Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Lohman.
Hi Julie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
2 1/2 years ago my only daughter, who was 30 got cancer. It was a rare cancer & it had already spread through her whole body. I felt helpless & needed something to get me through the bleak days.. my new daughter in law suggested I start crafting. I started out making special order cups but my eyesight started declining & I couldn’t see the fine details anymore.
I started to browse the internet for ideas & joined some social media groups as well.
Always a fan of bath & body products, I started to make soap. I opened an Etsy shop. As a new shop owner, they encourage you to start with 10 products to sell.
My curiosity to learn about making different bath & body products become an obsession.. it helped fill my days & kept my mind busy.
I started researching & testing products that I could make to help my daughter feel a little bit happy~ I wanted to do anything that I could to deny what was happening .
Lotions were my go-to as a customer, so that was what I started to make after soaps.. then I expanded to perfumes, body sprays, etc.
Reaching the “more than 10” products in my Etsy shop, I just couldn’t stop. Every chance that I had, when I wasn’t bringing my daughter to chemo appointments or filling orders, I added more products.
One day a customer called and asked if I would do a local craft fair. I was so nervous; I had never done anything like it before.
Shortly after that, I was invited to be a vendor at our farmers market.
I called my daughter, who was by now on hospice. I told her about the opportunities, and how nervous I was about them. I did not have the confidence.
This wonderful 30 year girl, who was going through something that no one should, gave me the confidence to go ahead and do these events. She told me I was “meant” to do this for my future.
She passed away a month later.
Later that year, a shop in our local mall had asked if I could put my products in her shop.
I did so gladly, now doing everything with the confidence & encouragement from my daughter Jessica.
Today I finished a full summer of that farmers market. I was a vendor along with my husband who helped me every week for 6 months.
We got to meet many of the customers from my Etsy shop as well as locals who now purchase from me on an ongoing basis.
There are now 125 products that I make & I am constantly changing & adding products to the lineup.
What sets my shop apart is the drive, motivation & determination of a mother who now makes a small living doing what Jessica wanted me to do.
I specialize in scented products, made to order products that are always fresh, and everything that I make is made with natural ingredients. I also try to add as many organic ingredients as possible.
As I write this, my husband & I look forward to several big events for the holidays & filling those orders for Christmas that are starting to roll in.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been a rocky road with a lot of trials & errors, learning from mistakes, trying to stay up with what is trending.
The biggest challenge I’ve had was losing my daughter only 8 months into her cancer diagnosis.
But I keep going in her memory.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
All of my work is made to order, so your orders will always be freshly made; and will never sit on a shelf. If you’re looking for uniquely scented items, I’ve got you covered!
I’m most proud of the fact that I started this very small business in my 50’s and with the guidance of my angel daughter.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice is simple: do your research! I even research & read in bed. Start small & expand.
Always answer customer email within the hour.
Pricing:
- Goat Milk Lotions $20
- Oatmeal Milk & Honey Eczema Soaps $7
- Whipped Soap~ various scents~ $15-$30
- Body Spray $15-$20
- Shea Butter Lotion $20
Contact Info:
- Website: IRONRANGERSOAP.ETSY.COM
- Instagram: INSTAGRAM.COM/IRONRANGERSOAP
- Facebook: FACEBOOK.COM/IRONRANGERSOAP
- Other: IRONRANGERBLING.ETSY.COM
