The Maker Journal: Charity

The Spark: Over Five Years of Passionate Crafting 

Charity’s journey started over 5 years ago, when she decided to take up making soap as a hobby. Fueled by a desire for peace in a busy world and an inspiration from whimsy and nature, this hobby turned into a four-year-old company called Blue Cottage Lane, a brand dedicated to crafting luxurious salt bars, soaps, wax melts, and bath products. Charity stated that she finds immense joy in the creative process of making, alongside the valuable relationships built with fellow small businesses and teachers.

 The Creative Process 

As part of her creative process, as mentioned before, Charity stated that her inspiration for her products and aesthetic comes from whimsy, nature, and sometimes even music! And when it comes to the beautifully crafted soaps, Charity humorously admits, "Oftentimes I feel like the soap is in charge and obeys no one". The ultimate goal of the brand’s production process is simplicity, with the colors of the soap reflecting the fragrance oils, such as citrus fragrances inspiring corresponding hues. Sometimes designs are graphed out, but she stated that her current process is about keeping it simple and "reading" the soap, more importantly, acting fast if things go south!

The maker also shared their favorite Morouge Canada products: "I love your fragrance oils!". Specifically mentioned are Northern Woods, Bergamot & Clary Sage, Sweet Moon, and Wild Sage & Mint. Charity praises these fragrances for being "sophisticated, spa-like and unique!". Sweet Moon holds a special memory for her, reminiscent of "stepping into my classy aunt’s closet" from childhood, with the added bonus of not getting into trouble!

The Salt Bars

Among their popular creations are the luxury soap bars, but the salt bars hold an equally special place. The inclusion of salt bars in their line posed an interesting story, as Charity had never tried a salt bar until a close friend named Max suggested she try to make one. For Charity, discovering that people like “a scrubby soap" was a revelation! And after making the first one, she "fell in love and hasn't stopped since", crediting their persuasive friend for pushing them out of their comfort zone. 

When asked about the products she preferred making the most, the maker replied that she loves the creative and unpredictable nature of making both her luxury and salt soaps, finding that the "surprise aspect never gets old". She feels a nervous excitement when cutting loaves, stating that she hopes, "please don’t be ugly!", and, of course, "who doesn’t love cutting their soap bars?"

Business Growth & Marketing: Staying Aligned with Your Tagline

Growth and production have been significant challenges for Blue Cottage Lane, as scaling up isn't always easy. Charity stated that the brand’s goal is to scale up without becoming overwhelmed, emphasizing the importance of investing in good quality equipment and claiming it to be a key objective.

When it comes to supporters, Charity’s family and friends are hands down her “biggest cheerleaders”. Charity also claimed that she found that local retailers who stock Blue Cottage Lane products are also incredibly supportive. The business sells products both online and at local markets. And, while she is "not a fan of the schlepping," she finds that connecting with people and the community at markets is a lot of fun.

 Charity’s Advice 

For aspiring makers, a crucial piece of advice is to create a tagline and stick with it. Blue Cottage Lane's tagline is "Luxuriously crafted Salt Bars, Soaps & Bath Products. Inspired by nature and whimsy. Life is chaotic enough; take some time for you." 

The tagline serves the maker as a guiding principle, so that if the maker finds themselves straying due to observing other creators or wanting to add an unsustainable product line, the tagline is there to help them stay aligned with their company's values and foundation. Charity states that this principle has been invaluable in an industry teaming with "so many other beautiful creators out there". Another piece of advice from Charity, reflecting on what they wish they knew before starting, "Only commit 25% of your time to production, if possible". 

The Future and Expansion

The next step for Blue Cottage Lane is to increase production while thoughtfully scaling down the number of products offered. Charity felt that, while a full product line sounds appealing, there's a lot to manage responsibly, and “only so much time in a day”. Looking ahead, Charity felt that hand gel soap has been a consideration, and creating lotions also seems like the "next logical step," though she claimed that "that won’t be for a while".

Finally, Charity finished off by advising others to “stay true to your company’s values and foundation”.

Rewards and Challenges 

For the owner of Blue Cottage Lane, the impact of owning a handmade bath and body business has been profound. She stated that while there's a steep learning curve, it has led to increased knowledge and awareness of the business process. More so, it has fostered greater confidence, as at first she felt that “stepping out on your own is never easy". The path hasn't been without its less glamorous side. For instance, Bookkeeping is not a favorite task, nor is doing the dishes, and she felt that balancing family life, staying healthy, and ensuring the business doesn't overwhelm their lives remains a constant challenge. 

But at the end of the day, Charity stated that she got into soap production to get some peace in a very loud & chaotic world. She felt that overall, it’s a great creative outlet, and seeing regular customers become fans has been both flattering and humbling. 

Don't forget to connect with Blue Cottage Lane!

Website: www.bluecottagelane.com

Instagram: @bluecottagelane

Tiktok: @bluecottagelane

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