This post is part of our Artisan Profiles series, promoting authentic artisans and their products. Artisans: get your store featured by joining our free Buy Handmade campaign. Read the others here.
We feature Sheri (she/her), a woman artisan in Wisconsin who loves the creative process of making quality bath, body, and cleaning products from scratch. Welcome to Artisans Cooperative, Blue Poppy Bath and Body!
Q: What’s the name of your business, if you use one? Why did you choose it? – What do you create/sell?
Blue Poppy Bath & Body. I choose the name as growing up, my grandmother had a lovely garden with poppies! I thought I would be creative adding the Blue which is my favorite color. Blue Poppy Bath & Body became the name. I make handmade bath and body treats to pamper yourself or give as gifts to loved ones. I offer a variety of products, from soaps to lotions, perfumes, body scrubs and lip balm. I have also started selling natural home cleaning products, such as solid dish soap, toilet fizzies, laundry stain sticks and laundry scent booster.
Q: Do you currently have a shop or website up and running? Where can we find you?
I have a shop here on Artisans Cooperative (http://bluepoppybathandbody.com) and a shop on Etsy (http://www.bluepoppybath.com).
Q: How long have you been creating? What made you want to start your business/start selling your art?
This is my 10th year selling products under Blue Poppy Bath & Body. I owned a hardware store prior to this and wanted to try something new for my future. I’ve always been a crafter, making things with my kids, crocheting, baking, all sorts of hands on projects!
Q: What does your creative process look like?
I mainly work my products around seasons and holidays. I like to order trial size samples of fragrances and decide from there how to work it into my product line. My favorite holiday to make for is Christmas! There are so many ideas and I try to make products different each year. My gifts sets are popular for gift giving so I make different gift boxes, ranging from affordable to high end luxury products.
Q: What part of creation do you enjoy the most? (The process, seeing the finished product, seeing people’s reactions to receiving the art/product, etc.)
I do enjoy the process of making my products. Especially soap bars, sometimes you never know how soap will react to fragrance, how thick or fast moving it can be. Trying to get some swirls or layers in the bar. Then waiting 2 to 3 days before cutting the soap into bars to see the result. It’s a lot of fun trying new ideas and using different butters/oils.
Q: What is your Number One piece of advice for fellow artisans (biggest lesson learned)?
Don’t get discouraged. Persevere and you will succeed by believing in yourself. You are your number one fan!
Q: What is your biggest inspiration?
I have 2 soapers that have inspired me along the way. Anne from Brambleberry and Katie from Royalty Soap. They are very kind and share so many of their recipes, as well as ups and downs.
Q: Is there a specific niche or target audience you are trying to reach with your art?
My target audience is anyone who enjoys handmade, natural products. I use fragrances that everyone can enjoy, from woodsy to floral to citrus and kids favorite fruity scents. I have expanded into more home cleaning products, which is a slightly different niche from my body products.
Q: What do you hope to gain from joining the Artisans Co-op?
I hope to expand my sales by joining Artisans Cooperative. I decided to volunteer and am happy I dd this. I’ve met so many new people from all different crafting and handmade businesses.
Shop handmade bath and body products made in small batches using high quality, skin friendly ingredients on the Artisans Cooperative marketplace: Blue Poppy Bath and Body >>>
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