Today we’d like to introduce you to Bethany Hilsgen.
Hi Bethany, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
26 years ago, I was a young mother tired of her dry, irritated skin and acne problems. I wondered what happened to the skin I was born with. One day while reading my organic gardening magazine, I found an article about old fashioned soap. My intuition knew this was the answer I had been searching for. Soon after my first batch of soap, my skin was reborn! The instinctual desire to create took over and Purple Prairie was founded in 1999.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
26 years in business has brought its share of challenges. 2020 and the couple years after were perhaps the most difficult. This uncertainty forced me to scale back inventory, simplify and restructure Purple Prairie in a way that saved it from closing. I learned many valuable lessons about running a business and about myself during that time.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Purple Prairie makes (in house) 100% natural soaps, lotions, potions, herbal salves and more. Our products are made in small batches with the finest nurturing, safe & organic ingredients combined with herbal infusions & pure essential oils which restore the balance of both physical and mental well being. We cater to all skin types including the most sensitive skin. What sets us apart is truth in labeling, fair prices and refills at our store. Our best seller(s) is the 27 soaps we offer. These artisan soaps are truly 100% natural and you will feel the difference. Whats sets us apart is that we only use pure essential oils for aromas. Most other natural bodycare products out there claim to be “all natural” yet sneak in synthetic fragrances and other toxic ingredients. I feel most proud of the wide variety of products, customers refilling their glass bottles and the honesty in the ingredient labeling.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
The internet and cell phones were not a household thing yet it 1999, so I learned the old fashioned way…from books. There were only 2 soapmaking books available at the time haha. My advice specifically to body care is to research every ingredient individually and thoroughly. Get a big notebook and a pencil (and more books) and write down everything that inspires you.. Learning from books can feel more difficult than the internet but the knowledge is absorbed deeper and stays in your subconscious mind. Instead of copying other formulations, experiment using your intuition. Lessons learned from mistakes are the best lessons learned. Set fear aside and do what you love.
Pricing:
- Soaps 4oz. $6.50 each or 12/$65
- Lotions 8oz. refillable glass $16
- Face Creams 2oz. refillable glass $17
- Body/Face Oils 4oz. refillale glass $14
- Deet Free Bug Spray 4oz. refillable $11
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.purpleprairie.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purple_prairie_botanicals/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purpleprairie
- Other: https://share.google/2G1Clvk0ry5x2xxtB
