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

Alright, Heather thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I started my business because I wanted to use clean products on my skin and couldn’t pronounce the ingredients in my shower gel. I went to school for aromatherapy and then to learn how to make body care products. I started making products in my kitchen. I was caring for my mom at that time and she became an integral part of my process, watching me in the kitchen, doing the dishes while I formulated, and trying everything I made. I work for my brother who is a veterinarian and I realized people in that industry are very empathetic and introverted. Using my aromatherapy and product knowledge I began makeing products for people in the animal hospital to be a “hug in a bottle”. This was all happening during COVID which added more stress for everyone in the animal hospital. My sister and I cared for our mom the last week of her life at home in a hospice program and I now volunteer at the hospice center. I gave my products out to the staff at hospice, friends and family thinking caregivers were my target market. Sales have not taken off as I had hoped so now I am refocusing, The products are very gentle, dermatologist tested and pediatrician approved so now we are focusing on people with sensitive skin and delicate baby skin.

Heather, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have had a very varied career path. I started working for CItibank and got to travel the world. I went to pastry school, worked for dot,coms, taught Spanish to elementary school kids from kindergarten to 6th grade, worked for a theatre company raising money and then as the Managing Director, continue to work for my brother as an office manger and financial manager for his veterinary hospital, was a caregiver to my mom, and now founder of my own business. I created body care products for people using aromatherapy and plant based ingredients by testing out different ingredients for what I wanted to feel on my skin. I have friends and family with sensitive skin and wanted to create something that would make them feel good. I was very intentional about the ingredients I used and that my products were moisturizing but not greasy. I like the aromatherapy part of it but also understand some people don’t link scent but could still benefit from plant based ingredients. I am also so excited when people try my products and tell me love them! It makes me so happy because I created them. I am very mindful that the products are for sensitive skin.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I started my business I thought people in the veterinary industry were my target market. People in the hospital loved the products, I went to a veterinary conference where everyone loved the products, but I haven’t seen the sales I had hoped for so I pivoted to caregivers. That did not prove to be fruitful. I was spending a lot of money on paid ads on IG and FB. They were beautiful ads but for some reason they were just not connecting. I had to take a step back and reevaluate my focus. I realzied my products would be a good fit for people with sensiitive skin and babies with delicate skin. I am still in the process of figuring out if this is the market for Chance of Sunny.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Founding a company is really hard. There are some days I get so excited about opportunities but they may not pan out and you feel like you are blocked everyway you turn. One day I was having a bad day and my friend Amanda who I was working with told me to make a video about it and post it. In the video I talked about how some days are hard, how I felt I was giving so much and not getting back so I needed to walk out in my backyard in my barefeet on the grass. I ended with some days are not good days and that’s ok, you just pick yourself up and keep going. Make sure you do things to fill your soul. I received a lot of great feed back on that video. I am so grateful for so many things and I truly believe it’s ok to have bad days, just pick yourself up and keep going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chanceofsunny.com
• Instagram: chanceofsunny_
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/chanceofsunny
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@chanceofsunny_

Image Credits

Image Credits: Chance of Sunny