We've taken Wicked(soaps) to a whole new level

It's been almost 2 years since I started WickedSoaps and it's been a spectacular ride and quite the learning experience.  Running a business while running your life (job, kids, relationships, etc) can be a huge undertaking and sometimes things get out of line.  Perhaps that's not the best way to put it.  The bottom line is, WickedSoaps started to spin a bit out of control.  It wasn't cohesive and organized.  It didn't have the look, the branding, the appeal, that cohesiveness that I originally envisioned when I started the company and see in other successful handmade businesses. 

The first step was a new logo and branding.  I had no idea what exactly I wanted, except for something different.  My search for a new look began with Etsy.  After years of being part of the Etsy community, I knew it was a hotbed of creativity and there were plenty of graphic designers selling their services there. 
After many weeks searching and browsing through shops and work, I stumbled upon a little gem of a shop by the name of The Grapevine Gallery.  I contacted Terra, owner, operator and artist extraordinaire and the rest is history.  She worked with me and turned my vision for WickedSoaps into reality.  To say she did an amazing job would be an understatement.  I cannot tell you how much I love her work.  She provided me with not only a new logo, but a new banner for my Etsy shop (and blog), an avatar icon, and a business card template. 

Set of Three 9 oz Jars of Emulsifying Sugar Scrub

My next step was to take the spectacular new logo and apply it to my packaging.  All new labels for every product I carry.  I'm still in the process of this, but it brings me back to my original point...my shop and business was unorganized.  I had over 50 kinds of soap listed...over 20 scents of lotion...so much in my shop that there was no way I could keep enough pre-made stock on hand, which has meant constantly scrambling to make items to fill orders. Part of the Wicked Overhaul is culling the herd.  Sometimes less is more.  I've said goodbye to quite a few soaps, sugar scrubs, scrub cubes, and lotions (speaking of lotions, I've kicked my pre-made base to the curb and am 99% finished with the creation of my own handmade-from-scratch lotion!  It will be available within the next week, stay tuned!) and kept popular scents and am starting to add some fantastic new choices.

Spiced Vanilla Toffee Goats Milk Soap

I'm still in the process of overhauling WickedSoaps, slowly but surely.  You'll see photos replaced by new ones, labels being replaced, and importantly, new fantastic products making their way into my line-up.  But stick with me kids...I'm going to turn this thing into something I can be more than proud of and a business you'll want to recommend to friends!

Beer: It's Not Just For Breakfast Anymore

OATMEAL STOUT COLD PROCESS SOAP

I recently decided to try a few new beer inspired fragrance oils from one of my favorite suppliers: Oatmeal Stout, Pumpkin Lager, Raspberry Porter, and Honey Ale.  I couldn't use these babies in regular cold process soap with water, no way, Jose.  I had to use real BEER.  And not just any beer, I had to track down the same beers they're named after.  So the hunting began and actually, I didn't have to search long or go far.  New Holland Brewing Company in Holland, Michigan (I love buying local!) has their delicious year-round The Poet Oatmeal Stout and just released their seasonal Ichabod Pumpkin Ale.  And would you believe it?  They were available at my local supermarket!  Ding, ding, ding, we have some winners!!

As you can see from the picture above, Oatmeal Stout was the first of these delicious beer soaps to be made and oh my goodness, is it to die for!  WickedSoaps' Oatmeal Stout Cold Process Soap is a full bodied and smooth beer soap blended with Creamy Oatmeal, Orange Peel, Butterscotch, Farm-fresh Milk, Nutty Almond and Rich Vanilla.  Click the photo above or below to purchase this soap from my Etsy shop.

OATMEAL STOUT COLD PROCESS SOAP

This afternoon found me in the kitchen making Pumpkin Lager soap and Raspberry Porter (using one of my personal favorite beers to drink, Shock Top Raspberry Wheat).  Both will be available for purchase in about 4 weeks.

So why use beer soap, you ask?  Well aside from the obvious of being supremely cool and bad ass (c'mon it's BEER SOAP!), beer is actually good for your skin.  Soap made with beer nourishes and conditions skin while creating a rich, thick, creamy lather that you'll love. Try it for shaving!