Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Mase.
Susan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I began making laundry soap and cleaning products in an effort to reduce chemicals in my home. Coming from a self-sufficient family who always had a large garden and canned food, made jams and pickles that we put up for the winter, I found that loss of employment was a very real problem and I questioned what I might do if I lost my job. I can garden and can food, but what about cleaning? I was reminded that my grandmothers made soap in a cast iron pot over an open fire in the yard. Surely if they made soap in an iron pot over a fire in the yard, I could make soap…just in case I needed the skill. I did my research and soon discovered that the bars we’ve all been buying in the stores aren’t really soap. They are detergents…cheap detergents at that and we are putting it all over our skin! Then I got mad and swore I’d never use “store-bought” ever again! I started experimenting with different formulas with the focus on using essential oils for scent and seeds, herbs, spices and clays for color….no funky stuff. I shared my new-found knowledge with anyone who would listen and shared my creations with everyone who was willing to try it. Finally, a good friend of mine said, “Girl, you’ve got to sell this stuff!”. The notion of selling my soap had never crossed my mind, but the thought of perhaps reducing the number of store-bought detergent bars being sold pushed me forward and Windmill Ridge Soap was born in 2013.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The “road to success” has not exactly been a smooth one. The very first Farmers Market season in Rockwall was a particular challenge. I really only wanted to set up a booth two weekends a month, which the organizers were very happy to hear because another soaper only wanted two weekends a month as well and their plan was to put us in the same location but on different days. Apparently, the other lady didn’t like that and made constant scheduling changes. But, I was excited that I was selling my soap and even more excited that people who weren’t related to me were willing to give me money for my soap! I was horribly underpriced and since I couldn’t buy my raw materials in larger quantities – my profit margin was very low.
Another huge challenge was the State Comptrollers office. Since I rushed to get into Farmers Market, I hadn’t yet filed for a sales tax permit. I received my permit directly from them with a nice bill for not filing sales tax for the first quarter. Big lesson learned and a $500 bond had to be paid which I was promised I would get back “if you’re good and file on time for two years”. I was good…and I got the $500 back.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Windmill Ridge Soap – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My business is very small, my husband and myself and my parents help a lot with our set up at Farmers Market. I am currently the product maker and package designer. I have expanded my product line from my first few bar soaps, laundry soap and cleaning scrubs to include laundry stain sticks, a dry face wash with oats and Bentonite clay that you mix yourself (no preservatives), bath salts, herbal bath tea, solid lotion bars, bath bombs in three sizes, men’s shave soap, women’s shave soap, bath bomb sampler, and spa gift sets.
We specialize in making a premium product at an affordable price. I source organic raw materials where possible and don’t use chemical colors or scents. I am the proudest of my many repeat customers. We have customers who seek us out, have become friends and family. That would never happen without our commitment to customer service and providing a wholesome product. I could charge more – others do – but why? I want to make my product affordable so I can get good soap into everyone’s hand. Are we getting rich? No….but that’s not the point.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Our current plan remains the same. Controlled growth – don’t grow too fast. We are avoiding seeking large commercial accounts because my husband and I both have full-time day jobs. We have made improvements to our equipment to make our production and packaging faster and more efficient and I’ve moved into a larger space. So our growth plans are in baby steps.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wmr-soap.com
- Email: susan@mase.us
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WindmillRidgeSoapShop/
Image Credit:
Photographs taken by Bob Mase
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