so all of my soap recipes are time tested for 9-12 months before I release them into my store.
Q: What is the best compliment you’ve ever received from a customer?
A: I’ve gotten lots of compliments but the two that make me smile are when people tell me the soap is too pretty to use and they display it in their bathrooms like art, and that they love how long lasting my soap is.
I learned how to make soap by a combination of Google searches, Pinterest posts and finally a Soapmaking friend held my hand for my first batch of soap.
Q: How did you come up with the name for your business?
A: My friends and family told me I was obsessed with soap and I would tell them that it was more like a madness, and that became my business tagline. It was a kismet moment when I realized that ‘Soap: It’s My Madness’ anagrams to ‘A Misty Dimness Soap’, incorporating my love of soap and word puzzles.
Q: Tell us something unique about yourself!
A: Seventeen years ago I was in a tornado and caught a baby flying through the air. We both landed safely in a field a quarter mile from where we started!
Q: What is your favorite type of product to make?
A: Although I do make bubble scoops and lip balms, cold process soaps are my favorite.
Q: What is your favorite Crafter's Choice ingredient and why?
A: I really enjoy most of the fragrances that I have purchased. I also like to use additives such as the Vita Burst beads, jojoba beads and apricot seed powder. My customers have also been happy with the flavor oils I use for lip balms.
Q: What is your best soaping/ crafting advice?
A: Make sure you know how your products perform over time. It is so disappointing when I am trying out new recipes and within 6 months the
Q: Have you made any crazy soaping/crafting mistakes we can learn from?
A:My first attempt at masterbatching lye, I had no clue what I was doing and I knew it but proceeded forward anyways. I did not use enough lye masterbatch when I made the soap, so it had huge oil pockets. It was
an oily gooey mess. I tossed it in
the trash... and did the exact same (wrong!) thing for the second batch. After the second time, I reached out to other soapmakers who explained what I did wrong and how to figure out how much lye and water I needed to add for rebatching. Lesson learned: make sure you understand what you’re doing and double check your math!
Q: What advice would you give to those soapers just starting their business?
A: Fail forward. Use every mistake as a learning tool to move your business forward. Grow into your investments, don’t feel you have to make big purchases right away.
Q: Do you have any other hobbies?
A: I enjoy reading and even with a busy schedule – I have 4 kids and work a full time and a part time job in addition to running the soap business! – I try to read a book a week.
From the experts at: WholesaleSuppliesPlus.com 63