Soap-Making Workshop
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I had the pleasure of chatting with James Baker, the owner of Baker's Soap-Making Workshop located in downtown Portland, Oregon. James started his soap-making business back in 2014 and has since turned it into a thriving business with a strong online presence.
Q: James, what inspired you to start a Soap-Making Workshop?
A: My wife and I have always been interested in natural living and alternative remedies. We started making soap in our kitchen and fell in love with the process. We then realized that there were not many options for people in Portland wanting to learn how to make their own soap, so we decided to start the workshop.
Q: What were some of the challenges you faced when starting your business?
A: A big challenge was finding a physical location for the workshop. It took us almost a year of searching, but we finally found the perfect space in a prime location. Another challenge was getting our name out there and attracting customers. We started with relying heavily on word of mouth and local events, which helped us gain some initial traction.
Q: When did you decide to start selling soap-making supplies and materials?
A: It was a natural progression for us. We found that some of our workshop attendees wanted to continue making soap at home and needed the supplies to do so. We started by stocking a few basic supplies, and it quickly grew from there.
Q: Can you tell us about a defining moment for your business?
A: Definitely when we decided to start selling our products online through Shopify. We had been solely focused on our physical store and workshops for a while, but we ultimately decided it was time to expand our reach. Starting an online store opened up a whole new customer base for us and helped us reach customers outside of Portland.
Q: How has Shopify helped your business?
A: Shopify has been a game-changer for us. It has made it so easy to manage our online store, process payments, and track inventory. We've been able to reach customers all over the country, and even internationally, which is something we never thought would be possible. It has also allowed us to offer more products and variations to our customers while keeping everything organized on the back end.
Q: What's next for Baker's Soap-Making Workshop?
A: We are planning on expanding our product line to include more natural skincare and beauty products. We also want to continue to grow our online store and reach more customers. But ultimately, we want to remain a community resource for soap-making and natural living in Portland. We have some exciting events and workshops planned for the upcoming year that we can't wait to share with everyone.
It was truly inspiring to chat with James and learn about his journey as a small business owner. From starting in his kitchen to having a thriving retail and online store, it's amazing to see how far he has come. Be sure to check out Baker's Soap-Making Workshop for all your soap-making needs if you're ever in Portland!
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