We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Leila Baroudi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Leila below.

Leila, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

Am I happy as a business owner, and do I ever wonder what it would be like to have a regular job? Yes, I am very happy as a business owner. I also had a regular job as a teacher, a profession I have proudly served in for over 35 years. I launched my business in 2017 as a meaningful way to stay engaged and productive during school breaks, because I truly enjoy staying active and creative.

I began by making simple, unscented white soaps using certified organic, plant-based oils to offer a gentle, skin-safe alternative to products made with heavily processed ingredients. As my customers’ needs and preferences evolved, they began requesting more colorful and aromatic options. In response, my business naturally expanded to include bath bombs, creams, lip balms, and candles.

Balancing teaching and running a small business has been deeply rewarding, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve others through both pursuits. As I move into retirement from teaching, I look forward to dedicating my time and energy to the continued growth and expansion of my business.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

For those who may not have read about me before, my name is Leila, and I was a teacher for over thirty years and now I am the the owner of FLANA Soap, a small handcrafted bath and body business rooted in quality, creativity, and care. I began my business as a meaningful and creative outlet during school breaks. What started as a small side project has grown into a passion-driven craft that allows me to blend science, artistry, and wellness.

I first entered this industry with a deep interest in creating gentle, skin-safe alternatives to many skincare products. From the very beginning, still today, all of my formulations are made using certified organic, plant-based butters and oils. I choose not to use animal-derived ingredients such as goat’s milk or lard, as my focus is on maintaining clean, certified organic plant-based formulations. The only exceptions I make are for beeswax and honey, which I use selectively and with care when they add meaningful benefit to a product.

As my customers’ needs and preferences evolved, my work naturally expanded to include soaps, bath bombs, creams, lip balms, and candles, all crafted thoughtfully and in small batches. My soaps are known for their rich lather and skin-conditioning properties, and my creams are highly moisturizing and excellent for nourishing the skin. Many of my customers come to me because they value trustworthy ingredients, handmade quality, and products suitable for sensitive skin, and I take great pride in providing items that are both beautiful and gentle.

What truly sets FLANA Soap apart is the combination of craftsmanship, integrity, and heart. Every product is made by hand, every detail is considered, and many orders are personalized for special occasions, meaningful gifts, or individual needs. My business, much like my teaching career, is rooted in service, care, and genuine connection with the people I serve.

I am most proud of how my business has grown organically through community support, customer trust, and word-of-mouth relationships. Many of my clients become returning customers, and I am grateful for every story, message, and conversation shared along the way.

What I want people to know is that FLANA Soap is more than a business, it is a labor of love built thoughtfully, ethically, and with deep respect for the people who support it. I pour my time, creativity, and gratitude into every product I make.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

Can I share moments when my business faced serious challenges or came close to failure? Yes, my journey as a small business owner has included many difficult and emotional moments that truly tested my strength and faith in my work. Because my business depends heavily on craft fairs and markets, the COVID-19 lockdown was especially devastating. With events canceled and in-person sales gone overnight, I suddenly lost the main source of revenue that kept my business alive.

To survive, I opened an Etsy shop and worked tirelessly to rebuild my customer base online. While it helped me stay connected with loyal supporters, it also brought new challenges. Advertising costs, platform fees, and the reality that many customers were themselves going through financial hardship. I lost clients, income slowed, and I often worried about whether my business would make it through.

Even after events resumed, not every market was successful. There were times when I invested money, time, and energy into certain fairs, only to arrive and find very little customer traffic, empty aisles, and barely any sales. Those moments were heartbreaking, because every product I make carries hours of work, love, and resources behind it.

Another painful challenge has been encountering dishonest organizers and craft-fair scams, as well as occasional negativity or envy from others who do not always understand the dedication, sacrifice, and heart that go into running a small, handmade business. Those experiences can be emotionally exhausting, especially when you’re already doing everything you can just to keep going.

Yet despite the discouragement, setbacks, and near-breaking-point moments, I refused to give up. Each hardship taught me resilience, courage, and humility. It deepened my appreciation for honest people, supportive customers, and genuine community.

What keeps me moving forward is knowing that my work brings joy, comfort, and meaning to others, and that my business was built with love, integrity, and purpose. Every challenge has made me stronger, and I am grateful to still be here, creating, growing, and believing in what I do.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The primary source of new clients for my business has been a combination of personal connection, community presence, customized gifting, and word-of-mouth trust. Many customers first discover my products at craft fairs and local market events, where they can experience the quality, scents, and ingredients firsthand. These in-person interactions allow people to ask questions, learn about my process, and feel the care that goes into each item, and that connection often turns first-time visitors into returning customers.

A significant part of my growth has also come from customized orders for special occasions, such as wedding favors, baby showers, birthdays, corporate appreciation gifts, and personalized gift sets. These custom projects often introduce my work to entire groups of new people at once, guests, coworkers, friends, and family members, many of whom later reach out to place their own orders.

Another powerful source of new clients has been genuine word-of-mouth referrals. I am deeply grateful that my customers enjoy sharing my products with others. They recommend my items to coworkers, relatives, neighbors, and friends, or purchase them as thoughtful gifts for the people they care about. In many cases, one satisfied customer leads to an entire circle of new supporters, and that kind of growth is both meaningful and humbling.

In addition, my Etsy shop and online presence help me reach customers beyond local events, and positive reviews and repeat, order feedback continue to build trust with new buyers.

Overall, my business grows through relationships, community support, customization, and sincere appreciation from customers who believe in my work, and that is something I value deeply.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/flanasoap
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flanasoap
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FLANASoap
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@flanaorganicsoapbars9143
• Other: https://www.flanasoap.com