Today we’d like to introduce you to Monique Montanez.
Hi Monique, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My daughter has suffered with extremely dry, itchy skin and has eczema. We would constantly bring it up with her pediatrician and he would give us creams and advise on which commercially manufactured soaps, and lotions to use. He would also say she’d grow out of it. None of the creams helped and prescription cortisone ointments worked temporally and never hydrated her skin. Fast forward 2 years and nothing has changed except my daughter would scratch her skin until she bleeds. I had enough of it and with the help of a holistic pediatrician did some research and started using beef tallow body balms and soap. While doing the research I realized I could make my own body balms and soaps and that’s exactly what I did. I would make them for my family and loved that I was helping all of us detox our bodies from all the chemicals in our skincare products from the stores. I figured why stop at just my family I could help other children and people in general that have problems with itchy, dry skin too. Thus creating Avery’s Apothecary. I’m just starting out with selling at Farmers Markets, and other events, as well as going live with my website.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road getting to the start of opening my business. Researching the right ingredients, places to buy them from and having enough space to make and store my products have been challenges I faced. I also had to do a ton of research on financial side and had to eventually consult a professional to properly keep track of everything. The last challenge was startup costs, I didn’t have a lot of money to put towards starting up everything so I had to figure out what to invest in and what to wait to invest in.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Avery’s Apothecary LLC?
Avery’s Apothecary is an all natural and organic skincare business that specializes in using 100% grass fed and finished beef tallow in our products. Using beef tallow is an important factor in the ingredients because it has nutrient-rich ingredients, is packed with vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as essential fatty acids. It also closely mimics the natural oils found in human skin, making it an excellent moisturizer that deeply nourishes and protects the skin barrier. We currently make Soaps (various scents, or unscented), Body balms( various scents, or unscented), Lip Balms (various scents or unscented), Shampoo bars, Sunscreen, and deodorant (various scents or unscented). Our products help the skin get clean without stripping away the important parts, then nourishes the skin and keeps it moisturized. Our Lip Balm hydrates the lips and protects them from drying out and getting chapped. Our sunscreen protects the skin from those harmful rays and doesn’t have harmful chemicals. We can offer our customers the opportunity to rid their bodies of harmful chemicals and rehydrate it with all natural skincare items.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I have used a few different soap making tutorials on YouTube, as well as a couple online courses in soap making.
Pinterest helps give me ideas on soap names, and my labels.
Pricing:
- Soap-$5-8
- Body Balm- $12-15
- Lip Balm-$3
- Shampoo Bars- $5
- Deodorant & Sunscreen- $8-10
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.averysapothecary.com
- Instagram: averysapothecary_
- Facebook: Averys Apothecary
Image Credits
Thomas Bocage
