Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Thorstenson.
Lisa, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My adventures in soap making began over a decade ago when I was a practicing Registered Nurse and kitchen chemistry was my creative outlet. Cloud Nine Soap Co. was a natural evolution that took root in those early years. In 2009, I divorced, and my son’s father moved to another state. It was during this transitional time in my life that I left behind my nursing career with its long days and crazy hours to chase my dream and create a new and better life for myself and my young son. I’ve always been passionate about healthy living and natural skin care. Healthy skin is happy skin. I started out, like many Makers and Artists do, at the Farmers Market. For four years, I hauled my soap to three Markets a week with my young son in tow in the back of my van. I later moved on to doing large fine craft fairs such as Renegade in Chicago, Hover Craft and Urban Garage Sale in Milwaukee, and The Holiday Market at Kohler, WI. I also began placing my products in select stores and I opened my website. Selling direct to customers online is my largest source of business today. I no longer participate in Farmers Markets, but I still participate in a few large Art and Fine Craft events each year because I love meeting my customers face to face. The connections I made at the Farm and Art Markets have proven to be priceless; I’ve met new friends, found colleagues, and I grew my customer base. I have loyal customers from those early days who still buy my products today.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Oh boy, in a word, “no”, it wasn’t a smooth road. The biggest struggle in the early years was childcare – I had zero options. So, my son, Johnny, had to come with me, which meant waking him at 5 AM on Saturdays to get to the Farmers Market by 6 AM or keeping him up until 10 PM when we were at a weeknight Market. So I worried about how/if our gypsy lifestyle was going to affect him. But I am happy to report that everything worked out, and my son is now a happy, healthy, ambitious, college student majoring in biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. As a solo-prenuer and single mom, time management was, and still is, tricky. My struggles today are not struggles, really, because having come from a traditional job background, I understand how blessed I am to have grown a business that I get to run on my terms. To be paid to do something I love is such a gift. But I do have frustrations. There is a lot of untold truth in the beauty industry which is highly competitive and often implies unfair, unreal, and unkind notions about “beauty” and “health”. Fear-based claims are made that frustrate me because they place women in situations of comparing themselves to others and not loving themselves. As an R.N., I know that our skin is a reflection of what’s going on inside the body; there is no magic face cream, and aging is not a dirty word, it’s a privilege. I cringe at some of what I see and read. Yet, I must compete in this arena.
Please tell us about Cloud Nine Soap Co.
I specialize in eco-luxurious bath and body products inspired by my passion for healthy living. I am known for selling top quality products at a fair price, offering unique scents that surprise and delight, and offering packaging that is eco-friendly. I also pride myself on delivering excellent customer service. I am most proud of the fact that I have always been and remain transparent and truthful in my ingredients and my process.
Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years? Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc?
The way people shop is shifting. Amazon Prime has been a game changer. So, I think finding ways to get my products into people’s hands faster and at a fair price is going to become very important. From a product standpoint, I think there will be a continued push for authentic, all-natural bath and body care products, and “green” packaging of those products. Because caring for ourselves and our planet in a responsible way matters.
Pricing:
- Artisan Soaps, $7-$9 a bar
- Bath and Body Oil and Facial Oil, $22-$24
- Probiotic Deodorant, $13
- Hemp Hand + Body Lotion, $22
Contact Info:
- Address: P.O. Box 142, Hartland, WI, 53029
- Website: www.cloudninesoap.com
- Email: cloudninesoap@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram: @cloudninesoapco
- Facebook: Facebook: /cloudninesoapco
Image Credit:
Johnny Thorstenson, Justi Kurz
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