We recently connected with Gabriella Nelson and have shared our conversation below.

Gabriella , appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with a fun one – what’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

As a small business owner you find yourself wearing multiple hats, having to be self-disciplined, goal-oriented and organized. It’s a delicate life balance that takes time to manage, and with the new pressures of social media and the general societal push to constantly be hustling, saying yes to every opportunity and thinking of the next big thing to take on, it’s a great way to make you feel threatened by the fear of failure.

But a great business doesn’t grow overnight, it takes time and thought, originality, something burning yourself out and “hustling” won’t give you, and something money simply can’t buy.

I believe when you do too much at once is when you lose your creativity and soul of your business, the part you need to ignite your company into something that separates yours from others and SUCCEED. I am team slow living, not hustle.

I started my business “Down Home Soap Co” in 2020, at that time I worked part-time in the veterinary field and the other half at home with my two daughters who at that time were ages 1 and 3. My business rooted from my youngest having chronic eczema, she was on every prescription medication you can imagine with little to no success. This meant I had to put matters into my own hands as a mother. I dove deep into herbal remedies and medicinal plants, reading any book I could get my hands on, and attended every class possible. This combination of new knowledge on herbal medicine, my college degree in biomedical studies and chemistry, along with having experience in agriculture milking goats on our family farm, I was able to put together a base goat milk soap and herbal salve recipe that I felt would help her skin condition. Little did I know this soap and salve I made would cure her skin in ONE WEEK. Eventually this new journey of mine unfolded into a successful full-time small business earning 6 figures in sales a year with the ability to provide for my family.

Something I love to tell other women entrepreneurs starting out is that it’s okay to not be the “boss babe”. You don’t have to feel the constant rush, that urge for bigger, more money or more things. It’s okay to say no to some opportunities that you feel isn’t the right time for you at that moment, your mental health is priority. You can hire all the employees but there’s only one YOU, and your business can’t thrive without your originality, and creativity.

I am proof you can be both a successful entrepreneur and be present with your family, right here, right now, and soaking it in without distraction.

Did I work hard for this business? OF COURSE. I worked my butt off, admittedly at times too hard, burning myself out and losing my creativity. But with every failure you learn. I have goals, & dreams for my business. But I believe we should do it the right way. Where we are able to live and enjoy the REAL things in life along the way. That’s what I call living

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Here at Down Home Farms we believe in quality over quantity. Quality begins with the care of our herd. Our Herd of mini-nubians may be small, but we make sure they are served the finest organic feed to ensure optimal health. The goats are milked by hand to give extra attention and love to their care. Quality is also found in our home-grown flowers, herbs and vegetables using homemade compost and organic soil as the foundation for the plants. We are proud to use these home-grown ingredients as inspiration for our soap blends!

I believe it’s the extra details like infusing our very own medicinal flowers into our freshly hand-milked goats milk and using this to make our products that sets us apart,

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

My biggest advice is to simply be yourself! I do think a “pretty” page is important and eye-catching, its what represents your brand, but also its okay to be silly on there and show whats really going on behind the scenes. Let people connect to who you are as a person!

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

100% social media.

Contact Info:

• Website: downhomesoapco.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/downhomesoapco
• Facebook: facebook.com/downhomesoapco

Image Credits
The image of my products is by Elyn Fullen All other images are taken by me, Gabriella Nelson Owner of Down Home Soap Co