Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessica Chapman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Jessica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success in our society is typically measured in one way: dollars. It’s time to redefine what success means, and embrace a more holistic approach that values happiness and fulfillment over mere economic gain.

We’ve found that by becoming soap makers and starting a homestead, we’ve achieved a level of personal fulfillment that cannot be measured in dollars. The satisfaction that comes from creating something with our own hands is immeasurable. Knowing that we’re contributing to society in a positive way through our sustainable practices, such as using only natural ingredients in our soap products, gives us a sense of purpose that can’t be quantified.

When we redefine what success means on a personal level, we open ourselves up to new opportunities for happiness and fulfillment.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Jessica and my husbands name is Christian. We started making soap in 2020 as a pandemic hobby and before we knew it we were Chicks and Chives! Our business has become a great way to offer healthy natural skincare products that are affordable and sustainable.

Our business started with homemade soap but over the years we have dove headfirst into homesteading. We now have homemade soaps, lotions, 18 chickens and several gardens where we grow our soap making ingredients.

We use the herbs that we grow in our garden to make fragrant and luxurious bars of soap. There’s something so satisfying about creating a useful product from scratch, and I love knowing exactly what ingredients are in each bar of soap.

Chicks and Chives has become much more than a hobby – it’s a way of life.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

In the midst of the pandemic, 2020 was a year of challenge and adaptation for many. For me, it was the year I began taking classes to start nursing school.

It was during this time that my husband came up with the idea of taking online soap making classes as a new hobby for us to do together. It was something we could do from home, and a creative outlet amidst the uncertainty and anxiety of the pandemic.

We started experimenting and learning the basics of soap making, and eventually created our first batch. I was so proud of it that I took it with me to work at OSU, where I was a patient care associate. When my coworkers saw it, they were impressed and thought it was for sale. I eventually decided to sell the bars of soap for $1 each. To my surprise, they were a hit, and quickly became popular with my colleagues. That’s how our business was born.

With the support and encouragement of my coworkers, we started making more and more soap, experimenting with different scents and ingredients, refining our techniques, and building our confidence.

Before long, I was able to quit my full-time job and focus on our soap making business full-time. We began participating in farmers markets and selling our soap in two stores, and it wasn’t long before we had a loyal customer base.

It’s been a challenging and rewarding journey, and I feel grateful for the opportunities and blessings that have come our way. Starting a soap making business during a pandemic may not have been part of our original plan, but sometimes the unexpected paths lead to the most rewarding destinations.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Farmers markets have been an excellent way to meet new clients. Our favorite part about participating in farmers markets is spending our summer Saturdays getting to know our surrounding communities. Each town is filled with vibrant locals that we enjoy seeing each month.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/chicks.and.chives?igshid=ZDc4ODBmNjlmNQ==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChicksandChives?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Image Credits
Eden Photography LLC