While I don’t officially celebrate the NEW YEAR until around March 25, I do begin my new year planning early on. This makes it a much smoother process, as I reengineer my faulty brain to remember to write 2016. By March, writing the correct calendar year on checks—why, yes, I still write checks—is usually a routine habit of mine. Then, lo’ and behold, nine months later, it’s time to start the reengineering process all over again.
It’s a good thing I don’t plan as much around calendar years, as I do the seasons and ideas that pop into my head. That’s what I love about January. I use January, because it’s usually the slowest month for doing business, to prepare, evaluate and launch my business concepts into the new season.
So, what’s in store for the new season?
One is the black soap you see pictured here. When I first began looking into more natural soaps, black soap came highly recommended. My favorite version of it was the liquid soap, because it wasn’t as drying to my skin as the bar. For the longest, I’ve wanted to recreate that soap in my own lab, and just yesterday, I began doing so. I can’t wait to see the outcome of it. If everything goes according to plan, you may see liquid black soap on our menu this year.
Next on the menu is formulating, testing and lauching products specifically geared toward men. While many of my products are unisex in nature, I’m finding that creations that are made specifically for a certain outcome or a certain gender is where it’s at. Many people lead busy lives and don’t have the time nor desire to figure out multiple ways to use a product. Sometimes, it just helps to know, this one is for your face, this one is for your feet, this one is for your hair, this one is formulated for men, women, children. Feel me? So, for men, there are observations I’ve made about them and came to the conclusion that they have needs, too. I’m about to meet some of them in 2015 2016.
Finally, a few more soap scents are in the mix. I’ve been listening and taking notes and new flavors never hurt nobody. Matter of fact, they help to break up the monotony. Of course, I’m planning to stick to my “soap made simple” model. I’m not going to try to fix what’s not broken. No flowers, sand or coffee grinds swirling into your drains. No artificial coloring or dyes. Period, nothing artificial makes it into our soaps. ;-)
There will be more changes taking place, and we’d love to have you on the journey. Growing a business requires that you can’t stay at the same point you were two years ago, three years ago—heck, one year ago. The only acceptable “stay” in our growth is staying true to our mission, which is to give you quality products made with love and care, and the fewest ingredients possible. That’s just good business. Happy New Year!
